There is much more to remodeling your home than just looking at photos online and checking out sites like JD Kitchens or Pinterest for ideas and inspiration.
Managing a remodel of your home is a serious project.
And, same as with any other project, there are some dos and don’ts, some tips and tricks that you should follow to make the whole process go smoother.
Stick to one look
When you are early in the planning stages of remodeling, it is easy to get overwhelmed with all the possibilities. So before you make any purchases or contact any builders and contractors, pick the overall aesthetic for your home.
Do you want your new place to have a modern look? Or do you perhaps prefer something more traditional? Is glam your jam?
Once you know the general look and feel that you want to achieve, it will be much easier to focus your planning efforts on achieving that specific aesthetic.
Make a list and stick to it
When managing a remodel, keep in mind that lists are your friends. Write down everything that needs to be done, and specify exactly how, where and when you need a specific task completed.
Whether you are remodeling by yourself or handled by a single builder or several of them, writing a list will help you organize your thoughts and ensure that something important is not forgotten.
Moreover, a detailed list of everything you want to be done in your house is good to have handy even before any work starts. Simply make several copies of your wishlist and give them to each potential contractor.
Since they will all be given the same list with the same demands, it will be easier for you to determine which company offers the best prices.
Be there during the remodeling
Imagine that you have already found your ideal workers – builders, electricians, and so on.
As a homeowner, you might find it challenging to be present while your old house is being taken apart to be built again. Your impulse might be to simply walk away from the remodeling site and return once everything is done. But you should resist that urge.
Without your supervision, something valuable might get lost, broken, or even stolen. Besides, you should be there to help different teams coordinate. For instance, if there is a wall where you want to place some new light fixtures, you should let the builders know beforehand. That way, they will learn to leave the stud frame open for the electricians that will come after them.
All in all, your presence during the remodel will not only give you peace of mind but also make the entire process run much smoother.
Be firm under pressure
When planning your dream remodeling and coming up with a list of things to do, don’t be afraid to go into specifics. The more detailed your plan is, the easier it will be to handle the contractors once it starts.
Your builders will have a ton of questions for you. For example, which tiles do you want in the kitchen? Where exactly should they place the wall lights? And so on. Your best course of action is to predict as many of these questions as possible in your initial plan.
And, once you decide on a specific tile pattern, the color of your wooden windows, or any other thing, do not let anyone persuade you to go for an alternative, even if it’s cheaper. It is your dream house, and you are the one who will be living in it, so stick to your guns.
Make a budget
During a remodel, things can – and most certainly will – go wrong. For example, you might discover that the walls behind those old kitchen cabinets are in terrible shape, or that the pipes need replacing, or that the floor beneath the carpet is all messed up.
What is important is that you keep your cool during these times. It is better to have a nasty surprise like that during the remodel than a year later when you think everything in and around your home is as perfect as it can be.
But, you should also consider these unwanted surprises when planning your budget. You should add some ten percent more on top of what you plan to spend on workers and materials for this type of emergencies.
Don’t be ashamed to seek help
The final piece of advice for you is – don’t hesitate to seek help if you feel like you’re in over your head.
It takes a particular type of person to manage a remodel. If you got dizzy just from reading this article, it’s OK. You can always hire a project manager to handle all these issues for you.
Sure, you will have to pay for their services, but sometimes peace of mind is the most valuable thing you can’t put a price on.
