Successful Home Remodel: Top Tips for a Smooth Project

Whenever you’re thinking of remodeling, it can seem like a lot to take on, but if you know a few insider tips, it will undoubtedly go more smoothly. Here are some expert tips for a successful home remodel.

Plan Ahead

Early choices can help avoid future delays. Create a plan that expresses the purpose of your renovation. A plan of everything that needs to be done should include your needs and desires for the project. Planning effectively might also keep you within your budget. Consider what finish materials you want, as this can make up a large portion of the budget and you don't want to sacrifice anything that is the focal point of your design down the line should funds get tight. Planning ahead can limit surprises down the road.

Set a Reno Budget

Include labor, building materials, permits, plan drafting, and finishes in your home renovation budget. Decide how much you want to spend first, and then complete your financing. Don't forget to set aside at a minimum of 10% of your budget for unforeseen expenses. Obtain price quotes from many contractors. Eliminate project components with a lesser priority if your cost projections are higher than your allocated budget.

Consider Financing Options

One method to assist finance your new makeover is with a personal loan. First, pick a lender who will pay attention to your situation and act in your best interests and those of your family. Then, to help you arrange your money, think about getting a fixed rate or flexible payback options. Set manageable monthly payments. Personal loans can make the procedure simple and occasionally don't even require collateral, whether they are obtained from businesses like Discover, banks, or credit unions. It's a terrific option to consider, albeit some have restrictions on how much can be used for house remodeling.

Review Your Timeline

By deciding on a targeted launch date, start planning. The amount of time required for each phase of the project will need to be determined by you and your contractor. Establish which renovation component must be finished first and which components can be finished simultaneously. Make sure your remodeling schedule leaves time for both material shipment and delivery as well as project site preparation. The completion date for the renovations should be planned with a few extra days or weeks to account for unforeseen problems.

Keep Your Eye On The Bigger Picture

Keep the big picture in mind when undertaking renovation jobs. Energy loss, repairs, and ongoing maintenance costs can mount up quickly. When comparing prices, be sure to take these into account in your calculations. When planning your renovation project, keep in mind to take into account each component, including the flooring, cabinet colors, wall color, and hardware and how they will fit together.

Find Expert Help

Employ subcontractors that have more than 3-5 years of experience doing the same work, CSLB license, insurance, a stellar BBB rating, and happy client references. Ask your friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors for advice on contractors if they have performed similar renovation jobs. Hire a home building contractor you can trust above everything else.

Visit Previous Work or a Job Site

Visit the present job sites of remodeling contractors before making a decision. You'll learn more about their professionalism as a result. To make sure you can personally work with the company, pay attention to how well the personnel get along with one another and whether you click with the renovation team. Ask your general contractor how long they've been working with the same team. Having a good relationship with their tradespeople is a good sign that they run their business and treat others with respect. The best contractors keep their work areas neat and tidy, and take all safety precautions.

Be A Team

The most crucial thing you can do throughout a renovation project, aside from making on-time payments, is to be kind to the remodeler. Be accessible to your contractor and keep in touch with them. Nothing compares to speaking to your contractor or seeing and experiencing the renovation project in person.

Get A Detailed Contract

The renovation contract you'll be signing should be understood. The most typical kind of contract for home remodeling is a fixed-price contract, which specifies the precise cost of a project, taking into account all permits, building supplies, and labor. This kind of contract locks in the costs, preventing an unforeseen price increase in the future. Understand what is included, and what is not. Discuss with your contractor, and make sure everything is in the contract. Make sure you know what you want before the contract is drafted. After the walls are torn down is not the time to re-negotiate. It happens, but constant changes can cause costs and timelines to change, which can be frustrating to everyone involved. Avoid confusion at all costs.

Try Not To Live In The Home

If at all possible, try to stay somewhere else during construction. If it’s not possible, your contractor should take precautions to make sure the construction zone is sectioned off. You should never access the construction site without your contractor present, and make sure to keep children and pets out. If you are remodeling the kitchen, set up a temporary kitchen elsewhere in the home. Make sure your home has a refrigerator and a microwave so you don’t have to eat out all of the time. The family room, dining room, or another nearby space is probably the best option for this position.

Store Valuables

Although you may not be remodeling the entire home, a remodel will affect the livability of every room. Shaking walls, noise, contractors, parking. We suggest taking down any photos or art, and storing any valuables or fragile items away. Your contractor will likely take precautions, but in areas they are not accessing you should go the extra step to avoid any frustrating accidents.

Speak Up

If you have any questions along the way, or something doesn’t look right or the way you hoped, communicate this with your contractor - not the tradesperson, but your general contractor or project manager. You don’t want to step on the manager’s job and likely the tradesperson can’t take changes directly from you. If you see something, say something. Be polite, but you’re a team with your contractor and they want things to be just right for you!

Keep Resale In Mind

If you’re going to be keeping the home for yourself for 7+ years, don’t worry too much about pleasing the masses, but if you’re going to only stay there for a few years make sure you keep resale value in mind. Over time, trends and client desires change. You should love the home you design. With that in mind, having a home that only you can love may deter home buyers down the line, making your house sit on the market.

Everybody Loves The Bathroom

Unless you enjoy taking long, luxurious baths on a regular basis, avoid using the whirlpool tub. With its vertically aligned water jets along your shower wall, a vertical spa may achieve something similar to a full-body massage. If you don't have time for a bath, consider renovating your bathroom with a feature you'll use and notice frequently, like a luxurious shower with twin heads. To take full use of the practical advantages of an electronic faucet, choose one for cleanliness, ease, and water usage efficiency. If a tub is in your plans, make it a focal point, but nothing that can easily become dated in the near future.

Rethink A Built In Kitchen Desk

This trend is on its way out. Opt for cabinetry instead, or furniture. The rise of the home office made these planning desks in the kitchen obsolete and repetitive.

Consider The Flow

Make sure your space flows well. In rooms that are connected or open, make sure the space goes together. Use paint colors and themes that don’t compete against each other, but instead maintain harmony through the home. One approach to make the most of your makeover and produce more usable spaces is to open up walls and passageways. Each region of your home should include one or more style aspects into the subsequent space to make open floor plans function. To maintain the visual flow, paint all adjacent walls and architectural details the same or similar color.