You’ve made the decision. You’re going to remodel your home. But where do you start? Renovations are complicated and costly adventures, but one that will be well worth the investment whether you intend on growing old in this house or you want to be able to turn a profit when you outgrow your current home. Follow these simple steps leading up to a renovation to ensure your remodel experience is as pain-free as possible and you still get what you want.
It’s All About The Green
The absolute first thing that must be thoroughly discussed, debated and firmly finalized before you take any other step is creating a budget. Your budget will affect every single decision from the moment you interview contractors until the very end. It’s also very easy to go way over budget if you’re not careful. Touch on these topics before you arrive at your number:
- Must Have Additions – there is a reason for the reno, a specific need driving you to save money to afford necessary updates. These are your non-negotiables. If you don’t get what you want, you’ll be unhappy in the end and it will feel like a waste.
- Fancy Plans – List all the things you want but don’t need. You might be pleasantly surprised by what a contractor is able to hook up for you. Just understand these are the first things to be cut from the list for budgetary reasons.
- Emergency Fund – There’s going to be an unexpected problem. Or there may not. But having an amount of money set aside specifically for the unexpected will save you a ton of stress in the long run. Based on what you’re updating, estimate the worst-case scenario. If you’re venturing into bathroom or laundry room remodels, plumbing and electricity problems could arise. If you’re lucky to escape without any accidents, you can either save the money for your next project, upgrade some fixtures, or use it to take a sweet vacation.
Finding The Perfect Match
Research your contractors. Visit old sites they worked on. Scour message boards. Ask any friends in the area who they used for their renovation. Search online for the top recommended GC’s in your area. Schedule appointments with at least three to start, and continue until you find someone you feel you can trust, who understands your budget, and can communicate effectively with both of you. Read all the reviews (especially the negative ones so you get the full scope of their strengths and weaknesses).
Get That Friendly Advice
Anyone who’s been through a renovation will have a story to tell. Actually, they’ll probably have many stories to tell. And you should let them. It might seem terrifying and momentarily deter you from want to proceed, but it isn’t so don’t let it. But after these stories ask them what’s the one thing they wish they had known going into their reno they feel would have made them better prepared. It’s a wild and crazy ride – just watch the episode of Will & Grace where they decide to renovate the bathroom. Better yet, watch The Money Pit. It’s a lot of strain to undertake. But getting advice from those who have been there, done that will frame your mind for a better perspective on what to expect when expecting a reno.
