- Have a Realistic Budget
- Is Your Project Structural or Cosmetic?
- Be Honest about Pre-Existing Conditions
- Daily Life Disrupted
- Come with Ideas, but be Open to Suggestions
With each New Year comes new resolutions, aspirations, goals and projects. As many of you settle back into your homes following the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, and the last of the holiday decorations have been put away, you find yourself contemplating the home renovation you’ve been wanting for some time. Whether it be a new kitchen, bathroom, or home office space, here are five tips to get you started.
Have a Realistic Budget
This first one might seem like a no-brainer, but it has been our experience that many people are unsure of their budget when they approach their contractor for a home renovation. Having a budget is everything when it comes to remodeling. It is what makes daydreaming while flipping through Better Homes & Gardens Magazine into a reality. However, having a budget is not enough to get you started on your home renovation journey. A realistic budget is key. For instance, you can’t expect to get a fully renovated kitchen where walls are knocked down, plumbing is moved, custom cabinets with high-end appliances are ordered for a budget of $10,000. The global supply chain issues partnered with the cost of quality labor and service comes at a realistic price.
Is Your Project Structural or Cosmetic?
Are you looking to give your home a face lift or are you stripping it down to the studs to start completely over? Having an idea of what type of work your home renovation will consist of can potentially help you save time and money. For example, if you are looking to have something structurally done to your home, a set of engineered plans may be needed. It is important to remember that engineered plans are different from plans from an architectural designer. Architect’s specialize in aesthetic, functional, and spatial designs while also meeting necessary building codes. Structural engineers use mathematical engineering principles and technology to determine necessary load bearing and safety systems to meet local and international building codes. Both the architect’s and the engineer’s work is combined into a set of final building plans. The contractor’s job is to build against the building plans. In the case of some minor remodeling projects, a set of either architectural design or structural engineering plans alone may be enough to obtain proper permits to complete your project. Understanding whether you need an architectural designer, engineer, or both ahead of any project can save you time and money. A good contractor can help educate you on what is required before you begin any job.
Be Honest About Pre-Existing Conditions
Being honest with yourself and your contractor is critical for a successful home renovation. Like any other relationship, communication is key between the client and the contractor. During your initial conversations with a contractor will be the time to talk about worst case scenarios. Like my husband always says, “plan for the worst, hope for the best.” Most contractors will do everything they can to spot pre-existing conditions or problems before work starts. Unfortunately, they do not have x-ray vision (although that’d be cool if they did!) Sometimes problems are not discovered until demolition is complete. It is important to be open with your contractor ahead of time so they can help you budget for potential underlying damage and have plans in place on how to address it if the need should arise.
Daily Life Disrupted
Even the most anticipated home renovation can lead to a disruption to the homeowners’ daily life. Depending on the renovation, it can cause an uprooted routine, a change to the norm, and create dust and debris. It is best to go into a home renovation with a clear understanding that your daily life and routine may be disrupted until the completion of the work. By mentally preparing for this in advance, it can help alleviate stress and frustration down the road.
Come with Ideas but Be Open to Suggestions
Having ideas for your home renovation design is another crucial part to making your home renovation dream into a reality. Clients who have idea boards, pictures, and architecturally reviewed plans prior to the start of the renovation, can save time at the beginning of the project. While contractors are happy to give suggestions along the way, clients have differing tastes and styles so it can be challenging for contractors to make all the design selections. Conversely, clients who are unwilling to be flexible on design might face other challenges. If a homeowner’s design doesn’t match their budget or goes against building code, a good contractor will offer alternate solutions that are just as desirable. Homeowners should think of their contractor as a tour guide, they can give you helpful tips, they can lead you towards more suitable options, and they can give you valuable knowledge about the renovation process.
The Livable Homes Difference
Livable Homes was founded on open and honest communication and respect with and for our clients. We strive to make your home renovations or custom home build dreams into a reality. What makes Livable Homes different from other residential contractors are our accurate quotes and a level of personalized service we provide to all our clients. At the end of the day, all we have is our reputation and our integrity, and we pride ourselves in maintaining this with our customers.
