Many homeowners decide to renovate their house without drafting a plan beforehand and not planning their budget precisely so they end up going through a lot of issues when renovation time comes.
But, then there are other things that may cause headaches, like hiring the right people for the job or whether the material of the floors would be of a high quality and the list goes on and on.
In order for the renovating process to go smoothly and with fewer headaches, we give you a home renovation guide with several steps to keep in mind when remodeling your house.
Step 1: Plan your budget
First things first, plan your budget. Having a list of the things you want replaced, removed or remodeled is going to help you throughout the renovation process. This way, you will have a clear vision of how you are going to be spending your money.
Usually “the big things” such as renovating the entire kitchen, replacing the bathtub in the bathroom or the patio in the backyard include more expenses. You should put these at the top of your list.
Step 2: Hire the right people
After you have your budget planned, the next step is to hire the right people for the job. It is advised that you interview several contractors, and when you do, you need to be precise about what you want done and you need to tell them your vision of how you want everything to look. Not only that, but you also need to think about how much it is going to cost. You should search for companies and look for all the estimated costs of labor and material before you choose the best one. It goes without saying that paying a painter £600 doesn’t mean they would paint the walls perfectly.
Step 3: Tell them your vision
Be specific about your design ideas. Let’s say you want your kitchen to look like the one you saw in the latest issue of The World of Interiors magazine. When you explain your ideas to your interior designer, make sure you stick to them as well as your budget. Interior designers often try to impose their ideas and push your boundaries, but don’t allow it if you aren’t comfortable with it.
Step 4: Be realistic
Before you start renovating, you must keep in mind that even if you planned to finish remodeling in three months, it is possible that may not happen. You should always expect the unexpected. For example, if you are remodeling your backyard, you must always be aware of the weather conditions as it may impact the time it takes for you to get everything done.
Maybe your floors are uneven due to a shifted center joist so the time to remodel the backyard or repair the floors is going to take longer than what you expected. For these reasons, always add some extra time for the renovating process and extra money on the side in case some troubles come along the way. Remember to be patient. Renovating takes time.
Step 5: Keep your things safe
When you are renovating, you need to be careful to leave enough room for all the people that are going to be working in your house. This means that there will be footprints and dust everywhere, so don’t forget to put your rugs away until after everything is done otherwise they might get destroyed. Still, there is a bright side to all of this. While you are cleaning out your storage, you will have a chance to throw away things that you forgot were even there. But, that does not mean you should get rid of everything. Perhaps there are going to be things that may be useful to you down the line. If you think that the old coffee table that you have in the living room will match your new sofa, there’s no reason not to keep it.
Step 6: Be patient
When you make the decision to renovate your house, you want it done right away. However, that is almost never the case. It takes time and the key is to be patient. Be prepared for a messy house which you might find cleaning after every builder or painter. But don’t be upset about it. Remember, everything takes time and all you have to do is think about the outcome and how all pretty and cozy the final product is going to look.
Wrapping up
Even though a silky smooth home renovation does not exist, at least not yet, it is important that you follow these six simple steps. Even if you plan everything to the smallest detail, don’t be discouraged if things don’t go your way. Falling behind schedule does not mean you need to stress out. Keep in mind that you may encounter some unexpected inconveniences or delays, but you will soon realize that being aware of these problems can help you very much along the way. With that being said, embrace this messy journey with a positive mindset and good luck renovating!