If you want a refreshing look in your kitchen or your living room patio, you can always try renovating them. But how can you effectively plan and carry out a renovation project in your own home? What are things you need to consider? Who are the people that you have to involve?
Let us try to answer these questions by knowing what constitutes a successful remodeling project.
Before deciding to have a renovation of your home or a portion of it, remember that it is more than an investment. It is where you go home to everyday, where you build your family, and where you mingle with your relatives and friends.
A thoughtful investment, appropriate planning and effective scheduling are needed in order to carry out a successful renovation.
Involve the right people
Whether your project will be a small one, say renovating your kitchen, or a big task, like remodeling the whole ground floor of your home, you need to know who are the professionals that you need to call, consult, and hire.
If you will hire a remodeling company to do the project, most of them already have professional staff such as architects and designers. Though smaller companies with limited people can still cater to your renovation needs by partnering with other local firms.
Changing your interior decorations may only require a designer and an architect will not be an essential partner in the project. But as your project gets bigger and complicated, you may need the services of an experienced architect.
Know your budget
Discussing your budget with your remodeling contractor will be an effective start in planning the renovation. Some remodeling companies offer their expertise and provide estimates of how much you will be needing and spending for the renovation.
But in case you haven’t decided yet who will be your contractor is, you can do your own estimates by checking online or from friends and relatives who have undergone the same renovation.
It is also important that you establish your spending limit. If you have set and agreed on a budget with your contractor, ensure that you have an overspending allowance of at least 20%.
If in case you will be borrowing to finance your renovation, you have to check and assess how much can your local bank lend to you, how much will be the interest, and how will it affect your monthly expenses.
Hire a competent remodeler
Hiring the right contractor for you will not be an easy task. But there are various resources that can help you find the suitable remodeler for your renovation needs.
Checking the internet is one of your options. Just be careful in contracting online, check and investigate first if their business is legitimate. You can do this by checking their certification and affiliation with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry or NARI. If they are a member of NARI, you can put your mind at ease as NARI only accepts experienced, qualified, ethical and dependable remodelers.
Another option is getting recommendations from your friends, neighbors, or work colleagues. Word of mouth is a good tool in finding the right people to work on your project.
Find a temporary home
Having to stay in a temporary shelter will depend on the size, scope, and timing of your renovation. There are good short-term housing being offered in the market, you just have to find the best one near you.
It wouldn’t hurt asking your friends or other family members and letting them know that you are on the hunt for a provisional home. You might even be lucky to know that your colleague has an empty villa or guest house which you can use for free.
Another good source is a subletting site like Airbnb. Vacation homes and apartments are listed on the website to be rented on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.
Just ensure that before packing your bags and leaving your home, you have safe kept your valuables and discussed with your contractors how your immovable fixtures will be protected.
Read your contract
Before signing your renovation contract with your remodeling partners, ensure to read and understand the entire contract in order to ensure that all aspects of the jobs and responsibilities are covered.
The contract should reflect the parties involved and their responsibilities and liabilities, the price to be paid, the payment mode and terms, project start dates and schedules, and warranties. Instructions regarding disputes and how to resolve such should also be indicated in the contract.
A detailed contract is essential to avoid any conflict that could lead to delays and even legal actions in the future.
A remodeling project is truly an exhausting but exciting endeavor. With the early planning, knowing your needs and limits, and hiring the right people, you can expect an enticing and fruitful result.
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