Taking on a renovation project is both a challenging and rewarding experience. But unlike building a new home, with a renovation, you are never starting with a blank page.
Early planning always pays off if you’re aiming for a stress-free renovation project. Of course, you can’t guarantee the whole process will be without challenging surprises, but there are things you can do to ensure you’re ready for them.
Get prepared for a life-changing home renovation journey with our essential checklist
to point you in the right direction and set you up for success.
◻️ Analyze your Motivation
Before you work out how you’ll renovate, it’s important to assess why you want to renovate. Identifying your real motive for renovating will provide you with clarity and keep you focused on your ultimate goal.
Also analyze your future plans for the residence. Are you looking to resale at some point, or is this your forever home to grow old in? Do you plan to have multiple generations living in this house? All of these questions should be taken into consideration before making a renovation plan.
◻️ Make a List
To help you make better decisions when planning for your project you need to distinguish what you actually need vs what you would like to have.
There are going to be things you need to do to your home and other things you’d love to do if money were no object.
Make a list that includes 2 columns:
1. “Must Have” column
2.“Nice to Have” column
List everything down, go through and edit it.
◻️ Create a Budget
When it comes to renovating, expect the unexpected.
More often than not, unexpected issues arise that will need to be taken care of in order to move forward. If you did not plan for something, it will cut into your budget for finishing the rest of the project.
We suggest putting aside between 10-20% as a contingency fund. This way you have a buffer for any unplanned costs and will not have to compromise on your initial plan or materials.
◻️ Gather Inspiration
Today, there is an endless array of styles & design options available at your fingertips.
Find as much inspiration as possible, then whittle it down to your most favorite ones. This will help you save some time and energy in the future while shopping for materials/ products.
◻️ Planning Permission
Depending on the type of renovations you want and where you live, you may need permission. It is your responsibility to check this and let your contractor know.
◻️ Declutter
This seems to be an increasing problem lately. There is a psychological element to clutter and its effect on the human psyche. (More on that in the future)
We like to say that there is no such thing as too much storage, especially when the footprint of the structure allows. However, if you do not have an abundance of space to work with, decluttering becomes a critical part that needs to be taken care of.
Identifying what possessions are important to you and what possessions are no longer needed will help you, and/ or your designer, plan for appropriate storage.
◻️ Have an idea of what you want
We recommend having an idea or a rough outline of the room and the layout you have in mind before consulting a professional. By providing this information, you’ll give your potential contractor, designer or architect a better understanding of what you’re hoping to achieve.
Keep in mind that the final plans might be radically different from the initial sketches, but they’ll be built from the insight the professional gets from you at the start.
◻️ Research
Hiring the right team is half the battle. When looking for the right team, focus on the quality of their work as well as personality. Do they match your vibe? Can you imagine working together?
◻️ Don’t Overestimate your capacity
Alright, let me give it to you straight... The worst thing you can do during this process is think that you can do all, see all and track all on your own. Yes, I have no doubt you can do anything you put your mind to, however, renovations always throw you unexpected challenges. Severely underestimating just how long a project can take and what it actually will demand from you is a costly mistake, both for your pocket and sanity! Take some time, do a little research and evaluate whether this is something you are wanting to take on on your own. We highly recommend considering professional assistance to prevent costly errors.
◻️ Quotes
We recommend listing 3-4 professionals to get estimates from. When requesting an estimate, try to be as detailed and provide as much detail as possible. This will ensure their quotes are as accurate as they can be. (Rough sketches, inspirational images, etc. )
Once you receive your estimates, ask your contractor to explain their quotes. This will give you a better understanding of what they are offering and reasons behind it.
Get a full understanding of what the costs are and why to make your final selection.
◻️ Set a Time
When setting an appropriate time for your project start date, there are a couple of things that need to be taken into account.
Holidays, work commitments, weather to name the few. Keep in mind that you will have contractors in and out of your home on a daily basis throughout the duration of your renovation.
In need of further assistance?
Reach out to us, we are always happy to help!
Until next time,
Cheers, Team NPD.
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