Renovating your house is a great way to increase its value and boost your enjoyment. But if you’ve never undergone extensive home renovations before, be prepared for what might be an overwhelming process. Today, Laura Ashley Design discusses what you might expect and offers tips on how to get through it with your sanity intact.
Get organized.
Even though you might not be doing the work, you still have to stay organized. There’s a good chance that you’ll be dealing with many different contractors, and you’ll have design schemes, forms, receipts, and other documents relating to your renovation that need to stay together. Instead of holding on to a fistful of paper files, consider scanning your documents and then merging PDF files so that you can keep track of info specific to different phases of your renovation. This will make it much easier to find what you’re looking for if you encounter issues with any of your contractors.
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Be prepared for disruption.
This is one time when it pays to keep your eyes on the prize, which is your finished home. Home renovations are incredibly inconvenient and disruptive, and depending on the scope of the work, you may even need to stay elsewhere for a short time. However, if you do plan to stay home, you can expect some interruptions in your daily routine. There will be dust, noise, debris, and people walking in and out. If you work from home, especially, you’ll need to plan for this.
So it would be wise to speak with the contractors to understand the process, type of work, stages of work, and types of tools they'll be using to get the job done.
If you're expecting prolonged periods of excessive noise, which could damage your hearing in the long run, the best audiologist advice would be to get out of the house, or use hearing protection for the time. Also, keep an eye on the dust levels, this could negatively affect your breathing. Your planning needs to consider all the disruptive aspects of a renovation.
Maintain a flexible budget.
According to Renofi, about 33% of all residential renovations go over budget. And if you have a Kitchen or master bathroom overhaul planned, you’ll almost certainly go over budget because of the complexity of the scope of the work. Plan for at least a 10% overage.
Choose your renovations wisely.
There are many different types of home renovations that you might consider. Many of the most common, outside of the kitchen and master bath, are basements and room additions. If you’re going for a basement renovation, you might turn the space into a bedroom. A quick tip here: if you don’t have the money for a full-fledged overhaul, start with painting or refurbishing only select areas of the basement. The Spruce also notes that you can utilize basement dividers or cover the walls with storage for a unique look. A home addition can cost $100,000 or more, so if you are on a budget, consider this only as a last resort.
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Plan ahead for design.
The last thing you want to do is spend thousands of dollars on a home renovation only to have a blank space you don’t love. Work with an online Interior designer that best understands how to make your space cozy and comfortable based on your family’s needs and wants. Remember, your home tells people who you are and can even play a role in your daily mood.
Keep your family safe.
We’ve already mentioned that you may need to leave the home during your renovation. But you also have to be there at some point. Make sure that your family is fully aware of everything happening, and take steps to keep them safe. This might include being home when your children get off the bus or boarding your pet when workers are on site to avoid any potential injuries or legal action.
Ultimately, having a home renovation completed is one of the best ways to squeeze the most enjoyment out of your address. But it’s not without its challenges. To overcome the vast majority of these, stay organized with digital files, plan ahead, and be prepared for disruptions throughout the duration of your home renovation.
Brad Krause | Founder-Owner
Brad Krause created Self Caring after years spent putting his own self-care on the back burner. Brad discovered his real calling-helping people implement self-care practices that improve their overall wellbeing. His website is intended to share his own knowledge and the many great resources he finds on his self-care journey.