Whether you’re planning on remodelling for profit, or are aiming to transform your house into the home of your dreams, renovating any abode is a hefty task. Even if this isn’t your first rodeo and you’ve renovated in the past, each home remodelling project brings unique twists and challenges that can prove to be a real headache if you haven’t set up a clear plan in mind. Unfortunately, many homeowners do just that by diving into the renovation process with no clue of what to expect, leaving themselves vulnerable to a whole medley of different mishaps that could be avoided with a proper plan in place.
If you’re looking to ensure that your home renovation process goes as smoothly as possible, you’ve landed on the perfect article. Before you go down the twists and turns of the renovation path, here are 7 tips to follow before you start remodelling.
1. Set Out Your Renovation Goals
Whether you plan on making minor renovations with your own power tools or are planning for a major remodelling project, setting out your renovation goals early in the game is step one to a successful renovation project. To put it simply, it is vital to know what you want to achieve with your renovation and why. For example, if your goal is to increase the resale value of your home, it is always helpful to talk to a local real estate agent or home builder to find out more about what you can do to improve your home for a competitive edge.
On the flipside, if you are remodelling to avoid moving, the work you do now should still service your needs in a few years’ time. Be sure to think about how many bathrooms, bedrooms and how much living space you will need in the future, especially if you plan on starting or expanding your family. Once you have figured out your renovation goals, you will be better equipped to move on to the next steps of making your dream come true.
2. Think About Your Budget
When it comes to your budget for your home renovation process, it is always advisable to remain realistic. In a perfect world, budget would not be an issue, but the truth is, improper planning when it comes to finances has the ability to turn your renovation project into an unaffordable disaster. It is important to remember that the most important part of managing a renovation budget happens before the build starts, and the key is being super organised by mapping out the whole project ahead of time.
Generally, we recommend getting written quotes from at least three builders and being very clear about what your quotes do or do not include. By clarifying every detail of what your builder will be supplying, you are less likely to encounter unexpected variations during the build. Because overspends are very common in building projects, you should also add a contingency of 10-20% to your budget to ensure that you are not under-budgeting for your project.
3. Organise Your Development Application
Depending on the type of home renovation project you are undertaking, in the process you may or may not need to organise developmental applications with your local council. If you are undertaking any building work on your property, you’ll need to find out whether your project requires a planning permit, a building permit, or both. In most cases, you will need to apply for a planning permit for a new home, extension, renovation or an additional dwelling on the land. Even if you are not planning for an extension, it is always wise to never speculate on the approvals you will need. Find out for sure by contacting your local council, state planning authority or by consulting a town planner.
4. Think Towards The Future
Once your local council has approved your renovation project (if applicable to your case), it is time to consider the changes you would like to make to your home. Whether you are renovating for a profit or for personal use, thinking towards the future when choosing your renovation materials, style, fixtures and fittings is key. In most cases, we advise against investing in changes or trends that you’ll tire of quickly. This is especially important if you are planning to sell your home, as outdated trends or styles can quickly slash the resale value of your property.
As a rule of thumb, we recommend opting for timeless add-ons and renovations that offer both practicality and longevity to your build. Say no to passing trends, and yes to changes that you can be proud of even 20 years down the line.
5. Enlist The Help Of Experts
If you are struggling to envision your home design or are working with a challenging building, a great idea is to enlist the help of an architect or interior designer who will be able to offer expert advice on the matter. These types of experts in their field can use all the resources and knowledge to search for what you need at the budget you have, which saves time and money in the long run.
As always, it is important to check the credentials of anyone you hire through your state architecture board or your local building authority. It is also wise to look up reviews and examples of work online before jumping the gun. Lastly, you can expect to spend around 10% of your budget on interior design and architectural fees, but we guarantee it will be worth the investment.
6. Be Realistic About Your Timeline
One of the most important aspects to understand before jumping into a home renovation is that your project will most likely take longer to complete than expected, so be prepared, and make accommodations to avoid frustration. A lot of the time, unexpected delays occur due to various reasons, some of which include material shortages, weather conditions, backorders, contractor scheduling and more. Additionally, unexpected pre-existing conditions such as water damage, mould or termites may be uncovered during the renovation process, further delaying the deadline.
Unfortunately, it is near impossible to guarantee a home renovation without any delays no matter how well you prepare, and the key is to remain flexible and always have a contingency budget and schedule in place.
7. Always Expect The Unexpected
Last but not least, be prepared to always expect the unexpected. A good example of this is COVID-19 which placed heavy and unexpected delays on the construction industry due to soaring prices of raw materials, timber shortages and other issues in the supply chain management. As a result, many homeowners were left waiting for a further period of up to 2 years for construction on homes to be completed. This is just one example of how you should expect the unexpected by planning for extra time in your renovation timeline and extra money into your budget to allow for unanticipated mishaps along the way.
Top Tip: According to some renovation consultants, you should add a 10-20% cushion to your timeline and just assume your project will take longer than anticipated.
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And there you have it – 7 tips you absolutely must follow before beginning your home renovation process. Renovating your home, no matter how big or small the project, requires a serious amount of attention paid to all the details. Thankfully, you can plan for or avoid costly or timely delays by taking the time to set yourself up properly with a clear plan in mind.
