Planning a renovation can be a daunting task at times. There is usually many moving parts and lots of different things to think about. With the busy lives we live day to day, adding a renovation on to it can be very overwhelming. Here are a few quick steps to help you get started and hopefully streamline the process.
Step 1: Know your budget
This step is probably one of the most important in the process. It should always be your starting point, this way you can be realistic when creating your scope of work or design for you space. When creating your budget for your next renovation there are a few factors that you should consider. First off, be realistic about what your renovation is going to cost, do your homework, this way you don’t get your heart set on something you can’t achieve. Second, know the area you live in, for example Toronto, the Gta and surrounding areas are expensive locations with a high cost of living. In these areas your money may not go as far as you might expect it. Third, know when to say no. If you feel like you will be stretching your finances to thin to be able to achieve what you want, then may now is not the time. You can scale don’t your renovation or wait until you are able to put more money aside and in a more comfortable position. Lastly, when you budget for your renovation, don’t max out what you a comfortable spending. A good rule of thumb is to stay 10-20% below that depending on the scale of the renovation. This way if problems come up during the renovation, you will have the funds to address them without going over budget.
Step 2: Design Plan
You need to develop a plan that clearly states the goal of your renovation and what you want to accomplish. This should include sketches and inspiration photos of what you like and what you are working towards. Depending on the size of your renovation you will need architectural drawings. Do your research on permits and zoning costs that will be needed if you are doing a large scale renovation. Sometimes renovations can be a little overwhelming for people. If you need help during the design process you may want to already have a contractor or designer involved in the process. This way they can help you with what things cost and if it can actually be done.
Step 3: Find the right contractor
Finding the right contractor can be a difficult task at times. A lot of people looking for a contractor might be sceptical at times. Majority of the worries that people have are reputation, qualifications, experience and comfort level. They want to know that their contractor will be able to complete the job in a timely manor and not take of with their money. Do your research and get references as well as check out their online reputation and reviews. Check out a previous blog post on finding the right contractor.
Step 4: Timeline and preparation
Before the renovation begins, you need to build a timeline along with your contractor. Be realistic in the time it takes to complete the scope of work and prepare just in case it takes longer than initially expected. You may run into material delays or issues with the renovations that may need to be addressed.
If the renovation is set to start on a certain date, work back from there to order materials with a long delivery time to make sure you have everything when you need it. To prepare clear out the areas of your home where the work will be taking place. If the renovation is to invasive to your space, you may want to consider moving out until it’s over.
