A Basic Renovation Guide For Your Home
For many homeowners, making the best decisions before and during a renovation is non-negotiable. This is essentially why many focus on cost-effective projects. A home renovation aims to create additional space, modernize, improve functionality and enhance comfort. This could explain why 90% of US homeowners are likely to renovate their existing homes. If you’re part of them, below is a useful guide.
- Always use professional help
Some renovations should be left for the experts. Therefore, they should not be treated as a DIY activity, especially when you have no technical experience in home improvement projects. The likelihood of causing damage and costly repairs will greatly increase if you attempt to do some renovation yourself or the other occupants in the building. Aside from these, you may also seriously injure yourself.
The best decision will be to use professional help, requiring different experts for different aspects. For example, you will need an electrician for electrical work, a plumber for pipes, etc. There are multiple professionals you should consider hiring for your home renovation to provide the best-finished product. However, some jobs like painting can be done without the use of a professional, so this is where you could save some money by doing the job alone. If you need work done to your roof, you may need professionals from a roof replacement company to repair or reinstall a new roof for your renovation
- Stick to your budget and avoid overspending
According to houzz.com, people often overspend or exceed their renovation budget because of poor planning. They usually fail to define the specific details of the renovation project like the type of home extension needed, building materials required, workers, companies to hire, etc. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement and forget to plan adequately. This is why it is recommended to be realistic about the type of renovation your finances would allow.
Intricate designs and the availability of different style themes can quickly overwhelm you and result in overspending. Therefore, before the renovation starts, you may want to discuss with the contractor to clarify your goals, expectations, and budget. This can help eliminate the risks of exceeding your budget midway through the project. Homeowners who overspent their renovation budgets say it always happens at the last minute when they suddenly think of a new design idea.
- Be prepared for unforeseen delays
A full home renovation can take up to 16 weeks to complete. However, sometimes, things do not always go according to plan. Renovation market reports and Business Insider indicate that delays can forestall the project for about a month or two. With this in mind, it helps to factor possible delays into your planning. This way, you will have enough cushioning to cater to unexpected costs.
- Factor in energy efficiency during your renovations
It is a good idea to take the opportunity to include energy-efficient elements in your home renovation project. For example, if you have always had high energy bills, it would be a good time to upgrade windows, check your HVAC system, and reinforce your insulation. This is a purely technical area that requires the skill of a licensed and experienced electrician.
To conclude, for the best outcome, it would be great to modernize the house with sufficient consideration for what you can afford and your lifestyle.
