Remodeling: Home to Dream Home

Image by ADD from Pixabay 

If you already own your home and you love the location, you love your neighbors, the community, and your view; then you won't want to move. However, while the location is essential, what can you do if your home is just not quite big enough for your growing family? Or your house isn't your dream home, but you don't want to move? Luckily if it's the house that's a problem for you then there are things you can do about it, if it were the other way around you would have a hard time picking up your dream home and moving it to a different location.

Renovating a house is not only the perfect way to put your own stamp on a property, but it also means that you can still keep the original character of a property at the same time as adding value to your house and working your way up the property ladder. Renovating a home can also allow you to afford a house you may not otherwise be able to, and it means that your house will be unique as a renovated house is never going to be the same for any two properties. So, how do you go about turning your house into your dream home?

When it comes to renovating, there are a few things you should and shouldn't do, and one of the first things you should NOT do is to go for the cheapest contractor.

Remodelling the home can be very expensive so of course you'll want to shop around and compare quotes from different companies and you'll want to cut down costs wherever you can, however choosing the cheapest contractor isn't the best idea and isn't an excellent way to save money as you'll likely have to hire someone different in the future to sort out any mistakes or cheap, low-quality jobs they do. Remember, like everything, if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Make sure that you get a contractor who has been recommended by someone you know. If that isn't an option for you, then check out all their reviews and if you can go and visit a previous customer to see their work. While you might have to pay a little more for a right contractor, it will cost less in the long run as you won't have to fork out for someone to come in a re-do the work when everything starts falling apart.

Don't Forget Your Vision

While you're employing someone to come in and of course they are the expert, it doesn't mean that they know what looks best and feels best for you. If you have an idea in your head, then stick to it and don't let anyone change your mind. Before you go into the renovation, make sure that you know what you want and that you have a strong vision for what you want the final outcome to be. Be clear about it in your own head so that you're able to discuss it clearly with your contractors and put your vision across to them. However, if the job is too big for you to do that, then get an architect in to help you. It's also essential to get all the finer details done in this renovation too, so if you need a new roof and need to get a roof company in, then do it now. If pipes need fixing or your loft needs insulating then get it sorted now.

Don't Be Unrealistic About the Completion Date

With any renovation project, small or large, there are things that can always crop up and get in the way of the completion date. You need to be able to be flexible when renovating your house and know that the date of completion can be delayed. Be prepared for that and be realistic. The chances are that things will change as the project goes on, there could be delays with deliveries, or even unpredictable weather could cause the project to be slower than planned. It's important to remember that a proper construction job takes time, so be patient and be prepared. Make sure you haven't booked anything that you need the house to be completed for, it will be worth the wait when it's finished so don't try to rush it. If you do have a contractor who has been recommended and you feel you can trust them, then you might want to book yourself a holiday while the work is going on. If you don't need to be there to supervise or to oversee anything, then it's the perfect time to get away and come home to a beautiful transformation.

Now for things that you should do before you get started to make sure you have set a budget because the key to a successful renovation is knowing how much you can realistically afford to spend to get the desired results and to have your dream home. Make sure that you have discussed this with your contractor so that everyone knows where they stand and they will also be able to advise you on where you can make savings and cutbacks. Try to stick to the budget that you have allocated as much as you possibly can, but it's also a good idea to have a contingency budget too, in case anything unexpected crops up.

Always Know When to Call a Professional

While it's good to have a go at some stuff yourself and it's a great way to keep costs down by doing bits of DIY such as stripping your wallpaper or giving the walls a fresh coat of paint, but don't go trying to renovate your kitchen entirely by yourself without any experience or the right skills. It doesn't matter how many YouTube videos you have seen on plastering or tiling if you don't know what you're doing then leave it to the experts. 

Invest in Quality Appliances

While the main focus of renovating and building your dream home will be the design of the floors, lighting, and walls, renovating is also a great chance to update your old appliances, you may as well do it all in one go. Kitchen appliances, the washing machine, and the dryer are all investments that will really make a difference to your day-to-day life, so it's essential to make sure you choose quality over cost. It's important to do your research into the best makes and models, read reviews, and get a good understanding of their warranties.

Protect Your Things

When renovating your home, you can't get away from the dust and dirt and while contractors will use plastic coverings to protect your belongings; it doesn't mean that they won't be in the way. So, if the entire room needs a new carpet, then you're going to have to move everything somewhere so it might be an idea to look into self-storage while the work is being done.

Get Everything Done In One Go

If you're doing the whole house, then you may as well do it all in one go. Take it step by step, but once the kitchen is done, get straight on with the bathroom. It's not ideal to have two important rooms of the house out of action in one go but if you're going to have the mess and disruption of the renovation then you may as well just have it once for longer rather than twice, plus it's far better than you get the same contractor to do all your jobs so that nothing has to be re-done.