Everything You Need to Consider Before Starting a Renovation Project
May 5, 2023
9 min read
If you're planning a home renovation, it's essential to be organized and have a clear plan in place. A renovation checklist can help you keep track of all the tasks involved and ensure you don't overlook anything.
By following a checklist, you can stay on budget and make sure that your renovation project runs smoothly from start to finish.
Ultimate Guide for Home Renovation
Whether a cosmetic update or a major overhaul, a renovation checklist will help you stay focused and on track. So if you're ready for your next renovation project, use a renovation checklist to help you plan and execute your vision.
Outline Your Goals and Allocate Resources
Before starting any work, gaining a thorough understanding of the entire home renovation project is crucial. Take time to consider what aspects you want to alter and how much money you intend to invest—two essential elements for successful results.
1. Determine your budget.
The cost of home renovation materials and services went up by 5% to 10% in the past year, according to HomeAdvisor. Additionally, many areas are experiencing delays in material deliveries. Experts recommend planning and organizing as early as possible To ensure the success of your renovation project. Be prepared for potential changes in costs, and allow extra time for material ordering.
When setting your budget for a renovation, it is important to get the number right. You should budget an additional 10% to 15% for unexpected costs when planning your home renovation project. This will help ensure you have enough money to cover all necessary expenses. It is important to remember to factor in additional expenses, such as hiring an interior designer or relocating, as these can significantly impact the overall cost.
2. Identify your wants and reasons.
Knowing your motivation for renovating is essential before drawing any inspiration. Whether it be increasing the value of a home, modernizing an area, changing the style, or making better use of space to meet family needs—creating and expressing this focus before beginning ensures all experts involved are on-board with achieving desired results.
Also, consider the bigger picture when planning a home renovation. Take into account your current needs, wants, and long-term value of the project. For example, in aiming for a kitchen remodel, you might want to consider the resale value of the updates you're planning. If you're planning to sell your home in the future, renovations may be more appealing to potential buyers and can increase the value of your home.
3. Know your priorities.
When renovating your home, it's imperative to identify what matters most to you, including style and sustainability. Prioritize and think of a plan of attack; if increasing natural light is a top priority, consider focusing on windows. When tackling the kitchen, focus on layout and appliances for maximum functionality. Don't forget to account for any elements or designs that are non-negotiable!
4. Consider hiring a designer.
Are you considering embarking on a home renovation project? Before taking the plunge, it could be worth bringing in an experienced designer to help turn your vision into reality.
From entertaining family and friends with dinners at the dining room table to enhancing productivity while working from home, designers provide insight into what different rooms of your house need to feel like and ensure avoiding mistakes to save costs further down the line.
Additionally, a designer may be able to provide support and assistance throughout the entire renovation process, depending on the extent of their involvement.
Create Design Concepts
The journey to create your dream space is a thrilling one. Working with an interior designer can help you explore innovative designs and concepts while providing direct feedback on how they can best bring your vision into reality.
1. Gain inspiration.
To bring your decorating dreams to life, start by gathering inspiration from any source that strikes you. Take note of colors and textures that capture the moods you want for each room in addition to design styles or furniture that look admired elsewhere, be it a friend’s home, magazines, catalogs, or social media accounts.
Finally, carefully examine your house to see if any hidden features could help refine your interior aesthetic vision.
2. Choose your preferred items and materials.
With any renovation project, it is critical to thoroughly check all items before placing the order. While choosing cabinet knobs at this stage may seem premature, having them preselected will prevent design hiccups later in your plan.
3. Visualize your plan.
Having a vision for your home is one thing, but ensuring it comes to fruition requires precision. To make sure that everyone involved understands how to turn this space from an idea into reality, it is important to create drawings. These can be made by you or by a professional designer who can create detailed plans and documents that include every single detail, such as the location of outlets and air vents.
These designs will help contractors complete the work exactly as you want and ensure that your open and airy space exceeds your original expectations.
4. Complete the plan.
For any project to be successful, you must be confident in your plans. Evaluate every aspect of—cost, form, and function and make sure they align with your objectives before proceeding. Create a solidified strategy for yourself by sealing these ideas down firmly.
Don't let tiny alterations like changing window measurements affect the timeline or overall goal. Outline as much detail from this original plan into stone; so everyone has a clear view of what needs to happen throughout the renovation journey.
Assemble Your Team
After crafting a well-thought plan, it's time to turn vision into reality. It starts with securing the right contractor who will be with you on this journey throughout numerous months of work in your abode—an experienced construction consultant and residential professional.
1. Ask for recommendations.
Get the inside scoop on home renovations by asking family and friends who they chose to spruce up their living space. Thoroughly research online reviews, scope out other completed projects in your area similar to yours, or get help from an expert designer.
2. Evaluate the candidates.
It is essential to meet with a contractor before hiring them to ensure that their level of service meets your expectations. Observe how comfortable they make you feel when addressing questions and directions. If communication is lacking at this point, they most likely won't fulfill your needs as desired.
Ask for documents like insurance information and change order process, and see who will be in charge of the project daily. You can also get additional guarantees by checking references from previous work they've completed.
3. Evaluate your plan and get an estimate.
When selecting a contractor for your home improvement project, seek out several quotes and assess each based on the value. However, be aware that too many contenders may be off-putting; industry professionals suggest narrowing down options carefully while ensuring you get enough estimates of completion time and cost. Remember to factor in permit timelines as well - obtaining these can often add up to four months alone.
4. Work out a contract.
Select the winning bid, and craft a comprehensive contract with the contractor—one that includes an agreement on the timeline, costs, payment plan, and more. Don't forget to consider who will take responsibility for ordering supplies or obtaining necessary permits.
Get Your Home Ready
Counting down to demolition day? With a reputable contractor on board, your preparations are sure to be successful. Get the details you need now and begin prepping for an exciting renovation!
1. Inform your neighbors.
Before demolition day, ensure that your neighbors are well-informed about the forthcoming construction project. Provide them with a means of getting in touch should they have any questions or concerns regarding noise levels, waste disposal practices, parking accessibility, and personnel activity.
2. Take before and after photos of your home.
Images can be a valuable asset for preserving memories, but they are also useful as evidence. By keeping snapshots of your home before, during, and after the process, you'll have proof that any damage was not pre-existing—this could prove invaluable if something goes awry.
3. Find a temporary place to stay.
Finding alternative living arrangements while home renovations are underway is a small price to pay for the convenience of not having to contend with noise, blocked driveways, and strange odors. Doing so can also translate into timely project completion that would benefit both owner and builder alike in an otherwise stressful situation; it's truly a win-win!
4. Acquire necessary materials.
With materials supply chains facing shortages and delays, ordering in advance is of utmost importance for a successful home renovation. Whether it be the contractor obtaining lumber or you selecting furnishing items, taking these steps before demolition day can help prevent any unwelcome surprises from 12 to 26 weeks between order placement and delivery. Few things are as disruptive to your project as an incorrectly ordered item, so take care when making selections!
5. Relocate your belongings.
For the project to go smoothly and efficiently, remove personal items from the space. Moving your belongings will make room for incoming materials and create a clear path for anyone coming or going from your home. To streamline these efforts, you might consider relocating items to other rooms or investing in a storage unit.
Remain Available and Open to Adjustments
With your belongings tucked away in storage and the keys to your old place officially returned, demolition is underway. Though daunting at first glance, there's still a checklist of tasks that need attending before you can turn this page for good—don't let it sit on the backburner!
1. Record progress and make necessary payments.
Make sure to stay out of the way and heed your contractor's requests for check-ins. Pay promptly, as late payments can impede progress on your project. Additionally, designers will be present at walkthroughs and meetings with tradespeople to ensure that lighting selection placements are handled correctly.
2. Keep in touch.
Maintain efficient communication between you and your contractor to have a successful project. Work with the contractor directly for any alterations needed, and remember that subcontractors typically lack the authority to make quick decisions if approached about this. Furthermore, respond promptly when your contractor contacts you, as timely communication is crucial for maintaining progress on the project.
3. Be prepared to switch to alternative plans.
Unexpected problems may throw off even the most meticulously designed plans. When this happens, contractors strive to recover quickly and find alternative solutions to ensure a successful result. It pays to stay open-minded and take any issues with stride as they arise - because better times are sure ahead!
Start Your Dream Home Renovation Today
With a clear plan in front of you, it’s easy to see where things stand at any given moment throughout the process—so there are no surprises or delays along the way. Plus, having a checklist helps keep everyone involved accountable so that all tasks are completed on time and without fail! Start your dream home renovation today!
