Renovating requires a lot of planning and research. You have to consider many things, from the design, budget, painting, flooring, and there is still a high possibility of running into some unplanned problems. Having a good renovation plan is crucial! It could save you a lot of time and money, so you should plan everything in detail before going into your renovation project.
This article will help you plan everything out properly. So let’s get it started!
1. Hiring a designer
You probably have some design ideas you want to incorporate in your project. A professional designer can help you bring those ideas to life in a way that will exceed your expectations. There are way too many things to consider when creating a proper design, and many of those could slip your mind if you are not experienced enough.
The best thing to do is to write down everything from the overall “feel“ to the concrete details you want to be included in the design. Then find a professional whom you can trust. Check out their previous works so you know if they have experience in designing similar projects as your own. Sit down with them and explain your ideas, and ask for their opinion. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! When they come up with the design sketch you like, it’s time to finally start your project.
2. Hiring a general contractor
A general contractor’s responsibility is to oversee the whole project. They will take care that everything goes smoothly. Show them your design plan early on so you know if you’d have the right budget for it. Listen to their input and ask a lot of questions. If some parts of your design prove to be impossible to do due to technical reasons, work with your designer in improving your original plan.
Hiring a good general contractor will put your mind at ease, and trying to be your own general contractor could cost you much more money than hiring a professional one.
3. Budgeting
Once you have the professional input, figuring out your budget should be much easier to do. Still, you should be careful not to underestimate the cost of your project. Many things could go not according to plan, which could prove to be more costly than you expected. Add at least 20% to what you expect the costs to be. In this way, you’ll be ready for any surprises that could arise.
Be sure to set your priorities when budgeting. It’s much more important to ensure your windows and doors are properly set up and have quality hardware, then it is to, for example, buy an overpriced chandelier. You have to make sure that the things you’ll be using on the daily are of the highest quality possible.
Of course, think of the things you can fix and save. Fixing things could be less expensive than buying replacements in some cases, so always keep that in mind!
4. Rental dumpsters
When doing a renovation project, you have to think of everything in advance. You probably know that renovating will produce a lot of waste. Getting rid of that waste yourself could be tricky. This is why our advice is to hire a professional dumpster rental company like this one here. They can help you determine what kind of dumpster you need and dispose of your waste efficiently and promptly.
Many people underestimate the time needed for a renovation cleanup. Don’t be one of them! Finding a way to transport and dispose of all the waste could delay your project a lot, and you definitely don’t want that.
You probably want to finish your project as quickly as possible and getting rid of waste could be a very lengthy job. Hiring a professional will make this process much quicker and easier, and it could be even less costly than doing it yourself.
5. The DIYs
Of course, there will be things you are confident you can do yourself. You could be very well experienced in painting jobs, or you could be a wiring specialist. Whatever you do, make sure you are absolutely confident to do the job well, or else you could end up making the job a lot harder than it is. If you have family or friends who are experts at a job you need to be done, don’t hesitate to ask for help. This could be very good for your budget!
6. A proper schedule
Setting an adequate schedule for your project is essential. The general contractor you hired will help you in building a proper timeline. You have to know that some parts of the project must be done before the others. You can’t do the painting before you do the flooring renovations for example. You have to consider things like the weather for outdoor jobs so you can schedule them adequately.
Try to stick to your schedule, but keep in mind that there could always be some delays, and be prepared to deal with them. You need to have good communication with your contractors, designers, and all other workers involved with your project.
7. Permits
Obtaining necessary building permits can save you from a huge headache in the long run.
Having a building inspector examine your renovation plans and make sure it’s all safe and consistent is of utmost importance. You will need to do some research beforehand since the kinds of permits you’ll need largely depend on your city. You can rely on your contractor to get these, but always make sure to confirm it’s being done.
Most times, inspections will happen at different stages in your project. If you fail an inspection, don’t get discouraged, you can ask for a reinspection. Before the reinspection happens, you should be prepared to draw some funds from your budget to make sure everything is now corrected.
All in all, the most important thing is to plan everything thoroughly. To have a successful renovation you need to have a reliable general contractor, designer, and a good clean up plan.
