How to Prepare for a Home Remodeling Project

When planning a home remodel, it can be tempting to jump into the exciting stage of choosing new paint colors, fixtures, and accessories. However, for any renovation to go smoothly, there are several things to consider before you begin. Following a process and giving each step its due diligence helps a home renovation come in as close to budget and on time as possible. We spoke with home renovation experts to get their best tips on planning, coordinating, and executing a renovation worth celebrating.
The beginning of any home renovation requires an overview of the entire process. Be sure to answer the following two questions: What do you want to have changed and how much money do you want to spend to do it?

Find out what you want and why.
Before getting inspired, you need to know why you want to renovate. There is a myriad of reasons you might want to renovate a space: to increase the value of a home, modernize the space, change the style, and better meet the needs of your family. Having a motivation in mind when you start, one that you can share with any expert you hire will help you get what you want.

Establishing priorities.
Decide what’s most important to you. Which rooms do you most want to renovate? Do you care about sustainable design and construction, the longevity of a style, or do you want to be able to age in place? What are you not willing to sacrifice? If you want to increase natural light, windows are the priority. To maximize the functionality of your kitchen, consider design and appliances.

Hire a designer.
It never hurts to hire a designer from the beginning if you are interested in using one.
Designers could have their own construction firms, which would be responsible for hiring contractors and managing the renovation, or they could simply help create design plans. Regardless of their level of involvement, they are likely to remain for the duration of the project.

Know your ultimate goal.
Before deciding how extensively to renovate, you should know what your ultimate goal is for your home. Are you renovating to increase the resale value of your home or will you be staying for years to come? Consider the condition of your neighborhood before you begin and know which renovations are a good return on investment and which will be considered overkill for the area. Having a specific plan for your future will help you decide how deep to go with your project.

Have a budget.
Knowing your budget, and sticking to it, is one of the most important parts of renovation planning. Remember to add a contingency fund for any unexpected costs, and expect to use it, as well as incidental costs, such as the cost of eating out for a kitchen renovation or even taking a hotel for a night or two. Think about your number, then add 10-15%, and that’s probably what you’ll spend. It can be easy to want a top-of-the-line renovation, but maybe all you need are a few cheap upgrades that will make your home look more expensive. Do your research and plan your budget before you pick up a hammer.

Consult the calendar.
If you are expecting a new home for a particular event or vacation, be sure to look at your completion date and work backward. Be sure to pencil in a few weeks to a month at the end so you have leeway in case there are delays along the way to avoid disappointment.

Research.
Take the time to talk with friends, family, and neighbors about the renovation work they’ve done and the challenges they’ve faced during the process. Having a wealth of information from homeowners who have been in your place can be invaluable in the planning process, and this information can alter your final plan.

Know your limits.
DIY renovations are a great way to save money, have a sense of accomplishment, and involve the whole family, but they can turn disastrous if you don’t know what you’re doing. Know which tasks you can tackle safely, and which ones should be handled like professionals, such as a potential load-bearing wall, asbestos, or lead paint.

Ask for references.
Any good contractor will have no problem providing references and copies of liability insurance before a job begins. Don’t rely solely on customer testimonials, look for real customers who can give you a first-hand account and answer any questions you may have. For any project, ask to see before and after pictures of a contractor’s previous work and, most importantly, trust your instincts and know what questions to ask.

Create drawings.
You don’t have to be an engineer to create working drawings, and you will most likely need some type of drawing to get a permit for your home remodel. Be sure to note square footage, door and window heights and widths, and the current locations of any utilities such as electricity, gas, or water.

Get inspired.
No inspiration is too small. Think about the textures you love and pull fabrics, the colors you love, and the moods you want to evoke. What design styles do you like and whose homes do you love? Turn to magazines, startup websites, social media platforms, and catalogs. Don’t forget to look at the spaces you already love in your own home.
When it comes to something that is trendy, be sure to ask yourself if you really like it or if you just like it because it’s everywhere.

Obtain permissions.
Many homeowners consider obtaining a building permit an unnecessary headache that can slow down the renovation process, but permits are a necessary part of the process in most cases, which can come back to haunt you if you don’t get one in the first place. Building permits are necessary to ensure that your home remodel meets structural and fire safety requirements, and code inspectors in most jurisdictions can have you remove non-compliant work if it is not up to code. This can create a very costly headache when looking to sell your home in the future. It is always advisable to think ahead and make sure you follow the permitting process.

Select your materials and items.
It may seem excessive to choose cabinet knobs when you don’t even have a cabinet, but this is the time to do it. We think it’s best to think about every single element of your renovation: the faucet, the tiles, the countertop, the cabinets, the appliances, everything, all at once to place a single order. Choosing the elements, you want allows you to factor them into your design plan. If you want a non-standard size refrigerator, your plan needs to reflect that.

Finalize the plan.
Think about your plan from all points of view (cost, style, function, whether it matches your goals) and address your concerns now. Focus on your plans at the beginning and love them so you don’t find yourself second-guessing them throughout the process. Even sliding a window over a foot can disrupt plans and change the timeline.”
Once you have your plan defined, laminate it. No changes are allowed.

Be prepared to use plan B, C or D.
Even the best laid plans can get derailed. When this happens, a contractor will communicate the “bad” news and “work to develop a plan B, C or D to keep the project on track and the owners happy,” Ward explains. Take a deep breath and be flexible. It may be frustrating now, but when you look at the finished product, it will all be worth it.