A renovation project can be a lot of fun; that is, when it’s all done! After all, you can wait weeks for the work to finish up, and once the last contractor has walked out of the house with a tarp in hand, you can finally enjoy your new space! But in those initial moments when you’re talking through your renovation and trying to plan out what you want, there are a few good ways to get the most out of the work. Here’s a couple to think about before you hire someone or get your own tools out.
If You Want a Fun Design, Go for it!
Whatever it is you want out of your renovation project, don’t be shy about asking for it! If you want a crazy color scheme, or you want to use 5 or 6 different kinds of wallpaper, or you want a textured backsplash, make sure you note it down. You’re allowed to have fun with the way you design your home, and even if a contractor shows doubt in your ideas, hold firm and say what you mean!
Don’t Forget to Redo the Floor
The floor is a typically neglected area of any renovation project. You can sand down the wood and then pop a carpet down if need be, but a bit more time and care should be shown here. Indeed, you should think about hiring out a flooring contractor to get the surface professionally done, as you don’t want an unbalanced floor to walk over! Placing any furniture on top of it could also soon topple over, and that’s not safe for anyone.
Don’t Let Yourself Rush
A rushed project is a bad one, even if you’ve only got a couple weeks to get it all done. Take your time, as far as your budget will allow, and make sure you get every decision right. Your first instincts are usually right, as you’ll be trusting your gut feeling here, but make sure you compare a few different designs and settle on the one you’re really happy with. And if you do have a super strict time frame, get some of it done now, and then arrange for a bit more work later on. If need be, get the renovation to a safe livable standard and then plan from there.
Use Your Budget Wisely
Your budget is very much going to dictate what you can do and when. So even if you’ve got a wonky price ceiling and not much to work with, be careful about what you spend on. You don’t want to stretch yourself thin here – a good budget allows you to work with what you’ve got, but it doesn’t demand you to spend it all in one sitting.
If you want to get the most out of a renovation project, and any you could undertake, follow tips like those above. All good projects have these elements in common, and you should think about them first.
