Renovating your home is an exciting proposition, but it can also be overwhelming. After all, it's your biggest investment! It pays to plan ahead so you can avoid stress and enjoy the process. Here are some tips to help you renovate your home without breaking a sweat.
Permits
Before starting renovations, always check if permits are needed for the work being done. You may have lived in your home for years but certain changes might now require that you obtain building permits from the local authority. Building codes change all the time, which is why it is important for homeowners to be aware of their jurisdictions' rules and regulations before embarking on any project within their homes. For example, if your renovation work would affect a party wall, you are required to serve a party wall notice in London to the adjoining property owner at least two months before construction.
If you're not sure whether you need a permit or not, call your local city hall and ask.
Home Insurance
One of the first things that you should do before starting renovation work on your home is to find out what type of construction is covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy. Most policies cover damages from events such as fires, floods and earthquakes but some don't cover renovations or faulty workmanship.
By finding out about this in advance, you will know exactly where you stand so you can either take appropriate measures to protect yourself financially or seek professional help if needed.
Contractors and Handymen
If hiring contractors feels like too much for now, it may be a good idea for you to start off by getting friends and family members to help you on weekends. That way, you can save some money and at the same time get used to working with a talented crew on your project.
If it's beyond busy schedules that you're wrestling with, perhaps consider assembling your own group of experts from the neighbourhood who may be able to carry out certain aspects of the work and save you money in the process (who knows, maybe some new friendships will come out of this). One option is hiring an interior designer or decorator while another would be enlisting someone who specialises in cabinet making.
Get Price Estimates Or Quotes
Whether you plan to hire professionals or assemble your own team, getting price estimates or quotes ahead of time is one of the most important steps in avoiding stress when renovating your house. It's best to look at guides for all home renovations to gauge costs. Asking for quotes isn't really about comparison shopping but rather about finding out if certain renovations are actually possible with what's in your budget.
Clean Up
To minimize the mess during renovations, contain it in one area. If you have a whole house to renovate, try working on only one room at a time so you don't have to move piles of debris or clutter around.
A couple of weeks before your renovation begins, it might be a good idea to start clearing out the clutter from certain rooms. While it's important not to compromise on safety during this time, think about how much junk you can pack off to storage spaces before work commences. This will help make your renovation that much smoother because having adequate space is key when you're working with tradesmen.
Do-It-Yourself Renovation Work
The majority of homeowners choose to hire architects, designers, decorators and contractors when renovating their homes. However, if you're apprehensive about spending any money at all on renovations (keeping in mind that there are free renovation guides available online), then perhaps consider doing some of the work yourself. This way you can save up for certain projects while still ensuring that your home looks great.
However, to avoid stress during renovation works it might be a good idea to complete any major DIY tasks prior to getting started with actual renovations. Replacing the windows in a room is one such example because unless they're available offcuts from a local hardware store, will require a disassembling part of the room to haul them in. This will mean taking down window frames and closing off the area until work has been completed.
Planning Ahead Of Time
Planning ahead is one of the best ways to avoid stress when visiting your local DIY store for renovation supplies. If you go in without a list, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the number of options available. Instead, try brainstorming ideas for your renovation and making an extensive list ahead of time. Keep it in mind that when buying certain items (such as paint or wallpaper), having exact measurements will ensure much better results than trying to estimate how much you'll need based on rough guesses.
Don't Forget The Exterior Of Your Home
Another thing to consider is that many homeowners focus exclusively on the interior when renovating their house, forgetting about the facade altogether. This is understandable given that most people spend around 90% of their time indoors but there are benefits involved with sprucing up your home's exterior too! For example, new fencing can lead to a cleaner yard while installing new windows and doors will help keep heating/cooling costs low.
Even though renovations can be a stressful time, there are ways to mitigate this. Start by clearing out the clutter and keeping renovation work confined to one area at a time. Then if you plan ahead and budget wisely, there's no reason why your next renovation has to be too tough for comfort!
