Planning to Renovate Your Home? Here Are Some Key Pointers to Keep In Mind

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Planning to Renovate Your Home? Here Are Some Key Pointers to Keep In Mind

From minor upgrades, such as painting, to major ones, such as remodeling your bedroom, conducting renovations is part and parcel of being a homeowner. But each renovation brings along its own set of challenges and investment of time, money, and effort. From budgeting to hiring the right contractors and the actual construction process, there are numerous moving pieces you’ll need to manage to ensure the renovation is a success – i.e., it leads to an increase in your home’s value and functionality. In this article by the George Woods Home Selling Team, we’ll explore the step-by-step process homeowners should follow when making renovations.

Creating a Sound Budget

One of the first things you’ll need to do when planning a home renovation is to set a budget. This can be tricky, as there are many factors to consider, such as the cost of materials, labor, and permits.

A good initial step will be to ascertain a ballpark figure for the project. While you may need to utilize debt for funding certain major renovation projects, minor ones should ideally be paid for by personal funds. If you want a better idea regarding setting a budget, reach out to friends and family who have completed similar projects. 

Hiring The Right Contractors 

If you’re doing a major renovation, it’s important to hire qualified and reputable contractors. For example, Woods Construction can assist you with concrete work, landscaping, roofing, driveway installation, and general home improvements. You can also contact Woods Construction to get a second opinion about the upgrades you’re thinking of making.

Next, reach out to receive bids/estimates for the project. Once you receive estimates you are happy with, schedule interviews to meet contractors on your property. This will help them understand your needs better and make any necessary changes to the estimate to make it accurate. When interviewing, inquire about the type of software they use to make estimates. Using software designed for general contractors removes all guesswork from the process and provides you with a clear idea regarding the cost and duration of the project.

If the interview goes well, proceed to enter into a written contract with the contractor that lays down all important details regarding the project, such as the cost, duration, labor, and raw material requirements, as reported by Contiguglia Law Firm.

Include a Home Office in Your Plans

If you are undertaking major renovations, consider adding a home office to the list as well. With the current rise in remote working, it is reasonable to expect that you’ll be working from home sometime in the near future. Not only will a home office serve as the perfect distraction-free space to work productively during the day, but it also doubles as a spare bedroom when entertaining overnight guests.

Hence, when buying furniture for the office, look for multi-functional items such as a sofa-cum-bed, that can serve as a couch during office meetings and as a bed for guests.

Plan for Future Accommodations

Disruptions are a common drawback of renovations which can take various forms, such as a change in your daily routine, the need for alternative living arrangements, and consistent commotion during the day. Hence, it’s best to be prepared for disruptions by making accommodations in advance, such as:

• If you have young children at home, hire a babysitter or send them to stay with relatives while work is being done. This is a good option for households where both parents work and aren’t at home for the majority of the day.

• Be considerate of your neighbors by letting them know about your renovation plans in advance. This includes informing them about the daily work schedule and the tentative duration of the project and accommodating any noise requests from their end.

A home renovation is often a major undertaking, but with careful planning and execution, it can go smoothly. Budgeting and hiring qualified contractors (who use the best software) are two of the most important aspects of any successful home renovation. Additionally, if you’re designing a new home office, be sure to take into account any overnight guests that might stay in your office space. By following these tips, you can ensure that your home renovation goes off without a hitch.

This guest post was provided by Katie Conroy.