Whether it’s to increase the value of your property, create extra living space, or to add comfort, there are many reasons why homeowners decide to carry out renovation work. While some homeowners may hire contractors, others prefer to go down the DIY route. No matter your situation, home renovations cost time and money, so here are five critical home renovation tips to know before getting started.
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Make a Realistic Budget
Before starting a home renovation project, it’s crucial that you set a realistic budget. Getting a true understanding of pricing, labor, and materials will help you spend within your means and avoid getting into debt. If you have watched home improvement and renovation TV shows, they can sometimes be misleading in terms of cost, so if you’re looking to hire a contractor, get a few quotes so you can be confident you’re getting good value for money.
Be Sensible
Once you have worked out a realistic budget, you will need to establish what work can happen and when. Being sensible and organized from the get-go is key, so while you may want to add an extra bedroom or bathroom to your home, if you haven’t got the funds behind you, the last thing you should do is begin the project. There are tough questions that you will need to address, such as what you want versus what you actually need.
Create a Clear Vision
From the tiles that will be placed on your walls to the appliances you want to install in the kitchen, it’s vital that you create a clear vision before carrying out a home renovation. There are numerous decisions that you will be responsible for before renovation starts, so having everything picked out before getting started is important. There are lots of online tools that you can check out such as Pinterest, which can give you ideas for your home renovation.
Keep Everyone Safe
Whether you’re carrying out the work yourself or having contractors come into your home, keeping everyone safe at all times should be your top priority. Using equipment and machinery can cause airborne particles like dust, smoke, and soot to travel throughout your home, so you may want to consider purchasing an air filter that can purify the air, eliminate allergens, and remove triggers for asthma attacks. When buying an air filter, you can check its Mervrating, which will show how efficient the filter will be in trapping airborne particles. To avoid trips and falls, make sure that you remove clutter from your home before work begins.
Know Who You’re Hiring
Whether your plan is to hire individual subcontractors or a general contractor for the job, it’s essential that you pick the right team to work on your home renovation. While you may be inclined to go for word-of-mouth recommendations from family and friends, it can be helpful to conduct your own research on your contractor, such as researching their license, lien history, and bond number.
The excitement of a home renovation can soon be diminished by stretched budgets, unforeseen circumstances, and other unexpected issues. To ensure everything runs according to plan, all the advice listed above can help keep you safe and within your budget when carrying out renovation work.
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