A helpful guide for your major home makeover
More than just picking colors and finishes, here is an in-depth guide to your house-renovating journey. Be it one room or your entire house, careful planning results to a beautiful home instead a remodeling nightmare. Know all the ins and outs of house renovating with this handy guide.
Part 1: Reminders Before Renovating
There are 3 stages in every project. There’s the Pre-Prouction, Production & Post-Production. The first step which is pre-production, it involves the logistics and planning of the entire project. Start by working on the logistics to avoid mishaps and delays along the production stage.
Here are some steps to consider before you begin your production phase:
- Set a Budget – Setting a realistic renovation budget is essential, but sticking to it is even more important to avoid spending more than you should. Talk to a professional and research on the costs of labor and different materials and suppliers. For emergencies, set-aside at least 20 percent of your total funds.
- Manage Expectations – Talk to friends who know the process, your contractor, interior designer and architect for realistic expectations. You might opt to renovate in stages if the budget is too short. Set the time you are willing to devote to the project–if you can’t be on-site all the time, allow your renovation to go off-schedule.
- Research, Research, Research – Aside from planning for the look, consider your room’s function and layout. Consult your suppliers about things beyond design, such as plumbing, electrical wiring, and so on, and the construction materials needed before starting the renovation. Tip: When renovating, opt for classic designs and avoid following the trends. Trends quickly fade and change.
- Contact a Contractor – Find a contractor that you are comfortable with and whose work you are confident about. Specify the scope of work to expect, and to get it all in writing. Visiting the site as often as possible is important to make sure that everything is according to your plan.
- Plan Ahead – Remember the shifting interior design trends–classic styles are always easy to update than trendy options. Quality is another important factor–cheap but low-quality materials may save you money now, but it won’t endure the long time.
Renovating requires a lot of your time, money, and attention. Make sure you follow these steps before you start with tearing down your walls.
Here are the other articles of Renovation 101:
*This article has been revised for online reading. The original article appeared on the March 2014 issue of My Home Magazine. Get the e-mag version My Home Magazines on Magzter.
