Renovating a house comes with significant challenges and demands careful consideration. Unexpected setbacks and missteps are common. This makes it essential to plan thoroughly to ensure a seamless process.
To achieve a successful renovation, preparation is key. By understanding what steps to take and what essentials to organize in advance, you’ll be better equipped to transform your home with confidence and avoid unnecessary hurdles.
Consider Purchasing a Key Lockbox
If you’re planning to renovate your home before moving in and live a good distance away, think about getting a key lockbox. For major tasks you can’t handle on your own, it’ll be necessary to hire a contractor.
Keep in mind that contractors typically begin work early, so unless you’re ready to battle morning traffic just to unlock the door, it’s a smart idea to set up a lockbox or install smart door hardware. These options allow you to share access using a code, saving you significant time, energy, and the hassle of early morning trips.
Understand Planning Permission
For your renovation project, the type of work you plan to undertake might require planning permission. Many people assume planning permission is needed in most cases. However, there’s a wide range of work you can carry out under permitted development rights.
Contact your local planning department before starting your renovation. They can clarify what falls under permitted development and what might need formal planning consent. If permission is required, starting the application process early is important, as it can take time to complete. Filing your plans sooner will help prevent delays down the line. Check everything from plumbing permit requirements to potential insurance coverage changes, and be sure your contractor is licensed and insured.
Set Practical Expectations for Your Schedule
Home renovations often take more time than you might expect, so it’s crucial to plan ahead and make adjustments to avoid unnecessary stress. For instance, you might assume that swapping out an outdated double vanity and a whirlpool tub in a bathroom will be a quick job.
While removing the old fixtures may only take a few hours, finding a new tub and vanity that you truly love can take several weeks, and once you do, delivery may take an additional two weeks. What starts as a plan to have your hall bath ready in a week could easily stretch into six weeks or more.
To minimize surprises, set realistic expectations for the renovation process and make sure to choose all your new fixtures before beginning any demolition. This approach will help the project move along more smoothly.
Anticipate the Unforeseen
Every home has hidden surprises, behind the walls, beneath the floors, or in other unseen places. Renovations often bring these to the surface. Imagine this scenario: as your contractor prepares for those beautiful new hardwood floors you’ve been excited about, they discover your floors are uneven due to a shifted center joist.
Now, you’re faced with fixing the joist and addressing how the issue slipped past the home inspection before moving forward. This is just one example of the unexpected hurdles that can pop up during renovations. It’s why setting aside extra time and adding a cushion to your budget is so important, giving you room to manage surprises without unnecessary stress.
Start With Your Kitchen Renovation
Starting your renovation with the kitchen is typically the smartest choice. A kitchen remodel not only adds substantial value to your property, but also enhances your day-to-day enjoyment of the space.
According to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s report, Realtors say that a full kitchen renovation can recoup 75% of its cost when selling your home. Additionally, beginning with the kitchen prevents new paint and finishes in other rooms from being exposed to the dust and debris that such a project usually generates.
To minimize disruption, consider setting up a temporary kitchen in another area of the house and use plastic coverings to contain demolition mess, especially since kitchen remodels can take several months to complete.
Establish the Budget
Determine a realistic budget for your dream renovation and plan how to finance it. Investigate the average costs for your desired work, calculate the total, and include a contingency of 5% to 10% for unexpected expenses. If your estimate exceeds your budget, consider scaling back the project or finding areas to cut costs.
A useful guideline is to consider the return on investment (ROI) and whether the planned improvements will add equivalent value to your home. Unless they are essential for structure or lifestyle, a costly remodel with top-tier fixtures might not be justified.
Engage with Your Neighbors
Share your plans with your neighbors to maintain good relations when contractors are coming and going, and construction noise might disrupt their routine. For homes under a Homeowners Association (HOA), make sure to secure its approval before moving ahead with your intended improvements.
If you’re aiming for a remodel that feels personal and aren’t in a hurry, consider the idea of slow renovating. By pacing yourself, you can take pleasure in shaping your perfect space, steer clear of decision fatigue, and give yourself the opportunity to locate or budget for the key pieces that will tie the entire project together.
Endnote
Before diving into the actual demos and renovations, it may feel like there’s a lot to tackle. Ultimately, it’s your decision to prioritize the most crucial steps before starting. However, remember that a little preparation can save you time, money, stress, and even health risks. Planning ahead could spare you some headaches later on.
