6 Tips for Planning, Budgeting and Hiring for your Next Home Renovation

Starting a new home renovation project may seem overwhelming at first, especially if you don’t know where to start. Before you can remodel your home, you’ll have to consider several things, like the specific details you should include in your plan, what you should add to your budget, and who you should hire. Whatever the home renovation project you have in mind, there are always things that you should prioritize to make sure that everything before, during, and after renovation. Here are some tips that you can use to start planning, budgeting, and hiring for your next home renovation.

1. Start with Research

When renovating a home, remember to never start with the renovation right away. Start by researching the materials you need, the people you have to work with, local zoning regulations and permits, and even the guidelines that should be followed, especially for an extensive renovation project in your neighborhood.

You might be surprised by what you discover in your research; not all beautiful and elegant items can only be bought from high-end stores. You never know. That lamp post you’ve been eyeing or those gutter guards or gutter covers that go well with your theme might just be available somewhere else at a lower price. You can try your hand at online shopping, visiting thrift stores, and even second-hand furniture shops to make the most of your budget.

2. Create Your Home Renovation Project Plan (Define your End Goal)

Before going over your budget, you’ll need to develop a detailed renovation plan that clearly defines the end goals for your renovation. You can include items from your dream board here, your design inspiration, and a specific outline of all the work that you need to complete, given a specified timeline. 

Your renovation plan can also include:

• Blueprints, and even sketches, of your Before and After
• A checklist of the things you need, and the items you want for your project
• Project steps that categorize the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) tasks and the steps that need a professional

3. Set Your Budget, But Expect to Exceed it

One of the essential things you have to consider when planning a remodeling project is determining your budget and financing. Your budget plan should include the costs for building materials, labor costs, permits, and the cost of decorations or cosmetic touches.

You’ll have to estimate the costs of all the things you need and finalize your financing. From there, you also need to set aside at least 10% of your budget for unexpected expenses. If your cost estimates tell you that you’ve gone beyond your budget, you can always go back to your project plan to eliminate the lower priority steps.

4. Consider Your Temporary Housing Arrangements

If you’ll only be working on a partial home remodel, then it’s easy to set up a renovation-free area inside your home where your family can relax. However, if you are working on a complete renovation project, it would be much easier to arrange a couple of days where your family can stay somewhere else, especially during major renovation work.

Strong fumes, dust, and heavy equipment and materials can render your house unfit for you to live in during remodeling. In this case, you can try to communicate with your contractors to determine which part of the project these instances are more likely to occur and how long they will need to finish that stage of the work.

5. Hire the Right Contractors for Your Project

A home renovation project will be a significant investment on your part, so you need to have the mindset of always doing it right, whether it’s your first renovation project or not. You cannot do a renovation project all on your own. You need to hire the right people, so the chances of making mistakes become zero to none.

Here are some of the contractors you can include in your team:

• An interior designer
• An architect
• A general contractor

An interior designer and an architect can help you make your vision a reality. A general contractor can help oversee the entire project. You can also consult with a certified master Inspector for special inspections and possible repairs. This will take many burdens and stresses off you compared to overseeing all the individual installations on your own. You’re also less likely to create irreparable damage if you work with people who know exactly what they’re doing.

6. Remember that Specialty Materials Require Special Expertise

There are unique materials that will come with special instructions and installation techniques. If your general contractor doesn’t have any prior experience with these types of materials, you might have to hire specific contractors who have experience working with these specialty materials.

A Final Note Before You Start

Renovating a home can be a daunting and time-consuming process. However, once you’ve come up with a detailed plan that includes specific details like your needs and priorities, your budget, and the contractors you will hire, your project will no longer seem like it’s an impossible task.

When it comes to any renovation project, always remember that there will always be unexpected things that might still delay your timeline, like supplier concerns and even the weather. Creating a comprehensive renovation plan and sticking to it will help make your project less stressful than anticipated while ensuring you remain on budget and on schedule.

Thank you for reading 6 Tips for Planning, Budgeting and Hiring for your Next Home Renovation