It can be overwhelming starting a home renovation, especially if you haven’t done one before. Whatever the project, your renovation will involve several details so, it can easily become daunting.
Have a look at the steps and tips below to help when planning a home remodel, how to organise, prioritize and, write a detailed home project plan:
Build A Detailed Plan
The first step you should take when remodelling is to develop a plan that clearly defines your goals for your renovation. It needs to include design inspiration and outline, in detail, the work that needs to be completed. You should include:
- Sketches or prints of the finished product
- A detailed list of wants and needs that is sorted
- Steps you need to take, and which will require a professional
- Check what supplies you need such as those you find at Visqueen construction products.
During this point in your planning, you need to investigate local regulations and permits. Make sure you are able and in the right zone for your remodel. Some like garage conversions aren’t always allowed. It depends on your location, also find out if you need a permit. If your project is going to change the structure of your home or change the use of the room in your home, chances are you will need a permit. Wait for your permit application to come back before you start any work and create your timeline.
Set Your Budget
The next step for you to take is your budget and financing. You need to include things like the cost of permits, your building supplies, any labour costs and the cost of added cosmetic touches and decorations. To build your budget you should think about:
- How much can you afford?
- Set aside some funds for unexpected costs
- Request more than one quote and barter if you can
- Price up all your materials
If your costs don’t meet your budget then you need to relook at your plans and eliminate any projects that can set to one side for a later date. If you’re working with a contractor to see if they can complete your requests in the budget, they will be able to give you a good idea if it’s doable.
Hire The Contractors
Next, you need to hire the team of professionals that you’re going to use. You shouldn’t choose your contractor purely based on costs either. When looking for the right contractors for the job you need to also think about:
- Their reputation, are there any reviews that you can see?
- How many years experience do they have?
- Do they have a contracting licence?
- How about a certificate of insurance?
- Can you get any references from previous customers?
- What are their payment terms? A reputable contractor isn’t likely to expect you to lay upfront, so, it’s important you discuss any payment terms.
Sometimes it may be worth spending a little more, even if on budget, to ensure you get the right contractor for you. If you are going to using several different contractors you need to have a primary contractor to be in charge so there is no confusion. They can then direct the other contractor around their timeline.
Set A Timeline
Now that you have a plan in place, an idea of what you want to do, contractor sorted and your budget set, it’s time to think about putting together your timeline. STrat by choosing your start date, or by thinking about a date when you need the work to be completed and work backwards instead. Have a meeting with your contractors and determine the length of time it will take to complete each part of the remodel. Which steps need to be completed first? How long will each take? And can any be completed concurrently? You also want to think about :
- Time for cleaning, there can be a lot of mess with a remodel so it’s a good idea to set some time aside to keep on top of the cleaning
- Allow time for any deliveries and shipping
- Ask if your contractor are taking any holidays, or are you taking any?
You should ideally have a calendar where you can mark out your timeline clearly. Set a completion date and allow for a few days of wiggle space in case there are any unexpected issues. Once you have it laid out, confirm it with your contractors and make sure it is realistic for both of you and also keeps you within your budget.
Pack Up And Get Ready For Your Renovation To Start
Now that the planning stage is pretty much complete, it will be nearing the start of your project, however, firstly you need to start organising and making preparations. Prep the space that is going to be worked on, and make plans for you to avoid this space while it is under construction. Some people choose not to, or it’s not suitable for them to live in their home while work is being completed. You’re best speaking with your construction team to identify if this is less than ideal.
If you’re planning on having major work done to your kitchen or bathroom make sure that you put steps into place for you to be able to use some bathroom facilities and have a space to prepare food. You could always have takeaways or eat out for a few nights. If you’re doing work on any of the bedrooms then it’s a good idea to find some sleep arrangments, even if this is hotel for a few nights, and remember to include this in your budget.
If your renovating your whole home then moving out for a few weeks might be a better option especially if you have children and pets. Remember that renovation work can cause dust, dirt and hazards to be around your home so it’s important to put steps into place to keep kids and pets safe. If you can arrange for them to stay elsewhere during a project it’s going to a lot safer and less stressful.
This is just a short guide for the steps you should take when planning a renovation, do you have any other tips that you can share in the comments below?
