Renovations are an exciting time for homeowners, as you witness the home you knew blossom into the home you’ve always wanted. However, the road there can be paved with challenges – day-to-day disruptions, logistical hurdles, unforeseen setbacks and bureaucratic hassles.
To ensure a smoother renovation, it’s wise to prepare as much as possible. This article breaks down the preparation process so you can create a handy checklist for your upcoming reno.
Define Your Goals
It all starts with a thorough ideation process. Homeowners should identify the location(s), scale and – critically – purpose of their renovation to establish a roadmap for the process. This includes cribbing style inspiration pictures from online sources, writing a brief description of the changes you want, and making a clear list of must-haves and “nice-to-haves.”
Create a Budget and Plan
The fiscal and administrative sides of a renovation are no one’s favourite topics. Still, you have to prepare for the financial and logistical realities if you plan to stay on time and budget. Start by evaluating your overall potential budget for the project, then walk it back a little to set aside a contingency fund for unexpected expenses.
Next, make a timeline for the renovation that includes phases and sub-phases. (You might need to consult various tradespeople to arrive at these figures). If it helps, download a project management app to help you stay on top of things.
Hire the Right Professionals
Concurrent with the step above, start putting feelers out for reputable contractors. Essentially, you are looking for contractors with a reliable history of high-quality work delivered on time and on budget. Google is your friend here, so get comfortable scrolling through local websites and rating sites for descriptions/reviews.
Another ace up your sleeve can be partnering with top real estate agencies, especially if you plan to sell your home after renovations finish. Top realtors understand the latest renovation trends and the renovations that increase property value and often know an extensive network of contractors and professionals they’ve worked with in the past.
Prepare Your Home
Before any sledgehammers come down or paint hits the walls, clear the renovation area of furniture, art, and personal items. Talk to your contractors about their strategies for protecting floors, walls and other surfaces from damage. Lastly, if necessary, establish temporary spaces for living, working, cooking, and/or bathing.
Address Permits and Regulations
Permits and regulations are the thorn in the side of many renovating homeowners. But failing to address these bureaucratic checkboxes can come back to haunt you – with delayed project times, hefty penalties, and resale troubles. Research your local building code and permit requirements, set aside an afternoon to make sense of it all, and apply for the necessary permits well in advance of the project start date.
Prepare Yourself, Your Family and Your Neighbors
Lastly, consider the human angle in all of this. Determine strategies to mitigate your stress levels throughout the process, including stress-relieving activities and practices. Extend those practices to your family, and maintain an open dialogue about what they can expect over the following weeks or months.
Pinpoint quiet spaces of refuge that you or your family can utilize during the more intense phases of the project. And, as a gesture of neighbourly goodwill, inform the homes around you about the renovation – especially if you expect noise and neighbourhood traffic.
A little planning can save you a lot of headaches down the road. Follow these straightforward steps to ensure a seamless renovation.
