Home renovations can be a lot of fun, but they do come with their fair share of stress too. The rollercoaster of emotions is often par for the course. But there are some simple tips that can help you manage your home renovation a little bit easier.
Plan Ahead
Spend as much time researching as possible, right down to the hinges you want. This will give you a deeper insight into the costs (which will always be bigger) and the length of time you will need between starting and finishing. Look into your finishing materials, design options, functional features, and storage options are really important too. Any time you see a sign with ‘view our storage options’ – do it!
Budget
Your budget is going to dictate much of what you can get, and it might even give you more or less time to complete the project. Very few renovation projects fail, but if they do run into blips, it tends to be the cause of the budget. Work out how much you can truly afford to spend, and add a little bit extra on top.
It is suggested that you add at least 10% of your budget on top to cover unforeseen circumstances.
Collect References
Unfortunately, there are a lot of cowboy builders. It is vital that you get as many references and read as many reviews as you can before you choose to hire anyone. Make sure that you have also seen their portfolio. There is a huge difference between ‘great value for’ money and something that is ‘too cheap’ (and will be subpar).
If you have friends or neighbours that have had work done on their home, ask them for recommendations.
Regulations
There are some rules and regulations that you will need to adhere too. Planning permission will be required for many types of renovations, and if you don’t apply and get the right permissions, then you can get fined and have to remove the extensions or renovations.
There are some situations where it isn’t required, so make sure you understand the planning permission that you require in your area.
Nice site
You will still, most likely, need to live in the property while it is being renovated. And while most of the mess and dust is out of your control, you can still make it a nice(ish) space. Your workpeople will probably really appreciate tea, biscuits, and somewhere to sit from time to time. Worksites can often be dusty, and building burns a lot of energy.
This keeps a positive feeling within the building site, and if things come down to the crunch, those positive and healthy relationships will be in your favour.
In the end, when you are in the middle of renovations, it can be a long a difficult road. There will be small stuff that happens, big ‘issues,’ and most likely a few days where you wonder why you started it.
But in the end, you will be left with a space that you love and have built specifically for you.
