Thinking about a remodel? Here are a few tips from experience on what to think about beforehand and prepare yourself for what’s to come.
Choosing to remodel your home is not an easy choice. It’s important to prepare for the worst and hope for the best, but is also something that can be a fun project, especially if you’re into that sort of thing! We meet clients all the time that are open to having to do some work on the home. It gives you a project to do on the weekends and a chance to really make the house you just purchased, your home.
Here are a few things to think about!
1. The Cost
Decide what all is needed vs things that are maybe more of a want. Are there items that need to be addressed quicker than others or is it mainly cosmetic updates that you want accomplished? If you are just looking for a facelift rather than a full remodel then obviously your expenses will most likely be lower than if you were to be tearing down walls.
Decide on a number that you are comfortable spending and be sure to leave wiggle room for all of the “what ifs” that you might not be prepared for (especially during larger remodels). It’s best to try and find all of your flooring, cabinets, lighting, paint, etc. sooner rather than later so you know exactly how much it is going to cost, to get what you want. You can also break each room down and give each one it’s own budget if necessary!
Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. You never know what surprises hide behind the walls and the floors. Sometimes the electrical is outdated and has to be redone or maybe there’s unknown water damage that you now need to somehow budget for, which is why the wiggle room is always important.
2. DIY?
You know yourself best, are you handy enough to learn how to retile a bathroom floor or is it better to leave it up to the professionals? Although you can save some money by doing things yourself know your limits and what would be smarter just to hire out. A little more money in the beginning could be much more worth it in the end! An easy one to do on your own is painting the interior.
Although some skill and patience are involved, this is definitely one that can be tackled on your own! Doing the demo, switching out hardware and lighting fixtures are other ways to save some money and do them yourself without too much risk involved.
3. Research
It’s almost impossible to be over prepared, so put some time and thought into what’s about to happen. Get a game plan early on so you can tackle it head on! If you are doing most of the work yourself, really research the products you are using and the process that goes into it. If you are hiring out the work, it is always best to go with someone reputable and recommended by others. There is nothing worse than the person you hired to not finish the work or to not show up at all in the middle of a project! Spend the extra time finding a person and company that you trust.
4. Enjoy it!
It’s probably going to get stressful at some point, so do your best to laugh at the mistakes and enjoy the journey. Making your dream home come to life is a lifelong memory to be made and one that will probably bring up stories told for years. I remember remodeling our kitchen when I was young and having to eat dinner on the floor for two weeks! Now all you can do is look back and laugh at the pictures while sitting in your now brand new kitchen, ready for all of the new moments.
