Many plan for a house renovation for a couple of reasons: to improve one's abode, to update and personalize it or to increase its value. For whatever reason one may have in coming up with the changes at home, taking these suggested steps before beginning the project will definitely make a big difference.
1. Decide on its scope
Whether you want to have the entire house or just a few rooms updates, experts recommend that the scope of such renovation should be defined. Danny Lipford, a home improvement expert and host of "Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford " suggests "If you can clearly define [what you want to change], then back up and figure out what to do to get it done- that can avoid a lot of problems."
2. Set a particular budget
It is often for people to go over the budget when changes are made in the plan after the bidding so it is best to figure out how much you intend to spend on it at the earliest part of the process. "You could be building a simple addition on the back of your house and get caught up into changing all the windows or putting on a new roof - you have to decide how far you want to go on your project," says Lipford. It is also ideal to come up with a list of your wants which you can present to a professional who will execute the plan.
However, when considering your budget, both for materials and services, remember that the lowest price is not always the best. Try weighing up the cost with other factors such as reliability and quality.
3. Create your team
Since the project will take months to complete, you have to find people who will work well together and who you will get along with also. These people need to be good listeners and you must be comfortable giving them and receiving from feedback about the project.
Asking friends and family for referrals and references or calling your homebuilders' association are good steps in finding an architect, interior designer and builder." Once you start asking around, the same two or three company names will start popping up no matter how big the area is. That shows people think highly of those companies."" says Lipford.
You may also check online profiles, past projects, reviews or talk to previous clients of these professionals for their work and aesthetic
4. Request for estimates and timing
Custom jobs require details and estimates that take time to put together. Contractors may need to research in figuring out the costs of materials. Lipford says "A contractor should do this on their own time and come back to you with an estimate."
In determining the schedule of your project and when the professionals can start, Lipford advises "Anyone who's reputable and has a lot of work can't start next week, but they should be able to tell you when they can start and how long the project will last. "
