Home Renovation Survival Guide
Renovations can reek havoc on families. Upsetting schedules, interrupting the normal flow of family life, and causing inconveniences not planned for. Many homeowners approach home renovations unaware of the stresses involved. Read on for tips to help you weather the renovation upheaval.
1. First and foremost: know your budget! We can’t stress this enough. Develop a budget, then work down from the most important item.
Example: Room to renovate: Living Room
Budget amount: Max figure you are willing to spend on renovation.
Must haves: Deduct from your budget first.
Would likes: Deduct from your budget after must haves are taken care of.
Be as precise as you can be in your budget (if you are putting up new sheetrock, make sure you budget for sheetrock screws). The goal is to spend your budget on paper before you purchase any materials. If you are using a contractor for your renovation, this step maybe a little easier. However, be sure you understand what the contractors quote includes ie: materials, labor, clean-up, etc.
2. As you build your budget, do some window shopping. Consider your decor ideas and compare different materials and products. Maybe the pre-painted white bead board will give you the same look and feel as the clear pine, but will cost 1/2 as much. Be sure to check out lighting options! Fixtures can add up quickly. If you are working with a contractor compare their allowances with the actually cost of the product/materials you want to use.
3. Take a close look at the timeline for the renovation compared to your family schedule. If your kitchen will be unusable for 1 1/2 weeks while new cabinets & counters are installed, how will you deal with feeding your family? Should you start the bathroom remodel after your sister’s wedding? Maybe planning a family camping trip during the refinishing of the living room floors would be a good idea. Always, Always, Always look ahead to the next few weeks after the renovation is supposed to be complete and make some general plans for delays in the process.
These three steps will help to make the renovation much less stressful. For every hour spent preparing, you could be saving yourself two hours of stress!
I really like the idea of developing a timeline so your family can be prepared for how long or short the renovation process will take. Sure, there can sometimes be delays, but it is smart to have a good idea of when certain rooms will be unusable. When my family was renovating our house I remember we really struggled sometimes because we didn’t plan out a clear timeline for ourselves.
I really like your ideas, and I think another big part of surviving the renovation process is working with a contractor you can really trust because that lays the groundwork for budgeting, window shopping and developing a timeline. A good contractor will be able to give a pretty good estimate of total cost and the amount of time the project will take if you explain to him/her exactly what you are looking for. The contractor will also be willing to work with you if you want to make new changes after doing some window shopping.
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I really like your ideas, and I think another big part of surviving the renovation process is working with a contractor you can really trust because that lays the groundwork for budgeting, window shopping and developing a timeline.
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Total interior design means everything. Why pay so much attention to the architecture, wall coverings, fabrics and lighting when there’s one small finishing touch that we see and touch every day? Thanks for the tips. Very informative.