Home renovations can be intimidating, whether youโre tackling your first project or your 50th.
To help you out, weโve created this guide with the dos and donโts of home renovations to make your experience as smooth as possible.
Some of these tips are obvious, while others may surprise you, but by reading through them all, youโll be sure to have an easier time with the process overall.
Do plan your home improvements
Home improvements can be a big headache if not planned correctly. Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to ensure that your home improvement project runs smoothly.
These include planning, budgeting, and organizing. The most important thing is to plan ahead of time so that you can stay on budget and avoid any last-minute changes or additions.
You should also keep an organized schedule throughout each phase of your home renovation project in order to get everything done on time and within budget.
Do get informed
The Internet is a good place to start. Look up home improvement projects that have been completed by friends or family members.
Home design magazines, books and websites are another good resource. An informed client is less likely to end up with costly mistakes or unneeded remodeling jobs.
Also, many cities offer free classes on home improvement topics from electrical wiring to indoor air quality.
Do select a service provider
While you may be able to successfully handle a renovation yourself, itโs always best to select a service provider. Whether you need to repair your roof or remodel your kitchen, a professional can save you time, energy, and money.
Make sure to take note of an experienced contractor that can complete all aspects of home improvement projects from start to finish.
Do use social media influencers as consultants
If youโre looking to bring in some big names, check out up-and-coming influencers on Instagram or other platforms. They might not be as expensive as they are now, but they can be worth a lot more than their price tags if they know what theyโre doing.
For example, if youโre planning a renovation, an architect may charge $50 per hour (plus materials), while an Instagram star with thousands of followers could help you brainstorm ideas and give feedback on your plans for free.
Just make sure that person is credibleโthat is, make sure he or she has experience designing homes like yours before hiring them.
Do be prepared
Before you begin any renovation, make sure you have a plan in place. You should know how much money youโre willing to spend, what time frame it will take, and what exactly you plan on doing.
Be sure to ask yourself:
What are my budget limits?
How much time do I have?
And most importantly, what kind of work am I capable of doing myself?
This way, your project will be a success from start to finish.
Do have good communication
If youโre going to be having work done on your home, itโs extremely important that you communicate clearly with your contractor.
Make sure there is no miscommunication about what work will be performed and what work will not be performed.
Let them know of any specific requests or changes, so they can plan accordingly. The more communication, the less potential for mistakes.
Donโt make it complicated
When it comes to home renovation, do yourself a favor by keeping things simple.
Let your design drive your color scheme, let practicality guide your materials, and keep things uncomplicated in every way you can.
The less complicated you make things, both in decorating/remodeling/building as well as throughout day-to-day life (in terms of goals), the happier youโll be with it all.
Donโt wait until you can afford everything
The cost of home renovations can quickly add upโbut donโt wait until you have enough money to get everything you want, or you might be waiting forever.
If youโre working on a limited budget, itโs best to focus on a few key things that will make your house feel like a home. If money is no object, of course, there are infinite ways to decorate.
Donโt go with the highest price bid. Instead, choose based on your research.
When shopping around for home renovations, donโt go with the company that offers a low price bid.
Instead, choose based on your research: Talk to a few local contractors (if possible), ask them questions about their experience and why they think theyโre right for your project.
And make sure you keep an eye out on their reputationโreviews online can tell you how happy past customers were with their work.
Donโt do too much at once
Even a small renovation project can feel overwhelming. But an overhaul of your entire home, from top to bottom, will be more costly than you may realize.
Start small with one room at a time, one project at a time. That way, you can choose what to tackle next based on how much money you have left in your budget as well as how much time you want to invest in planning and executing each project.
Conclusion
When renovating your home, itโs important to adhere to a few basic dos and donโts.
Be sure to hire a professional remodeler who can properly schedule all of your construction activities so that you donโt end up living in a building site, with dust, debris, contractors and noise filling every day of your life.
