Renovating your home is a great way to have your house continue to change with your family. Many people do renovations because what they need from their house is constantly evolving. You may wonder, how do I renovate my house? The first step is to learn how to design a remodel. You can come up with a few ideas of your own and learn on the go how to design home addition. You will eventually have to talk to a contractor to find out how much of your plan is doable. There may be problems with your design and areas you have to compromise on.
How long does a house remodel take? It depends completely on what you are having done and the size of the crew you have doing the work. If you are changing just one room, it may be only a few days. If you are doing major renovations, it could be weeks or even months before it’s finished. When the work is being done, it’s a good idea to get residential dumpster rentals for your home so that the worksite can stay clean and uncluttered, making it a safer place to work in.
It’s common to have problems with the way your home is oriented and/or the way it looks. That’s where home renovations come in. If you have a lot of ideas about how you would like to change your home, that’s the first step. Once you have solidified what you want, you can get a home remodeling consultation to make sure that it is all doable by a construction crew. Your home renovation advisor will also be able to tell you when you have to compromise because something you want is not possible in that space.
The home remodeling process begins when the home remodeling and renovation crew comes and starts to make those much-needed changes. When the outside of the house is being changed, you may also need to hire a roofing company to change the roofline. Once you get some of your projects completed, you will start to see the big changes that are in store for your home. It’s common for these projects to take weeks or even months, but many people find that the time they waited was well worth it for the changes they got. The positive changes may even raise the value of your home.
Renovating your home is a complicated process. There might be parts of it you can do yourself to save money, but it is important to know what your limits are. Otherwise, you might end up making mistakes that can result in bigger bills later on in the process. If you want to know how to learn how to renovate a house, you first need to know what you want to do. Are you looking to simply add artificial brick paneling? Or are you planning to redo the entire building? Your end goal will determine what you need to do.
You also need to know how to find a home renovator. Different contractors will have their own skills and specialties. So make sure that you look into several before making any decisions. They all know how to get into remodeling, but their particular style might not be what you’re looking for.
Good house makeover companies are those that have been in the business for a long time. Looking for quality work from your hardwood floor installers? Your answer must be a yes. Experience is key in jobs that require a skill.
The first step is to consider the reputation of the company and its business longevity. Is the company in possession of the necessary licensing and insurance? A reliable home renovation team ensures clear communication in regards to your property. Affordability is key for house makeover projects. The cost should be reasonable with a guarantee of quality work. Companies that are pocket friendly are the best to go for.
Home renovation basics
How do you plan for your home renovation? Here are some home renovation basics. The most important factor is coming up with a plan for the renovation project. Set aside a budget, then hire contractors. Have a timeline for when you would want to complete the process. Prepare your house for renovation.
Are you looking for additional house designs?
Has the number of your family members increased? Are you outgrowing your home space? You can consider a home addition. It is a way to create more space so that you fit comfortably. For house addition designs, visit websites of reputable house makeover companies today.
If you are like most homeowners you have house renovation ideas dancing in your head. Thanks to HGTV and other cable channels that run 24-hour a day “home fixer up” shows, a lot of house renovation ideas seem to be a reasonable DIY project. The facts are a little bit different.
These great house renovation ideas show makes it seem like everyone has the ability to do some complicated work. The truth is that most of the people you are watching have the tools, and the skill set to make it look easy. Home renovation is not easy.
Not all home remodeling projects are great candidates for a DIY project. There are plenty of jobs around the house that you can tackle but there are some jobs around the house that are just better off left to the professionals. In some cases, attempting a DIY for your house renovation ideas and failing will cost you more money than going with the professional to start with. Reducing human error by choosing a pro to start with can be cost savings. Of course, there is also the peace of mind that you get from knowing that your project is done right.
Hiring a trusted contractor can take the project off your plate so you can focus on other obligations. Everything from planning, permits, and even having a cleaning service clean up the mess is available with a contractor. It can make life a lot easier, and in some cases going pro will save you money.
The Real Cost of DIY Gone Wrong
Watching someone do some DIY work on TV or Youtube makes the process look simple. You may even be able to convince yourself if you just follow the directions, you too can rip out your old bathroom and install a new one. Sometimes poorly thought out house renovation ideas can be really expensive mistakes.
However, there are some issues with the whole I can make my house renovation ideas dreams come true on my own. Let’s look at a full bathroom remodel and what goes into that. Most people know that it takes a plumber to connect the appliances in a bathroom. But, who will do the floor? What about the electrical? How about the tile work?
Each part of your full bathroom renovation requires a specialist. In other words, your plumber is not likely to be the person that does your flooring, and your flooring person is not going to do your electrical work. All these parts of your project require unique knowledge about that particular part. When you hire a contractor they have specialists that bring their unique skill set to the project.
Each craftsman that works on your bathroom renovation project will have formal education, on the job training, and years of experience which is why television and internet how to’s look so easy, they are done by professionals in that field.
To be able to get professional results like the pros can, you would have to know how to handle a full bathroom plumbing installation, how to wire the electrical, do the tile work, deal with the flooring, install fixtures, and countertops. You would also have to know a lot about the various materials that are available.
While we are on the topic of materials, did you know that it can be cheaper for a contractor to buy materials than it would be for you to buy your own materials? In many cases, contractors can get upgraded materials for the same amount that you would pay for lesser quality materials. Contractors also have access to a wider range of materials and will know which materials to use to make your vision a reality.
Most importantly you would need to know what to do in case something goes wrong. Frankly, rarely does a project go off without a hitch. There is always something that goes wrong. What if you rip up your old floor and find that the subfloor is damaged? What if there is a plumbing issue you are not aware of? There are a lot of things that can go wrong.
Professionals know how to overcome obstacles and problems, and can quickly repair what needs to be repaired and get on with the project. Of course, there is also the possibility that you may wind up causing more damage trying to make repairs, which will cost you more money.
Is DIY Really Cheaper?
When you look at the numbers on paper for your house renovation ideas, DIY seems like it would be the cheaper way to go, but on paper, you cannot see the value that you get when you hire a contractor for the big projects. The value of hiring a contractor comes from the amount of time you save. The quality of the work. The experience of the contractor and the guarantee.
DIY is a great way to save money but in some cases, it is simply not practical, especially when it comes to home renovation ideas that affect your main living space or your ability to live in the space. DIY typically takes longer because after all, you do have other obligations in life like work.
A contractor gets in and gets out, it is their job to be at your home working 8 hours a day to finish your project. They can get the big stuff done in a fraction of the time it would take as a DIY project.
The job gets done right. Anyone that is a DIY home improvement fan also knows that some times taking short cuts is the only way to keep the project moving forward. Unfortunately, short cuts can negatively impact the quality of the job. Professionals do not take short cuts.
After you do the math and consider the expertise that you are paying for, and the amount of time that you are saving, hiring a contractor does not seem as expensive anymore. You can keep your budget in line by following a few simple steps.
Avoiding the Bankruptcy Lawyer Blues
One of the best ways to ensure that your house renovation ideas stays within your budget is to choose your contractor carefully. A lot of people make the mistake of getting in over their heads with home renovation ideas gone wild. You are looking to beautify your home, not hire a bankruptcy lawyer.
There are a few things that you need to consider to reign in costs:
- Did your realtor suggest you make changes to your home to sell?
- How long do you plan on staying in the home? Are you moving in the next 5 years?
- Always make sure that you are not overextending yourself. Figure out what you can comfortably fit into your budget that will not put your ability to pay your mortgage at risk. You may have to make some adjustments to your house renovation ideas.
A lot of times when you go to sell your home your realtor may suggest some changes, and if that is the case then you definitely do not want to over-invest in the process. If you plan on moving in the next few years than do what you need to, to make your home comfortable but do not overdo it.
Over customizing your home to fit your family’s needs can actually make it harder to sell your home when the time comes. Keeping your renovations general if you know you are going to be selling soon is a far better way to make sure you do not price yourself out of the market.
Home renovation is always about balance. You have to determine how your home improvement ideas and your budget balances out. Overextending yourself and leaving yourself in a financial bind unable to pay your mortgage will impact that joy that you feel with your new renovation.
Know When to Say No
Before you start your renovation project consider what you really must have to feel good about the space. In other words, your dream may be Italian Carrera marble but your budget may be better suited to a good quality ceramic tile instead.
When you are figuring out your budget you want to be realistic. Do leave a little wiggle room in the budget just in case something does go wrong that is going to tally up the costs. Start out with a list of must have’s, talk to your contractor about the costs for your must have’s, then reevaluate what you really must-have.
Unless you are very wealthy there will always be some compromises you will have to make on your home renovation ideas to stay within budget. It is far better to make those compromises and get a great space within budget, then it is to worry about how you are going to pay for it all.
Be open minded and let your contractor show you what he/she can do for you based on your budget. Contractors often have house renovation ideas that you did not even think of. Make sure that you get at least 3 estimates before you make your choice. Don’t shop by the lowest quote, shop by best value.
Most estimates should be in the same range but will vary depending on the contractor’s experience and the type of materials they use. You must weigh out the cost with the value you will be getting from the contractor.
You can offer to do some of the work yourself. For example, you can paint the walls instead of having the contractor do it. Putting a little sweat equity into the project can help you to cut costs.
Know Your HOA Bylaws
Before you start living your house renovation ideas dreams, be sure that you check with your HOA for any regulations or requirements for your specific home renovation. A lot of HOA has very specific rules when it comes to what type of changes you can make to your home.
For example, many HOA’s have very strict rules when it comes to additions and what those additions have to look like. You may have to file plans with the HOA to get approval for certain projects. Luckily if you have a good contractor they may have access to construction drone services that can take aerial photos of your property to add in with the plans to give the board a visual of your plans and how it will impact your neighbor’s property.
It is always best to play by the rules with your HOA. Having problems with the HOA will definitely put a damper on your project. It is not unusual for an HOA to take members to court for not following the bylaws when it comes to home renovation projects.
Following the bylaws and covenants may add some time to your project timeline but it is well-worth the time investment. Your contractor will be able to get all the permits you need and file a plan with your HOA (another good reason to hire a professional).
Weigh Your Options
Sometimes our home renovation ideas do not exactly match our budget, sometimes they do. Sometimes we think we can take on more than we can, and we find out after the damage is done that we cannot.
Before you jump into that next project take a step back and really evaluate the situation honestly. Ask yourself if you really have time for the project, do you have the necessary skill set, and are you willing to do without space for as long as it takes you to get the project done. You may find that just going to the professional to start with is the better option. It is a great feeling to live in a home that you are happy with, as long as you do not get in overhead with debt to do it.
Keep your plans manageable and consider hiring someone that has the skill set to get the project done quickly and within your budget. Sometimes you just have to put your tool belt away and bite the bullet and hire a pro.
