Renovating a home can be an exciting adventure or turn into your worst nightmare. Most people who have undertaken such a project would describe it as a good mixture of both. However, the process can be relatively painless if you do sufficient planning and keep adapting to changes in the schedule, which are unfortunate but inevitable.
Unlike building from scratch, renovating homeowners are not starting with a blank slate. Therefore, they must work within the confines of what an existing structure allows. To do otherwise would be to invite unforeseen expenses and numerous delays and disappointments. Here are five points for would-be renovators to ponder:
1. Think appliances first
Most people put functional things like appliances on the backburner when they renovate, which is not a great approach. While a renovation is about creating a new look in a room or entire home, an element of practicality is essential.
For example, when envisioning new cabinets and work surfaces for a kitchen, decide where the appliances will be and build around that. A renovation is an ideal opportunity to buy appliances that consume less energy. This concept is not limited to the conventional notion of appliances. Best Electric Radiators heating solutions are also designed with minimal electricity consumption in mind.
The heating industry has made many energy-efficiency strides in recent years. The product offerings of suppliers like Technotherm, Haverland, and Herschel Select reflect how far things have come from the days of basic radiators that favored neither form nor function. These advances mean that your heating appliance selection should be as much of a priority as conventional appliances.
2. Spend time on design
People who make hasty renovation decisions tend to regret them later. The principle of acting in haste and repenting at leisure undoubtedly applies to revamping a home. To get a feel for what needs to happen in a renovation, spend some time in the space. It prevents having to go back to the drawing board after realizing too late that you forgot to add something to the to-do list. For example, without taking time to envision yourself living in this space, you might forget to get the contractor to install extra plug points.
Once you know what you want to do with a space, make a comprehensive list of everything necessary to achieve your goal. Work through it with your partner or a trusted friend or family member. Sometimes, an extra pair of eyes will spot something you had overlooked.
3. Getting help
While some people undertake a renovation on their own as a DIY project, such a labor of love can turn into a detestable task. Unless you are an experienced contractor or qualified artisan,doing renovations alone often takes longer, requires more than one attempt, and could leave you disappointed with the result.
Get at least three contractors to quote on the job before selecting one. Investigate your preferred contractor’s reputation and track record. Trust is an important lever in the relationship between contractor and client.
4. Work in a sequence
It might not seem like a big deal if things do not happen in the correct order with so much work to be done. However, it can turn into a disaster if you lay a new carpet before having ceilings painted. When you work with different companies and contractors, dates may overlap, causing delays or renovations that happen out of sequence. This could lead to additional unforeseen expenses.
Many experienced renovators prefer to work with one contractor who oversees a project from start to finish. They subcontract some jobs, such as electrical wiring and carpeting, to other businesses but are on hand to ensure that quality work is delivered.
5. Budget for extra expenses
To avoid having unforeseen expenses ruining your budget, allocate some money for them. Then you can cope with them when they crop up, as they inevitably do. Older houses may hold many secrets, including shifted floor joists, unseen water damage, and outdated plumbing or electrical systems. A plumbing disaster could cause additional damage to the house while it is being fixed or replaced.
People who have overseen many renovations advise those new to the game to expect the unexpected. It helps you take the delays and additional expenditure in your stride.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
