Planning a home renovation project for the first time can be a little daunting. Especially because there are lots of things to consider across safety, smooth processes, design, and of course, budget.
There are two main ways to look at renovation. One is if you’re not quite ready to move house, and just want to breathe a new sense of life into an old home, renovating is the best step you can take. The other is if you’re buying a new property which is slightly run down and you want to make it your own, which means you can rescue an old house completely from ruin by renovation.
There is nothing more rewarding that renovating a neglected house on a budget, or improving the house you already own. However, before enthusiasm takes over, make sure you have the whole process properly planned and prepared to ensure you don’t risk going over budget or running into problems.
Follow these practical steps before starting your renovation project to ensure it runs safely and as smoothly as possible.
1. Research the best contractors
You’ll need a reliable and reputable contractor team in place before you begin, so don’t be afraid to use recommendations from family and friends. It may be that you need help to find an architect, builder, or a project manager. Either way, you have to feel comfortable and confident in the skills of everyone working on your site.
If you are buying a property which needs serious renovation, it’s worth taking an expert with you, such as a builder or architect. If they assist with the viewings, they can give you a reasonable idea of costs, which you can then reflect in the offer you make. If you want a better view of the property, hiring a drone photographer is a good idea.
2. Plan the process from start to finish
With every renovation, whether it’s your current home or a new buy, you should have a carefully thought-through plan which runs to order. For example, there are some rooms which may be riskier than others, especially if it’s the home you already live in. Bathrooms, toilets and kitchens fall into this category, as you have a water supply and waste function which can cause problems if they are out of use.
Living room areas and bedrooms are not so risky, although any room which requires new windows or walls knocking down need more time planning in. These days, a lot of renovations include the removal of old, small windows and replacing them with internal bifolds, or patio doors such as these examples at vufold.co.uk which can lead into a conservatory. These look much more natural in newer houses but must be carried out as one of the last jobs.
It only takes a builder to walk through the room carrying planks of wood and accidentally hit the new glass, and the whole window job will need doing again.
3. Protect the building from theft
Insuring the building is obviously a key factor, but simply insuring a home while it is being renovated is not enough. When a renovation takes place, it does mean that there may be times when an external wall is knocked down, or your windows and doors are removed.
With this in mind, you must ensure the property is adequately protected against break-ins, too. If the property is empty, you’ll be surprised at how many people out there look for empty houses in a bid to try and steal things like pipes, wiring and architectural salvage.
An empty house which is going through a renovation is also a prime target for vandalism. Take the time to add locks for the immediate term, and seek out ways to board up windows and doors in between the old being removed and the new ones put in.
4. Work up a design plan
It’s important to go into the project with a clear vision of the finished project., Obviously, amendments can take place throughout the process, but it’s worth taking your time to perfect the design in your mind. This means that you need to know exactly what you want before diving head first into the renovation process.
Go into the project by asking yourself key questions: do you want any house extensions to blend in with the existing property? Do you want to restore its original appearance, or dramatically transform your home’s exterior? Is what you want to create worth the time and money, or will a smaller job be more worthwhile? What exactly are you looking to change?
If you want new windows, do you want those you’ve seen on www.talentedladiesclub.com? Or do you prefer the ones you saw on that Pinterest board? Be certain in your choices before getting started to prevent backtracking, which can be costly and time-consuming.
It’s also worth thinking about natural light and planning your rooms around which ones have access to this. Wherever possible, arrange rooms so you spend the majority of your time where the light is. It’s also worth considering the view – a good one can go a long way.
5. Inform the neighbours
We have all heard the horror stories of neighbours who can’t stand living next door to a building site. Or even worse, the ones that had no idea what extent of work would be taking place.
Be respectful of your neighbours and be considerate towards them and their home. Give them a realistic idea of the timeframe and the amount of disruption or noise it might involve.
Make sure your builders know about things like shared entryways and communal areas so that they don’t leave them messy or obstructed. You should also warn your neighbours about large delivery vehicles, or certain days when there may be an extreme amount of drilling. With clear communication, no one can say you didn’t fully explain the situation.
Taking on a renovation project can be a daunting yet extremely rewarding task. Follow the steps above and carry out the most in-depth research, and you should hopefully avoid running into huge problems and obstacles.
*Collaborative post*
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