Diagonal Split Screen Of Drawing and Photo of Beautiful New Kitchen.
When you take on a home renovation project, you get to make your current home into a space you’ve dreamed of. Changing from okay to ideal is a long process, but you can get there if you have a full renovation plan.
If you’re not sure how to create those all-important plans, that’s okay. It’s a process. Here are some easy ways to build a full renovation plan so that you can get your project underway.
1. Think About Your Goals
Before you get started on your plan, figure out what you want to accomplish. The next steps will change based on what you want to get out of the project. Are you remodeling so that you can sell your home for a larger price?
Are you remodeling to accommodate an elderly family member moving in? Do you want a bigger space so that you can work from home? Is your home smaller than other houses on the block and you want to raise the standard?
Whatever the reason behind your project, knowing the outcome is essential. Every decision you make going forward will reflect the main goal of the project and could be the determining factor if you face a crossroads.
2. Decide on a Budget
You quickly have to get real when you’re planning a renovation because it may cost more than you hoped. When you’re estimating how much you can afford to pay each month, estimate low so that you can afford any surprises that come up. If you estimate too high, you could end up not meeting your savings goals and coming up short.
If you’re getting a loan instead, make sure you can afford the monthly payments. Talk to the bank about interest rates and any special offers they have for home renovations. Get the best deal you can so that it doesn’t take too long to pay off.
Get the prices for every part of the process, from services and planning to permit application fees and supplies. It all matters, and you can’t go forward with a project this large unless you can afford to see it through.
3. Interview the Key Players
The people you’ll partner with on this journey need to understand you and your family. They should get on board with your goals and dreams, but they should also feel comfortable giving advice or guiding you if a choice you made doesn’t seem like it will work very well.
Interview several possible contractors. Create a list of questions ahead of time based on examples of their work you’ve seen. Let them know some of your ideas and gauge whether they’re excited about the project or not.
Depending on how big your project is, you may not need a building team. Contractors are one route, but these handyman services can help make your remodeling dreams a reality, too.
If you have DIY experience, you can save some money by doing part of the work yourself. Then have a professional cover the rest to ensure a solid end result.
4. Prep Your Home
Getting ready for the project means making a little room in the house. Clean and declutter so that if any furniture or large pieces have to move, there’s no big push to get things out of the way. Put extra things in storage if necessary to make room for the project.
It’s a high priority to make sure pets and small children are still safe during the project. Designate space to lock up dangerous tools, chemicals, and other important items for home renovation. Evacuating while work gets done is another way to keep them safe; you can return at the end of the day once everything is put away again.
5. Creating a Renovation Plan: The Timeline
The best way to draft a renovation plan is to start at the end and work backwards. It’s easiest to use a computer so that you can add things anywhere on the list, without running out of room. Begin with the final goal, then above it, add each step in the project.
Underneath each large step, get the contractor’s help to include the tasks to accomplish. For example, if you’re adding three rooms, your three big steps might be finishing each room. In each room, list the jobs to finish, like floor, walls, and appliances.
Once you have your entire timeline, then talk to your project manager about how long each step takes. It might only take an hour to rip out the carpet and all the nails, so you could get more done that day besides one task.
Make sure you plan for outages. If you’re doing any plumbing or rewiring, the water or electricity will get shut off during that time. Prepare alternative ways of getting household tasks done without those amenities.
You should also plan for cleanup. While you can finish a task, you still have to clean the area before moving on to the next step, and it takes time to do that. Account for the prep work between each task.
Once you estimate the time each task requires, you’ll be able to see a projected completion date. Keep in mind your completion date could get pushed back. It’s only an estimate, and there are hurdles with any big project that may make it take longer than planned.
Living the Dream
Now that you have the steps for creating a full renovation plan, you can move forward with your project plans. Deciding on your goals, budget, handyman helpers, and prep work will all help you move toward a timeline for the renovation.
From there, listing the tasks and assigning a time frame becomes simple. You’ll see the entire project mapped out in front of you.
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