How to Plan a Successful Home Remodel
Before starting any home remodeling project, you need a plan. One of the biggest remodeling mistakes homeowners make is skipping the planning phase and rushing straight into a project.
While home project planning is a tedious process, it will help you make the most of your time and money. Follow the steps below to ensure your remodel meets and exceeds your expectations without making a lot of mistakes along the way.
Decide What You Want
Part of planning a home project is deciding what you want it to look like. Whether you’re converting a bathtub into a walk-in shower or remodeling your kitchen, having a better understanding of how you want the finished product to look and feel will help make decisions on budget, design and materials easier.
While planning a project, it’s a good idea to make a list of all the features and items you’d like to see in the finished remodel.
Create a Realistic Budget
The next step in your home remodeling project plan is to create a budget. Once you’ve decided the scope of your project and what features and finishes you want, figure out how much money you have available to spend. Remember, what you want and how much you can afford don’t always agree with one another.
How to Budget for a Remodel:
- Figure out how much you have to spend: After you’ve decided what you want, determine whether or not you have enough money to cover the costs. Look at your wish list and prioritize needs versus wants.
- Assess the condition of your home: As a general rule of thumb, the older the home, the more hidden costs you’re likely to find behind your doors and walls.
- Check what permits your city requires: In addition to protecting your home and family, getting the necessary permits will ensure you won’t have to redo any of the work. The last thing you want is to run out of money in the middle of a project.
- Add up your expenses: To avoid going over budget, add up your expenses before you start.
Get a Few Estimates
Planning a home remodeling project involves getting estimates from remodeling companies or general contractors. Compile a list of several contractors you may want to hire, but don’t let price be the deciding factor.
Before hiring a contractor, consider the following:
- Years of experience: A contractor who’s been doing business for a long time makes them a safer bet than one who is new to the business.
- Contracting license: Make sure your contractor has gone through all the steps needed to obtain any required certifications specific to their line of work.
- Certificate of insurance: Contractors should have workers’ compensation and liability insurance for the type of work they perform.
Map out a Schedule
Depending on the scope of your project, a home renovation can run anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to a few months. As a result, you can expect your day-to-day life to be impacted in some way. If the contractor you hire doesn’t provide their own timeline or project plan for your home renovation, you should make your own and share it with them.
Make Plans for Living Arrangements
Planning on having major work done to your kitchen? You’ll have to find somewhere else to eat. Renovating the master bedroom? You’ll have to make sleeping arrangements. Whether or not you should live in your home during construction depends on what work is being done, as well as these renovation realities.
Now that you know how to plan a home remodel successfully, your time and money will be well spent. Remember, before remodeling you’ll most likely need to do a bit of demolition work. Contact us at Ultimate Demolition for affordable clean up solutions!
