By Josie Even if you’ve done renovations before, each job is different. Here are some things that homeowners wish they had known or done before they began renovating.
You want to improve your home but don’t know where to begin, right? You’re not alone, however. Many homeowners enter the remodeling process unsure of what to anticipate. They just regret not having a strategy after suffering through remodeling disasters. The home remodeling process may be frustrating if you don’t plan ahead of time since, unlike constructing a new house, you don’t start with a fresh slate. There may be unanticipated costs and complications that complicate the procedure. So, before you embark on the twists and turns of reconstruction, here are seven things you should know before you begin renovating.
1. Purchase a key lockbox
Consider investing in a key lock box if you’re renovate your home before moving in and living far away. If there are any significant jobs on your to-do list that you cannot do on your own, you will need to engage a contractor. Remember that contractors start early, so unless you want to travel in morning rush-hour traffic to get employees in, connect a lockbox or install smart door hardware that enables you to give visitors a code for admission. It can save you hours of time, gallons of gas, and harsh early morning wake-up calls.
2. Spend time in the environment
As simple as it may seem, it is critical to postpone choices such as paint colors, flooring, and light fixtures until you have spent time in the place you are remodeling. If you want to replace an aged carpet, for example, the options might be bewildering. Dense or slack fibers? Striated or no pattern? What hue of grey is it? The solutions are dependent on other components of the makeover, such as selecting paint colors. Paint palettes chosen before the remodeling began must be visible on the walls and may vary as you spend time on the property.
3. Maintain a timeline that is realistic
Your remodeling will take longer than planned, so plan ahead of time and make adjustments to minimize frustration. For example, you may believe that replacing a whirlpool tub and an antiquated double vanity in a bathroom would be simple. While removing the old fixtures may just take a few hours, finding a new tub and vanity that you adore may take many weeks. It might be another two weeks before they arrive. Expecting to use your new hall bath within a week might evolve into a six-week delay. Be realistic about the remodeling process and schedule, and choose your new improvements before removing the old ones.
4. Be prepared for the unexpected
Every house has secrets hidden in the walls, beneath the floors, and elsewhere. A makeover might bring them to the surface. For example, when measuring for your much-anticipated new hardwood floors, your contractor informs you that your floors are uneven owing to a moved central joist. You must now deal with the house inspector who overlooked it and have the floor joist fixed before the new material can be installed. This is just one example of how you should prepare for the unexpected by allowing additional time and money in your remodeling timetable and budget to account for unplanned setbacks along the road.
5. Conduct multiple contractor interviews
It is beneficial to interview and compare quotes from various contractors. Assume you want your hot water heater removed from an upstairs closet and replaced with a new one in the garage. The first plumber you contact claims he would price $6,000 to relocate hot water pipes. To accomplish so, you’ll need to cut through the tray ceiling in your living room. The second plumber complained that it was too much labor. Plumber three intends to do the task in a single day and charges $3,285 with no water line rerouting required. You run the danger of spending too much and not getting what you want if you do not interview many contractors. Before making a final choice, conduct your research and consult with different specialists.
6. Be specific with your design concepts
Before meeting with an interior designer, you should narrow down your design choices. Browse home decorating periodicals, interior designing websites, and design exhibitions for ideas. Having a design direction in mind may assist you to avoid getting persuaded by a designer’s own ideas, which may vary from your vision for the remodeling. Also, keep your designer to a fixed budget. Don’t let them buy pricey materials and then bill you for them afterward. If you aim to keep inside a certain time limit, your prices will also remain modest.