9 Renovation Tips For Your Next Project

Renovation Tips to Help Your Next Project 

 Tip One: 

 Do not underestimate the cost of renovations. Renovations always come with some unexpected issues that result in costs. Very rarely does a renovation run 100% smooth with the proper modifications accounted for. For an example, in an older home you may be demoing a wall only to discover you have mold! That would account for additional inspections, and costs to eliminate the issues and prevent it from happening again. Until you start the demo process, it is hard to understand all of the costs. 

 Tip Two: 

 Do the research to set a realistic home reno. Home reno’s can be inexpensive but can also be extremely expensive based on your requirements. Set a real budget, then you will not be surprised if something within your reno becomes more costly, or be surprised from the overall quote to reno. 

 Tip Three: 

 Figure out your finances first. It is best to understand how you are going to finance the project before you start. It will prevent you from having issues within your renovation process. If something happens that you did not initially account for, it can be costly. Not having your finances figured out, or enough for possible issues can cause further project issues and delay that can leave your home in a prolonged mess until the renovation can continue. 

 Tip Four: 

Work with a contractor. Renovations have many stages and doing it on your own can get extremely complicated and you most likely will run into issues with scheduling trades at the right time, finding reliable trades with good costs, and ones that will save you time. A contractors job is to take his team of carpenters and sub-trades to tackle your project. They provide you with all of the quotes necessary to your project, provide you with a complete timeline that details when everything will occur so you know what to expect and handle all issues. The goal is to make the overall project effortless for you as the homeowner. If you have issues with timelines, sub-trades and more while having a contractor, then you probably have hired the wrong one.

Tip Five: 

 Factor in your lifestyle! Change up your space based on your needs. Do not just focus on the aesthetics (even though that is also super important). 

Tip Six: 

 Offset your big splurges by using creativity. There are so many ways to achieve “lavish” looking styles or items without denting your bank account. Do your research and watch some DIY videos. These can save you big dollars in the long run, 

 Tip Seven: 

 Work with an Interior Designer or an Interior Decorator. Hiring someone to help figure out your needs and style and find what is needed to bring it together to create your oasis is a time saver for you and diminishes frustration that you may feel when trying to make big decisions for yourself or having hard times finding what you need. 

 Tip Eight: 

 Keep longevity in mind. You do not want to conduct a large and expensive renovation without thinking of the future. When you jump right in, you have to make sure what you’re creating still functions and works with the space in the future, whether it be 10, 20 or 30 plus years from now. Naturally aesthetics features will change, but designing a properly functioned space will make it so much easier in the future when the only thing you have to do is change up some colors and decor! 

 Tip Nine: 

 Be patient. Patience is key, especially when remodelling your home. The process may seem long and tiring at times, but sometimes that has to happen to ensure everything is completed correctly and your time and money is properly invested into the project - and you successfully get what you pay for. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions and have constant communication between your contractor, designer or trades. They will have the answers you need to help make sure everything goes as smooth as possible. Almost every reno comes with an expected delay or two, so be prepared. For example, your contractor ordered flooring however it hasn’t arrived yet because the boats cannot cross due to weather. This is not your contractors fault, and as much as it is unfortunate and causes unwanted delays, sometimes all you can do is wait until you can access it. This happens a lot during the winter months. So be patient, if you have a good team, trust they are doing everything they can to make sure your project brings you no issues and makes your goals happen!

*Please note that the cover photo is not our photo. It is from JillianHarris.com