Remodeling a home is never an easy and trouble-free project, to be quite honest. Still, the expectation and buzz you get from imagining the prospect of a new place should give you enough energy to see the project through. Also, there’s usually a lot of expenditure involved, which only increases the pressure and stress. Finally, you have to make sure you make all the right decisions to avoid having to deal with problems later.
On the other hand, all those realistic problems can be significantly reduced if you plan carefully and anticipate obstacles and choose how you’re going to deal with them. That’s why we’ve prepared some tips that should help you be more ready before taking up a home improvement project.
Budget issues
Let’s start with the biggest and most stress-inducing aspect of any project of this kind – budget. It is estimated that the only time when we spend more money is when we actually buy the home we are about to renovate. Also, you have to get correct and realistic estimates from contractors regarding the renovation costs, but that’s not all. You have to allow some room for unexpected expenditure, which translates into the following: don’t start home renovation if you can’t cover unexpected expenditure. Australian experts say that you should plan for 10% above the original budget to feel less stressed out.
Schedules and deadlines
Every remodeling project includes a very complex schedule of works. Next, some major parts of the project, such as kitchen and bathroom remodels, require more time than others, which means they can easily be delayed for some reason and affect all other works. This is always a problem when you have to fit in different workers into one schedule. That’s why you shouldn’t envisage tight deadlines, with no room for delays. Make objective estimates regarding the duration of individual works and allow time for deadlines to be extended.
Contractors
It’s absolutely vital to find the right people for the job, because you want to get the job well done, so that you don’t have to worry about home renovation for some time in the future. If you hire someone just because they are the only ones available or cheapest, you stand every chance of ending up disappointed. This is especially important when it comes to parts of your home such as the roof. It covers about half of your house’s exterior and is always exposed to the elements which, in the case of Australia, can be very harsh. So, you should only go for recognised and recommended roofing contractors, such as these professionals in quality roof restoration from Brisbane. Another example would be if you have pests in your home, you would definitely want a to get rid of them right away with the help of a highly trusted bed bug extermination company. The person you hire should be able to present different options (if possible) with all their pros and cons, so that you can make an informed decision.
Mess and noise
No renovation project can take place without a lot of mess and noise, so be ready for that. Also, make sure that no load works are performed outside allowed hours and that you organise for the waste to be disposed of quickly and efficiently to an appropriate place. No matter how hard you try, there will be lots of dust, regardless of how often and well you clean the space. So, don’t get nervous about it, but wait for the whole project to finish before you actually give it a good and thorough cleaning. When it comes to noise, your task is to disturb your neighbours as little as possible and to protect your family from the noise. Ideally, you should move away while such works are taking place.
You may not get what you want
Let’s say your idea was to invest in home renovation to increase your home’s resale value by a margin greater than the investment. While that is a legitimate goal, the reality is sometimes different. You may find yourself in a situation where you’ve “over-renovated” your home and spent much more money than necessary, so you can’t expect a buyer to pay for unnecessary luxury.
Basically, it comes down to good planning, finding the right people and having realistic expectations. If you get those things right, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of your freshly renovated home.
