Renovating a home is an exciting but tedious task for homeowners. More than you might see on any home improvement show there’s a lot of details that need to be ironed out in order to make sure things go off without a hitch. When inexperienced, homeowners can get so carried away in the aesthetics that they forget to remember more important factors. This, of course, leads to a bunch of chaos and confusion. If you’re planning a home renovation in the near future, here are a few things that you don’t want to overlook.
A Budget
You may want to have a new kitchen and bathroom, but can you afford it? All too often, homeowners start the ball rolling on their renovation without realizing the costs. This puts them in debt and in some cases, puts the entire project on hold. Not only should your budget include the cost of hiring a contractor and paying for materials, but it should also include room for overages. There are times when things cost more than anticipated and/or something else needs to be repaired before the renovation can be completed.
Contractor Credentials
Yes, the internet does make it easier for you to find contractors in your area to complete your home renovation, but that doesn’t mean you should haphazardly choose someone. As you get results, it is imperative that you do some homework on the contractor before making the decision to hire. Find out if they have a degree in architecture or carpentry, how long they’ve been in business for, what types of renovations they’ve done, and how their customers feel about their service.
Changes
You may have a picture in your mind (or saved to your computer) that you’d like your renovation project to come out like, but sometimes it’s just not possible. When planning a home improvement project it is important to be prepared for changes. The structure of your home may not be able to support certain features, the spacing may be different, or the materials you chose may be out of stock, just make sure you’re prepared to deal with these matters as they arise.
Repairs
Significant renovations that require the tearing down of walls, working with plumbing or the electrical system in the home could result in some repairs you weren’t planning on. For instance, a new bathroom or kitchen may require you to get a hot water heater repair. Tearing down a wall might expose termite damage requiring you to have new support beams installed. If such recommendations are made to you by the contractor, it is for your own health and safety and should be repaired or replaced prior to finishing the renovation.
Practicality in Design Choices
It’s not uncommon for homeowners to get so wrapped up in choosing the trendiest materials or styles in their new renovations that they forget about practicality. For instance, if you have younger children and pets, installing carpet in a room may not be the best idea. If your kitchen gets a lot of traffic, going with darker colored tiles might be better than going with lighter colors which expose dirt a lot faster. As you design each room think about how it is used and what is best for your family, then you can choose based on style.
There’s a lot to remember when completing a home renovation project. Yet when you’re investing thousands of dollars into your home it is imperative to make sure it comes out just as you’d hoped. To make sure that you’re fully prepared for your next renovation, be sure that you don’t forget these commonly overlooked details above.