Managing your Renovation Project

Whether you’re working on your entire house or just a single room, a home renovation can be a difficult and stressful project to undertake. On the other hand, it can also be incredibly rewarding. When it comes to renovating your home, it really is a matter of getting out of it as much as you put in.

If you carry out research and prepare yourself in advance, you’ll find the whole process a lot easier to manage. However, like any project, it can be considerably taxing on both your time and your wallet if you don’t plan properly. So, what are the secrets to success?

Online Resources

The key to being prepared is to know exactly what you want and what to expect from the process. Luckily, with the wide variety of resources available online in the digital age, you no longer have to worry about beginning any project unawares.

There’s a whole host of information about home renovations online, from advice on using an interior designer, to choosing the final design of your living space. It really is just a matter of finding a resource that suits you. This article brings together some of the most valuable information and advice into one easy to understand guide, in the hope of helping you better manage your home renovation.

The Planning Process

Before you begin any work, you’ve got to create a detailed game-plan. You’ll firstly need to know exactly what you want to do, what tools and materials you’ll need, and whether you’ll need professional help. In addition, you need an understanding of how long the project is going to take and the overall costs involved too.

This is obviously a lot to consider, but having it  planned out will make the entire project much easier to manage.

If you’re thinking of renovating and refurbishing a single room, or knocking a wall through to make a space bigger, consider whether it would be cheaper to start from scratch and renovate the whole property. This won’t be the case with every home, but sometimes you may find that it’s less expensive to completely rebuild than it is to gut out and renovate a contained space.

The Design

Draw up design plans in order to envision the spaces’ appearance post-renovation. Remember this design is a fixed guideline and it should be stuck to as much as possible to avoid going off budget or schedule.

If you’re not confident with re-designing the space yourself, you may find it preferable to hire an interior designer. These people are professionals at what they do and will often be able to present you with design options that you previously may have not thought possible.

Explain to them the kind of style you’re looking for and the budget you’re working with and they’ll come back to you with several tailored options to suit your ideas. Interior designers will advise you on what materials to use and show you how you can get the most out of your new space.

Budget

Setting a budget is probably the most important part of the renovation project. You need to establish how much each part of the process will cost you, and then do your best to stick to those prices. Set a figure that’s both realistic to costs and to your savings.

If you plan on hiring professional help, be sure to include their costs when budgeting too. When it comes to sourcing materials, you can find bargains if you hunt around showrooms or go straight to the source. An interior designer or builder may also be able to purchase materials at a discounted price, or at least show you the best places to buy from. This is something that’s well worth considering when deciding whether to invest in professional help.

One thing that can really throw you out of budget is changing your mind or altering designs during the renovation. This is why it’s so important to plan everything early on and stick to your own guidelines. However, common sense dictates that you should include some room in your budget for emergencies or any variances that may occur.

Separate Your Workforce

To save money, you may wish to do as much of your own work as possible. Anything that doesn’t require professional assistance can be done efficiently by you, just don’t do anything you’re not sure of or confident about. If you can’t paint a room properly, hire a professional decorator. The finished product will look much better and you’ll be happier with the results in the long run. Just ensure you’ve got enough for it in your budget.

If you do hire professional help, stagger the work out. Certain jobs can’t be done until others are finished, and the longer you keep your contractors waiting, the more it will cost you. Take into account that certain work may run over time, so it may be helpful to book each worker with at least a week between one another. In some cases, the professionals will be able to help you with this element of the project.

Hopefully this guide has made you feel much more confident about undertaking and successfully managing your renovation project. Remember, Buildburo are always on hand to help.