Key Steps You Should Take Before You Begin a Renovation Pr

At the start of the year, many homeowners think more about how to freshen up their homes and make them look and feel better for the months ahead. This might be for themselves and their family to enjoy or perhaps to get a better price when selling the property.

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If you’re planning a remodeling project this coming year, it’s important to be strategic about how you go about the work and avoid wasting time, money, and energy in turn. Here are some steps to take early in a renovation project to reduce hurdles, including stress.

Work Out What You Can Realistically Spend

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One of the biggest things that needs to happen upfront, but that many people don’t actually do, is to create a budget for the renovation work. Having a vague number in mind isn’t the same as and won’t keep you on track like having a specific budget. Set an amount you know you can afford to spend on the project and feel comfortable investing.

When you have a set budget, you’ll be much less likely to go overboard with your spending and end up regretting some of your outlays. Plus, you’ll find that the decision-making is quicker and easier because you’ll be able to tell, right away, whether certain facets fit your budget and whether to entertain them or not. It pays to allocate parts of your budget for different expenses, too, such as demolition, shipping, contractors, rubbish removal, bank fees for loans, if needed, materials, fittings and fixtures, etc.

Create a Plan and Schedule for the Project

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Since it’s easy for renovation projects to get out of hand, it’s also wise to devise a plan for the work before you begin anything. Develop a schedule of work with the order it needs to be done in that will help save time and make life less stressful. When you plan appropriately, you’ll save money, too.

For example, you won’t have to outlay extra cash to get goods shipped ASAP because you’ve forgotten certain supplies you need. Or, you won’t need to have tradespeople charging you extra while they wait around for some other job to be finished so they can do their work.

You can develop a plan yourself, but also chat with your builder, project manager, or other contractor about what they see as realistic schedules they and various tradespeople should be able to work to. Always allow some buffer time, though, since delays are inevitable. There might be bad weather that halts work in progress, or someone may get sick and not be able to do their job on time, etc.

When planning, it’s helpful to list your priorities and goals for your remodel work. While some of us have unlimited budgets and timeframes and can thus wish for any outcomes we like, for most of us, there will be priorities that we particularly want to factor into the renovation.

We’ll also have some things that are “nice-to-haves” that we hope for but may need to be more realistic and accepting about if they’re not necessarily doable based on our limited funds, time, or other matters. If you have an ordered list of what’s most important to you, you’ll find it simpler to see what to focus on and what to let drop away and not stress about as the remodeling work proceeds.

Learn Which Elements are Most Likely to Add Value and Which Might Be Overcapitalizing

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Before getting too far down the track of renovating, determine what will add significant value to the property and what might be a waste of your money. You don’t want to invest in things that won’t deliver in this area, especially if you plan to sell your property soon. It’s worth chatting with real estate agents in your area about what buyers typically look for. Learn what they’ll particularly pay for, what they won’t care about, or what might turn them off altogether.

For example, most buyers are keen to find properties with good heating and cooling options, so it’s generally a good idea to invest in a reverse-cycle air conditioning unit or an elegant chandelier ceiling fan or gas heater, etc., in various rooms of the home. Most people will want an updated kitchen and bathroom, too.

On the other hand, some people will pay substantially more for an extra bedroom or an office where they can work from home. In contrast, others will be keen to enjoy all the mod cons, technology-wise, or prefer an easy-care home that can be locked up and left when they travel for weeks or months.

Some people long for a pool, while others see it as needing too much work; the same goes for a big garden. If you’re clear about what the majority of buyers want in your suburb, this will help you see where the best use of your renovation funds will be.

Do these things and otherwise prepare for a renovation, and you should find your remodeling jobs go more smoothly and you’re happier with the final result.