By Are you thinking of renovating your home but need to know how to go about the project? Well, this is a common situation many homeowners find themselves in, and there is nothing wrong with remodeling your home. Home renovation is the perfect way to transform the whole appearance of your home, and this project is quite rewarding when you do it correctly.
The home renovation process can be complex, ranging from unforeseen expenses, delays, and inappropriate materials to other issues arising during your home renovation. Many homeowners plan their home renovation projects without adequate plans. They end in disappointment.
You may be overwhelmed by the mishaps caused by a lack of preparation, and you wouldn’t want to find yourself in this situation after spending a lot of money. Thus, to avoid disappointment and get it right your first time, you must prepare and consider some factors before beginning your home repair. We have outlined everything you should know about home renovation projects.
Do I need to hire a contractor for my home renovation project?
Whether or not you should hire a contractor depends on the renovation project you intend to do. Some renovation projects are DIY and require just a little construction skill if you have the spare time. For example, mini home improvement projects like repainting your walls or updating your light fixtures require little skill to get the job done. Thus, instead of paying for a professional service on these mini-tasks, you can use the money to buy quality materials for the project or add it to the budget to help extend the quality and the quantity of work you can do.
With that being said, bigger projects such as taking the walls down, fixing the ceiling, and moving wires require the service of an expert, and it can be dangerous if you do this type of project yourself. Therefore, you should hire an expert if you can’t tackle specific tasks or you don’t feel confident doing them. Otherwise, you may create more problems, costing you lots of money.
Do I need a permit for my home renovation project?
Obtaining a permit before starting your home improvement project is a very important process. You may think to yourself that it is your house and that whatever home improvement plan you have for your home is nobody’s business. Well, you are wrong if you have such a thought! Obtaining permits merely confirms that your home improvement project satisfies the requirement of building codes, local ordinances, structural and fire safety requirements of your local district. Thus, the intentions of these permits are clear; they are there for the safety of your household and community.
In essence, if you begin your home renovation without obtaining a permit, you may be fined and forced to stop the project, and then you will pay more to obtain a permit. In the worst cases where you have completed the project without obtaining a permit, you will have to undo the just-completed project, pay a fine, and still pay for a permit. Fortunately, obtaining a permit is easy and you can get one from your local building department.
How do I choose the right paint for my home renovation project?
Choosing the right color for your interior is one of the interesting elements of home remodeling. You must pick the perfect color combination when decorating your home interior because they can have an ample effect on your emotions and mood. With a lot of color varieties and options to choose from, there are different ways you can choose the perfect color, as we all know, our choice of color can make or break our space.
For a starter, if you are lost in the idea of the right color to pick, you should create a color scheme that matches your home furniture. You should also maintain a color scheme but this doesn’t mean you should paint all the rooms in your home with the same color. You can simply create a color palette of 2-3 colors that goes together.
You can also test a particular area of your house with different color combinations to see how the color matches your home décor and furniture. This method may take time but it is very effective
What is the average cost of a kitchen remodel?
The cost of a kitchen renovation is between $14,500 and $40,500 with a national average of $26,500. However, a cost of a small kitchen is quite minimal at an average cost of $12,500 but a lavish kitchen renovation can go as high as $130,000.
What affects the price of a kitchen renovation are the size of the kitchen, the scale of the project, geographic location, cost of labor, and choice of materials.
How long does a bathroom remodel take?
Estimating the time that is required to complete a bathroom renovation can be difficult because some unforeseen circumstances may suddenly arise after the timeframe has been set. Factors such as workers falling sick, delay in payment and material deliveries, and unexpected structural challenges may all arise and this will just change the time estimate.
However, under ideal circumstances, a small bathroom renovation can be completed in an average of 23 days. Assuming the renovation project is only done during weekdays, it translates to a month to complete the project. But in a reality where unexpected circumstances arise invariably, it can take about 46 days or 9 weeks to complete the renovation.
How can I maximize storage in a small home renovation project?
Think About Function First
To manage a small space, you must prioritize small space over form. That is, you should focus on using the space instead of filling it with decorative items, and this all comes down to having a detailed floor plan during the design stage.
Consider Your Needs for Your Space
During your design phase, make a list of the most important lifestyle things you will need for the space. For example, a comfortable seat for guests, an extra bed to host guests that may stay overnight, a quiet corner where you can read or work, and sufficient storage where your collection of shoes can fit.
Storage Solutions
There are numbers of unused spaces you can convert to storage. Corners and walls are good locations for storage but they are mostly unnoticed. You can add shelves and cabinets to these locations. Also, if your home has staircases, you can use the space below it as storage.
What is the best way to finance a home renovation project?
There are several means to finance your home renovation project. The most common are securing a loan or using a credit card to finance the project. While these may be the most common means, they are not the best as you will have to repay the money with interest. You may even lose the home if you have no means of repaying the debt.
Therefore, the best way to finance your home renovation project is by dipping into your savings. This is the cheapest and also the safest as the risk is low. However, you should avoid draining your savings to the lowest amount to finance your home. Before financing a home renovation project, you must first estimate the home renovation cost.
What is the typical return on investment for a home improvement project?
A home renovation project provides a 70% ROI on average. The home improvement projects with the best ROI are projects that involve additional functional space and square footage. Examples include the addition of new kitchens, bathrooms/bedrooms, and also basement projects.
Home renovation projects are one of those investments that will boost the value of your home in the future. In this sense, you must spend your money properly.
How can I make my home more energy efficient during a renovation?
Not a lot of people consider remodeling their homes for efficiency or aesthetics. The reality is your home renovation can cut down a lot of utility costs in the future but, there are several methods available to go about this, they range from checking for leaks to other conscious efforts.
Thus, during your home renovation, follow the simple tips below to make your home energy efficient.
- Ensure you check for water intrusions.
- Use the least amount of framing that is legally allowed.
- Add new HV AC ducts to heated areas i.e basement.
- Add insulation around recessed lights.
- Install a high-efficiency solar water heater.
- Install an automatic humidistat in your bathroom.
Wrapping up
The truth is you must be prepared to sacrifice a lot of money, time, and energy to perfectly execute your home renovation project. Home renovation is one of those decisions’ homeowners must make to change the value of their home and quality of life, it is an activity that is quite rewarding and well worth it if you get it right. Thus, proper planning and preparation will help you reduce and eliminate any possible risk you may face in the course of your home repair.
There are several ways you can ensure the project doesn’t get out of hand. A simple forethought can go a long way in ensuring your home renovation project doesn’t crumble before it starts.
