When you decide to renovate your home, you are undertaking a project that is a huge investment both financially and in time. The project can even be disruptive enough to have you live out of your house for a period of time.
Before you go ahead and carry out that huge renovation task you were thinking about, here are a few things you should keep in mind:
- Figure out why you are doing these renovations. As we mentioned earlier, renovations are a huge investment in time and money. Clarifying why you are doing a renovation can better determine what’s most important to complete. Are you doing it for practical reasons, looking to create more value, or want to make your living space more aesthetically pleasing? Jot down the reasons on why you are undertaking these plans and the cons and sacrifices you’ll have to make. You may find out you may want to change your renovation plans or even scrap them altogether.
- Plan out a well-thought out and realistic budget. Your renovation will usually cost more than you think. There are usually unexpected occurrences that happen, such as more materials may be needed or extra time will be required to complete the project. A good rule of thumb is to budget out an extra 10 percent on top of the planned cost. This way you will be prepared for any surprises that may be thrown your way.
- Expect the unexpected. Change is a fluid process. You may have your heart set in one direction, but as you go through the process, you may find out that you want to go in a different direction. What you had in mind may not be working when finally acted upon. That is why we recommend putting that extra 10 percent in your budget in case that happens.
- Make sure you do your research. You should talk to friends who have renovated their houses and other real estate and renovation experts. Hearing what they have to say will give you a clear understanding of what to expect as you go through this huge task. The more information you have, the smoother the renovation will be.
The most important thing about this renovation is to have fun. At the end of the day, the hard work and investments will pay off as you will have something that you will be able to admire for years to come. For any of your renovation needs, contact the professionals at Bauer Construction.