Your home is your sanctuary. It serves as a quiet reprieve after a long, tiring day. But eventually, the old charm wears off, and you will want a change. Of course, not everyone has the luxury of time and resources to relocate to a new place. This is where home renovation comes in. You don’t have to rebuild your house because there are easy and simple ways to give your current abode a fresh start.
If you plan to give your house a brand new look and feel but are unsure where to start, we’ve got you covered! The home renovation process can be overwhelming, but with the right planning, creativity, patience, and determination, you can give your worn-out dwelling the ultimate upgrade.
We’ve gathered some handy tips to help you every step of the way. Ready to roll up your sleeves and plan everything out? Let’s get going!
Start by Building Your Project Plan
Every remodeling project needs a solid plan, which should include your goals, design inspiration, and an outline of the work that you want to accomplish. You might even go further by dividing the steps to make the project easier to manage.
You must categorize your indulgent wants and practical needs during the planning stage. Of course, working to your vision of a home upgrade is possible, but you have to learn how to prioritize and compromise if needed. You might be able to splurge on some areas and cut back on others, depending on your hobbies and must-haves.
For example, if you are into cooking and baking, it makes sense to invest in improving your kitchen space instead of the garage. Do you want to enjoy spending time outdoors? Then splurging on enhancing your backyard seems the best idea.
Consider other important factors in the planning process. How much is your budget? Are you going with the DIY route, or do you prefer to hire professionals? We’ll discuss the other details in the succeeding steps.
Brainstorm Inspiring Ideas
You want to give your home an upgrade, but you don’t know where to start. A good bank of inspiring ideas is what you need to jumpstart this exciting journey. Why not start by brainstorming some of them? We have also prepared some tips for you.
- Refresh rooms with paint. This one is pretty common and easy. By repainting the walls, you can give your drab, washed-out rooms a fresh look. A coat of paint has the power to transform the whole space, whether you go for classic white or a splash of fun colors like teal or peach.
- Renew old flooring. Does your floor look worn and dull after years of treading through them? Now is the time to give your flooring a makeover. If you want a finish that can fit your limited budget, opt to paint the floor instead. But if you have room for a more grandiose finish, you can go all in and bring in new tiles.
- Give kitchen cabinets a new finish. A simple paint job can give your kitchen cabinets an interesting look. If you want to take it further, you can also try installing floating cabinets for your spices.
- Give your half bath a makeover – A half bath is a great place to add some pizazz, as so many people use the room including guests and residents. Change out the counters or consider adding a pedestal sink. Maybe consider adding an interesting high quality wallpaper.
- Bring a touch of nature inside. Whether it is a big potted plant to cheer up the space or an accent wall with painted leaves, bringing a hint of nature inside your home can be a good upgrade ideal without the complexity of a major renovation.
- Build a relaxing deck. If you love the idea of spending quality time waiting for sunset right at your doorstep, adding a deck can be a great decision. You can use eco-friendly composite deck boards for a long-lasting, low-maintenance deck. Furnish it with a comfortable lounging set and a hammock for optimum relaxation.
Set a Strict Budget for the Upgrade
Your budget can make or break your home upgrade project. That’s why it pays to be smart about it. Setting a strict budget for your project can help you put the whole upgrade under control or risk spending money you do not have. When budgeting, consider the costs for building materials, permits, labor, and cosmetic touches.
The first step to setting your budget properly is to decide how much you are willing to spend. Once that’s determined, you can then finalize the financing. Are you dipping into your sinking fund, or will you get a bank loan? You should be able to allocate at least 10% of that budget to cover unexpected costs to be on the safe side. You won’t want to accumulate debts or abandon the project midway.
To help you get a better idea of the costs, you may request estimates from professionals. They have a better insight into the current cost of labor and required materials, which will make it easier and more convenient on your end.
What if your budget is not enough for the project you have in mind? The solution is simple: go back to your project plan and eliminate elements you can live without. You have to prioritize those that are doable.
Research and Choose the Contractors
If you plan to hire contractors, you must conduct thorough research before choosing one. This necessary step will ensure that you are hiring the right man for the job. When looking for contractors, avoid choosing one based on cost estimates alone. While it is a huge factor, there are other essential things to consider.
This includes the years of experience. Contractors with demonstrated expertise in the business are safer choices than those who are new to the industry. You must also find out whether your potential candidates have a contracting license. Your contractor must go through all the steps needed to gain a certification in specific areas of their work. Find out if they have a certificate of insurance as this will protect you should they need to compensate for the type of work they perform.
Another factor when choosing a good contractor is getting references. You may request this from the potential contractors. Make sure you call the references once you have the list to ensure that your contractor is good at their job beyond their credentials on paper.
While it is standard practice for contractors not to provide the full price upfront, discussing the terms of payment is still crucial before you begin the project. Ultimately, you will need someone you are comfortable working with.
Alternatively, you can choose to do it all alone, relying on your creativity and DIY skills. This means you need to prepare not just the materials but also the tools you need to implement your vision, from paint rollers to hole-making tools like annular cutters.
Make Sure to Set a Timeframe
Now that you have a project plan, budget, and contractor in mind, it is time to get to the project timeline. Making one will give you a good head start, allowing you to visualize your dream project and ensure it’s done on time.
Pick your desired start date. This is important as your choice will estimate when the project will be completed and allow you to make necessary adjustments if needed. Review the timeline with your contractor so they can give you a rough estimate of the length of time each portion of the project will take.
Your timeline should also consider the shipping and delivery of materials and the holidays and days off your contractors may take. Allocate some wiggle room for unexpected problems. Remember, your timeline needs to be both realistic and within budget.
Wrapping It Up
Planning the ultimate home upgrade requires careful consideration, determination, and a strong vision of what you want and how to make it happen. It pays to plan and prepare for problems and challenges that get in the way. This means allocating a slice of the budget for such needs and allotting a few extra days in your project timeline.
Of course, it is not always guaranteed that everything will go smoothly, but with enough planning and preparation, you can transform your dream home upgrade into reality.
To renovate the building, we need to find a professional company that knows how to work in this field. In fact, the characteristics of the building renovation company are very important, and if they do not have the appropriate characteristics, they are not eligible to work in the renovation project. In fact, this process is not as easy as people think and must proceed according to certain principles and conditions. The first thing that these people should know about building renovation companies is whether these companies do building renovations from zero to one hundred or not. There are some of these companies that do a percentage of the work and assign the rest to another person or contractor. Also, doing team work, doing work with the most skill, using quality products, etc. are among the things that can play an important role in this process.
If you have a clear definition of building renovations, having a checklist can help ensure that you cover everything that needs to be done and that no steps are missed.
The first thing to add to your building renovation checklist is to have a plan. Having a plan helps to manage the duration of the reconstruction of the Kalangi building in the first step. Make a list of the things you are going to do and the contracts you are going to make. Find contractors in your area who can work within your budget. Obtain any municipal permits you need. It is necessary to comply with all these points before starting the reconstruction process of the building.