5 Things To Do Before Renovating Your House

Renovating a house is definitely not a walk in the park. Instead, it is an adventure with high risks that you need to tread well. Since there are instances that you would encounter several wrong turns as a homeowner, it is highly recommended that you plan everything to have a smooth-sailing renovation.

With this said, if you want to make sure your house renovation turns out good, then you should know what to do and what to prepare. Thus, here are the five things that you need to do before you renovate your house.

Know What You Like

What is the reason for your house renovation? What are the things that you want to change or add? Is there a type of design that you would like to get inspiration from? These questions are just some of the questions you need to deliberate about before you dive into a home improvement project.

Setting your preference in advance will help you narrow down your choices, your budget, and the time you need for the house renovation. Because of this, many designers recommend this first step to their clients. Most of the time, browsing Pinterest and reading through home decorating magazines are one of the things they suggest doing.

Know Your Budget

This is the second most important when renovating your house—the budget. There is a reason why people call it a “dream house,” and that may be mostly due to one’s financial budget limitations in acquiring the house that you want for your own.

First, you should know how much your house renovation will cost. So, you should consult a professional first and discuss your project so that they will be able to give you appropriate estimates.

With this said, the next thing that you should think about is how much you need to spend on the renovation. So, if you need to borrow money from the bank, then it would be wise to know if you need a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit.

Since you already have an idea about the budget you need to set aside, and the money that you need to borrow, you will then know the best way to pay debts after your project has finished. With this, you will not be drowned with debts just because you had a home renovation.

To Go For DIY Or Pro?

There are some homeowners that would love to take things at a slow pace or find joy in doing their own home project while others simply want to save the cost of paying a professional. Actually, there are many reasons why a homeowner wants to go DIY.

However, what we can recommend is for you to look for a professional, especially if you are not knowledgeable enough in renovation projects. Going DIY with less to zero knowledge about it will only cost you more instead of helping you to save.

You might want to do some work by yourself, but you should be realistic about the current skills that you have. Also, if you’re going to go DIY, then you need to consider the time you can allot for you to finish the renovation.

Test Run Your Ideas

Testing your ideas regarding the chosen colors and materials you have settled into is an excellent way of knowing whether it will turn out good.

For example, if you have selected a baby blue room with some patterns, then you might want to take a few days to live with it.

Designers highly suggest this kind of mock test since the colors and patterns change with light throughout the day. Thus, it is recommended that you walk by the room or the material several times to get a feel of it.

For testing the colors of your wall, placing a board or sturdy cardboard painted with a specially chosen color of yours will help you out in deciding whether you go for it or you’d opt for another set.

Check Your Contractor

Now, if you already know what you want, or you would want to look for a contractor to guide you first, then knowing your contractor will help you out and save you from all the renovation dramas.

With this said, read the online reviews and references for the contractors that you are eyeing. Also, do a full-blown check and get some proof from them that they have a contractor’s license, certificate of insurance for general liability, lien history, and their bond number along with their certification.

Lastly, since you will be spending a lot of time with your contractor, as well as paying them, then you need to save your sanity over the duration of your house renovation by knowing your contractor well.

As such, you need to take time and conduct an in-person interview for you to be able to find a contractor who is both a personal and a professional fit for your house project renovation.

Takeaway

All the matters discussed above are the top five things that you should do before starting your renovation. By doing the above-mentioned actions, you are doing yourself a favor by saving time, effort, and money that will be invested during remodeling.

About The Author: Tiffany Wagner is currently taking a degree in Investment Management Analysis in her junior year in college. In the context of decision making and business strategy, she focuses on finance and information interpretation.

Photo by Cal David & Pixabay from Pexels