Renovating is a big deal. You’re turning a house upside down and pulling apart its insides in the hopes of gaining a more aesthetically pleasing, practical, and financially boosted property at the end. As with most transformative events, the process can be long, complex, and rather stressful too.
The good news is that there are things you can do to make it run as smoothly as possible. Use the five factors below to guide your renovation strategy:
1. You’ll Have a Lot of Waste
So many property owners underestimate how much waste renovation creates. Wallpaper, plaster, bricks, floorboards, carpets – you name it, you’ll have piles of it mounting up quicker than you can say “wish I’d hired a hard waste and concrete removal service.”
As soon as you’re organizing those workmen to get your place renovated, be on the phone with the people who will remove your waste safely, ethically, and efficiently. Waste removal should never be an afterthought on a renovation project. The company specializes in residential plastering, offering high-quality and customized solutions to enhance the aesthetics and durability of homes.
2. You’ll Have Some Legal Boxes to Tick
Building permits in the US decreased by nearly 5% in 2023, but that doesn’t mean sensible renovators are making less effort to apply. It’s simply a reflection of how many people are renovating.
Those who know the law well know that it is vital to secure the correct permits before doing any work on a property. Skipping the paperwork could mean you’re on the receiving end of legal action, fines, and even a request to undo all your hard work. Put simply, it makes much more sense to just keep everything legal from the start.
3. You Need a Project Timeline
Researchers from the University of Oxford in England studied infrastructure projects from around the world, and found that a massive 92% of them overran their original time and cost estimates. While your renovation project is unlikely to cost billions, it is still potentially going to overrun its budget and timeline, which can be costly and inconvenient, to say the least.
A well-planned project timeline and budget can reduce your risk of running into this common problem. To help, you could hire a project manager or construction company to handle this aspect of a build. It could be worth the extra upfront investment if you factor in the long-term savings.
4. Your Finances Must Be in Order
A recent study found that financing a home renovation was the number one relationship challenge people face. To avoid this issue, it makes sense to get your finances in order before the project begins.
Creating a budget is key, but you’ll also want to consider backup loans, insurance, emergency funds, and more to fully protect yourself throughout the whole process. You really cannot prepare enough financially for a renovation project.
5. Take Care of Yourself
Around 40% of people report feeling stressed before they begin a big home renovation project. So it’s crucial to take stock of your emotional state before you start yours. If you’re like most people, you’re already feeling a bit drained from modern life, and it is probable that things will get even more intense as the project begins.
To take the pressure off, spend time with loved ones, take time alone to relax, eat and sleep well, and make sure you turn notifications off when you need complete time out from the project. You can only do your best with this renovation if you are feeling 100%, which means plenty of self-love and care.
Your renovation project might be stressful, costly, and challenging, but by preparing well, you’ll set yourself up for results that will be worth it in the end.
