Home renovation is a big investment. Not just because of the home revamping costs, but also because of the duration it could take to transform your home into its upgraded state.
Whether you’re renovating to make space for a new addition to the family, or simply because you have the funds to do so, here’s what you need to look out for when creating your schedule for the big renovation.
1) Hire an expert contractor
While cost-cutting might seem enticing, you’ll feel much more secure with an expert contractor like 1300 Rubbish providing you their services for your renovation needs.
A lot of things can go wrong during renovation, like a pipe burst or an inaccurate measurement turning into a domino effect of problems. One thing worse than having your home or equipment break down unexpectedly is when you have no expert overseeing the issue at all. Hiring an inexperienced contractor can cost you hundreds of dollars more than an experienced one—so see to it you have expert contractors to do the job for you.
2) Dispose of unwanted items
Renovating your home entails cleaning it. You’ll likely uncover a slew of disposables and rubbish sprawling around unchecked corners and crevices of your home. Contact your local waste disposal company to get rid of old tubs, kitchen wares, or other big pieces of equipment that may no longer be needed. If you have valuable items that you can’t find in your heart to throw away, consider selling or donating them to the community instead.
Once you’ve weeded out all the unnecessary materials, your house will feel much more inviting and homey. Perfect for renovating and starting anew!
3) Assess your budget (and cost-cut where you can!)
Did you know? Buying swimming pools in the summer is more expensive than any other season.
Seasonality plays a major factor in home renovation. As a wintry alternative, heaters go for a more affordable price in the summertime compared to winter. So the next time you think of following your neighbor by purchasing a new pool in the summertime, think of postponing it to a later time instead.
In addition to this, when renovating small to mid-sized projects, consider going for a DIY project instead of buying refurbishments straight from the hardware store. You can cut costs through this method and get artsy by adding a unique touch to your new living space.
4) Know the size and scale of the project
Are you planning to undergo a major renovation that’ll affect your home on a multi-story scale? Or are you just adding a few cosmetic upgrades to your house?
It’s a good idea to get a good idea of the scope of your renovation. Which rooms are you planning to renovate? What materials and resources do you need, and where can you buy them? How long would you estimate this project to take?
While some projects won’t take you more than a day, like switching the light fixture or installing an AC unit, many could take weeks or months on end. The particularly larger projects may even need the help of experts and construction workers to sort everything out. So get a good idea of what you need before starting, like the need for electrical wiring, room size, and design.
5) Layout your design
You want to facelift your creaky, old house, sure. But you need to have an idealized version in mind before giving it a complete overhaul. Not only that, but you also have to bear in mind the home’s amenities and balance out the house’s needs with its aesthetics before moving forward with the renovation.
This includes installing proper heating and cooling systems, as well as lighting.
If you’re short on inspiration, browse through Tumblr or Pinterest and create mood boards based on designs that you hold an affinity towards.
6) Perform a building inspection
For bigger renovations like constructing a new floor, you should get your house inspected to make sure it’s in the right shape to carry more weight in its base structure. This doesn’t just affect your immediate location, it affects your neighbors as well. Garden fences, for instance, are places where conflicts of interest could cross over.
Additionally, you wouldn’t want to get on the bad side of the law by failing to secure relevant permits for your home renovation. Here are some installations that require their respective permit:
- A new roof
- New doors
- A new window
- Tall fence
- A chimney
- New rooms
Once the building inspector finishes their assessment and report, take note of the permits you’ll have to secure for your newly renovated areas. Then, secure a permit from your local council as needed.
7) Expect the unexpected
Renovation is not always smooth sailing. There could be unexpected costs, minor to major setbacks in schedules, or low-quality material that could all cause problems. Needless to say, having contingency plans can help prepare you for the worse. This could mean increasing your budget slightly or setting aside more time in case of unexpected mishaps.
