7 tips to make your home remodeling successful

It is exhilarating to browse for ideas, designs, and color schemes to refurbish your space. However, home remodelling can be an overwhelming and monstrous task to undertake since it requires a lot of time, money, and effort to yield prolific results. The key to smoothly completing your renovation is a comprehensive plan, a detailed timeline, and savvy budgeting. Organization in every aspect of the procedure can help you achieve your desired results more efficiently. Following are a few tips to make your home improvement project successful: 

1. Establish a clear end goal

Before you begin the demolition, you need to have a clear idea of the remodelling's expected outcomes, whether you want to increase the home's resale value or create additional space for your family.

Next, decide on the designing aspect of the space. Browse through magazines, look online for inspiration, or visit your acquaintances’ houses to have a concrete vision. However, keep yourself open to suggestions by the professional to improve the functionality and practical necessities of the area.

Finally, make detailed lists pertaining to all the design elements, including the flooring, wall colors, cabinet material, lighting, fixtures, etc. The comprehensive information ensures that you have as accurate a quote as possible, bringing us to our next point.

2. Set a realistic budget and decide on the financing plan

While creating a blueprint for your dream home is fun and exciting, you need to ensure that it fits your budget. Therefore, it is imperative to make a spreadsheet of all the costs, such as labor, building material, and building permits, before you begin the job.

Also, determine and include the average price of every decorative item that needs replacing or restoring. Since there can be unexpected contingencies along the way, it is wise to side aside at least 10% to 15% of your budget. If your estimated financial plan exceeds your budget, consider delaying the less critical projects to a later date.

You should also factor in the cost of obtaining permits, even if they are an undesirable albeit significant part of your home improvement task. They can range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars, depending on your area of residence.     

3. Create a timeline

Remodelling is notorious for being time-consuming and exceeding the allocated timeframe. Therefore, if you want the renovation to conclude by a particulate date, allow a time contingency of at least a couple of weeks to a month. You do not want to rush the plan and end up with a sub-par job.

Consult a builder to pencil down the amount of time it takes to finish each project's subdivision. Include which part of the renovation requires being finished first, which sections can be completed simultaneously, and which elements come last. Also, allot time for material shipping and delivery in your timeline. Follow your progress but allow time for unforeseen delays. 

4. Find competent help

Hiring the best team can be the key to a successful endeavor. Therefore, do your research before finalizing the contractors for your home remodelling venture and obtain a quote from various companies. According to Modernize, homeowners compare around three to four contractor estimates before coming to a decision.  

Begin by asking your family and friends for recommendations if they have had a good experience with any companies. Look for positive customer referrals and testimonials on the business pages and, if possible, seek out actual clients for a firsthand review. You can even ask the builders for references, and if they not forthcoming, it should raise a warning flag.

Once you have narrowed down your list, request before-and-after pictures of the company’s previous projects and copies of liability insurance. They should also be able to acquire all the necessary permits. Finally, trust your gut when hiring a reliable contractor.  

5. DIY to save money

There are quite a few aspects of home renovation that you can tackle yourself and save some money. Consider executing tasks that are labour-intensive but do not require specific expertise, such as ripping out old carpets or floorings, sanding skirting boards, painting walls, removing and installing cabinets and so on. Lending a hand will not only save you money, but it can also save you some time and speed up the process, especially if you plan to live on site.

On the other hand, certain factors usually require an experienced professional. These include tasks like redoing bathroom plumbing, electrical panel replacement, HVAC repairing, fixing roof shingles, etc. In fact, according to a roofing company in Beverly, trying to fix the roof yourself may cause more damage to the ceilings and even yourself. Thus, know which jobs are better left to the experts.   

6. Decide on a temporary kitchen or alternate living arrangement

Depending on your remodelling scale, determine whether you need to have a renovation-free zone or completely move out of the job site.

If you plan to live at home during the refurbishing, a designated space away from the chaos can help your family to gather and relax in a safe and clean environment. You can also create a temporary kitchen, fitted with a kettle, microwave, and a small electric stove to make simple meals conveniently. Install a cheap, spacious shelf to place your spices and a few necessary utensils such as pots, pans, plates, cups, and cutlery, so you have everything at hand.

Conversely, if you cannot live on the building site, find temporary accommodation close to your home in advance and include the cost in your budget. You can also ask nearby friends or family to provide you with a living space if it is suitable for both parties.         

7. Communicate consistently and effectively

Once your project is up and running, stay in touch with the builders, conduct weekly meetings to review the progress and finances, and discuss the plan for the coming week. These meetings can ensure that the deadlines are being met and eliminate any element of surprise. 

Furthermore, be open about your preferences, so the final result is exactly as you have visualized. If you are not satisfied with something, discuss it with your contractor and keep them in the loop of your thought process. Finally, be prepared to make snap decisions in case of unforeseen circumstances such as delayed shipment or wrong material delivery.  

Final thoughts

Regardless of the magnitude of the task, the materialization of your dream space can be well worth the effort. As long as you are clear about your goals, have a conscientious plan, and have budgeted smartly, the project should culminate without any significant hiccups.