Many of us will face the question of whether or not we should renovate our home or move on, but with the housing market going up and down, it turns out more would rather improve at the moment than take that leap of moving somewhere new. However, the renovation process can be scary, and you may be unsure about what to do and how to start. With that in mind, here are some of the things to think about when it comes to renovating your home.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS?
One of the first things to think about would be what your plans are. Renovations can include extensions and knocking down walls to change the layout of your home, and it might even be extensions that go up as well to give you more bedrooms and extra space. This is when residential architects can come in handy to help you come up with the right level of plans. Many of you will need to seek permission from the local council to extend, and a plan can help your to achieve it.
WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET?
Once you have your plans in place and you have gained the necessary permission, you can start to think about the costs and what your budget is. Initially, you will have come up with a budget that you will have to spend, but once you have your plan you can get some exact figures. Make sure that you get a few different quotes so that you can compare the prices. This will help you to determine what is a good price and what isn’t.
HIRE THE PROFESSIONALS
Having the plan and the budget is one thing, but you also need to ensure that you hire the right set of professionals to complete the job. You will have gotten many quotes and a feel for different contractors and companies, and so you may have already decided. Some choose to hire one company, whereas others like the idea of project managing and using different companies for different elements of the renovation. However, don’t be tempted to try and cut corners and do things yourself if you are not competent in DIY as this can cause delays and further costs in the future.
CONTINGENCY FUNDS ARE IMPORTANT
Things might not always go to plan, and so it is also a good idea to have a contingency plan and budget in place just in case. Sometimes things can go wrong and they are unforeseen, and this is when the contingency plan and funds can really help you avoid any spiralling costs and delays.
DOCUMENT THE PROCESS & EMBRACE IT
Finally, this is a really big change, so make sure that you document the process and embrace it. You could choose to take pictures, keep things in a scrapbook or even set up a social media account on platforms like Instagram to document the process. This will be great to look back on and be a source of comfort during difficult periods.
Let’s hope these things help you when it comes to renovating your home.
