Every home needs to be updated with time to adapt to our evolving needs and keep up with emerging design trends. Allowing your home to become outdated over time will not only affect its aesthetic appeal but also impact the overall functionality, leading to a significant decrease in home value. This is especially true for areas like Clearwater, where extreme weather events can quickly degrade the condition of homes.
However, while the thought of transforming your living space into your dream home might sound exciting, the process of renovation can be quite challenging for most homeowners. From dealing with design complexities to finding materials and coordinating with contractors, there are countless tasks to consider, leading to an overwhelming experience. As a result, it’s not surprising to see many homeowners end up with incomplete renovations and a waste of resources.
That said, by avoiding common mistakes and following the right strategies, you can complete your home renovation smoothly. To help you with this purpose, here are five tips to remember when renovating your home.
Handle repairs beforehand
Diving straight into the renovation process without addressing any existing repairs is bound to cause future complications. For instance, electrical issues may compromise your safety, while other maintenance problems might damage the finished look of your renovation project. It’s true that you can make repairs during or after the renovation. However, doing so will only lead to project delays and disrupt the final look. So, make sure to inspect your home for any repairs to be made before you begin the renovation. While doing so, keep an eye out for structural issues such as cracked walls, sagging rooflines, and uneven floors, as they can cause instability over time.
But more importantly, inspect your home thoroughly to identify any water damage. Being a coastal area, water damage is a major issue in Clearwater homes that needs to be dealt with. Neglecting water damage can lead to structural deterioration, electrical hazards, mold growth, and more, which can significantly impact the quality of your renovation process. However, it won’t be a good idea to fix water damage on your own. It’s best to hire professional services, as water damage is often linked to complicated plumbing issues. So, make sure to hire Clearwater Water Damage Restoration experts and handle your repairs effectively.
Set a budget
From purchasing materials to paying professional services, renovation projects involve making several financial decisions. As a result, it’s easy to lose track of your expenses and start to overspend, leading to financial constraints that may cause an incomplete renovation. However, with a clear budget in mind to guide you, you will be able to make informed decisions and complete your renovation without any financial issues. To start building a budget, consider your financial situation and find out the amount you are willing to spend on the renovation project.
Once you have an amount in mind, start researching your project costs, including labor, materials, contractors, and potential unforeseen expenses. It’s best to allocate at least 10% of the budget for a contingency fund. If your project expenses exceed the funds you are willing to spend on the renovation, you will need to cut down some expenses. For this purpose, you will need to make compromises and cut down certain parts of the renovation that may not be as important as others. Ultimately, you will have a realistic budget along with a clear understanding of the renovation projects you need to make.
Minimize disruption
Renovation work often involves loud noises from drilling, hammering, sawing, and other construction activities. Additionally, it can make certain important areas in a home inaccessible until the work is done. As a result, the constant work and noise can be disturbing and make it difficult to concentrate, communicate, relax, and follow your daily routine. Living within an ongoing construction area can not only disrupt your daily life but also compromise your safety. To ensure a stress-free and safe renovation process, consider minimizing disruptions by designating a specific living zone that is free from construction activities. Moreover, discuss your issues with your contractor and set convenient working times that align with your routine.
However, if your daily life continues to be disrupted, consider moving to a temporary accommodation. But it’s important to continue visiting your home frequently to ensure your renovation goes out as planned. In addition to affecting your life, the disruptive nature of renovation can also put your belongings at risk. Dust, debris, and the use of heavy machinery can often permanently damage home items. To protect them, you can use plastic covers for large items such as furniture. Other fragile belongings can be placed in a safe area or in a temporary storage facility.
Obtain permits
Permits are required by authorities for construction work to ensure safety and establish building code standards. While there are some minor renovation projects that can be done without obtaining a permit, most major changes need to be approved by the authorities. If you continue the construction work without getting a permit, sooner or later, you will be fined. In fact, you may be charged as much as $500 per day. Moreover, the construction may be stopped as well. But even if you don’t face any legal consequences, your home’s value is likely to drop due to unpermitted construction work. So, before you begin any renovation projects, visit your local construction authorities and explain them the nature of your project.
However, getting permits can often take a long time. So, it’s best to take care of the process as early as possible if you want to avoid delays in your renovation project. However, it can be quite complicated to obtain the right permits as there can be several types, including building, zoning, electrical, and plumbing permits. In such a situation, you can discuss the permits with your contractor and understand the requirements for your project.
Conclusion
A well-executed renovation can breathe new life into your home and transform your living space, increasing aesthetic appeal, functionality, as well as home value. However, as much as it’s important, it can be quite challenging to manage a renovation project effectively. Homeowners often end up with financial constraints, incomplete projects, and even legal issues while conducting renovations. But you can avoid such a situation by following the tips mentioned above and completing your renovation smoothly.
