7 Steps to Effectively Renovating a Home
Many people renovate their homes because they want to make them look more modern and updated. Others renovate their home to add a new room or update the kitchen.
No matter what reason you have, renovating your home is not an easy task and there are many steps that need to be taken before construction can begin.
In this article, we will discuss seven basic steps for renovating a home in order to ensure that the process goes smoothly and quickly so you can get back to living in your newly remodeled home.
- Create a Plan
The first step you need to take is to create a plan for renovating your home. Planning will help keep the project organized and it will also show what kind of renovations are possible with the budget that you have set aside for this remodel.
It’s best if you work on creating a renovation plan in conjunction with an architect or engineer.
This is so they can give input on any structural changes that might be needed, such as adding new doors or more windows, which may require cutting through load-bearing walls.
If there aren’t any major structural changes required then having an experienced contractor look over your plans may be enough.
However, even then mistakes can happen when building materials lists are developed without consulting someone who has experience renovating homes before.
- Set a Realistic Budget
The next thing you need to do is set a realistic budget for renovating your home.
It’s important to be honest with yourself about how much money you have and what kind of renovations can realistically be done based on that amount.
If there are any additional rooms or changes in the floor plan, make sure they fit within this budget before getting started.
You don’t want to get halfway through construction only then find out that it will cost significantly more than expected because a load-bearing wall needs to be removed or an unexpected water leak was found underneath one of the floors.
Every renovation requires some unexpected expenses but if these costs go beyond the original estimate by too much, it might not even be worth completing them anymore.
- Hire the Right Contractors
Once you have your plans and budget ready, it’s time to hire the right renovating contractors, like Galaxy Polished Concrete.
The renovating contractor that you choose will be in charge of overseeing construction so they need to be trustworthy and know their stuff when it comes to renovating homes.
This is especially important if there are any major structural changes involved with this renovation because these types of renovations are difficult for someone who doesn’t have experience renovating structures.
It can also help if they offer recommendations or referrals for other professionals such as architects or engineers since not all home renovations involve structural changes.
This means some remodeling companies may only do kitchen updates while others might specialize in bathroom remodels instead.
- Speak to Your Insurance Company
Before renovating your home it’s important to speak with your insurance company.
Since there is a chance that renovations could cause damage and debris, you want to find out what kind of coverage you have for these types of incidents first before anything gets started.
Your renovating contractor should also be able to point you in the right direction as far as finding this information goes.
This is because they may handle all communication with your insurance company themselves after providing proof that they are licensed contractors.
This will help ensure that any accidents or damages related to construction will get covered by their policy instead of yours during renovation time since some homeowner’s policies only cover structural changes made by vetted professionals.
Once everything has been approved then both parties can move forward with renovating without worrying about any legal issues that may arise from accidents or unexpected damages.
- Order Your Materials and Secure Necessary Permits
Once you have your renovation plans, budget, and insurance coverage figured out it’s time to order all of the necessary materials for renovating.
Whether these are major renovations or minor updates, make sure that you get all of them ordered before construction starts since delays can happen when ordering supplies especially if they need to be special-ordered.
It’s also important to secure any necessary permits beforehand as well so there aren’t any issues with inspections later on in the process after everything has already been installed.
You don’t want late fees involved because someone missed a deadline by days or weeks since this could cause unwelcome expenses down the line once everything is finished being renovated anyway.
- Begin the Demolition Process
Before renovating your home, you’ll need to begin the demolition process.
This means starting with ripping out any appliances and fixtures that have been left behind by past owners or tenants.
If there is a cork floor in the kitchen then this will also need to get removed before installing new tile floors since it’s likely going to be too damaged by being walked on for years after renovations are finished anyway.
It might take some specialized tools but usually renovating contractors have access to ones that can help speed up these types of tasks so they don’t become a huge inconvenience while construction progresses through every room of your house.
- Handle the Work Behind the Walls
Some renovating contractors will be able to handle anything behind the walls including electrical, plumbing, and even carpentry work.
But if they don’t then you need to find another contractor that can since it’s best not to take chances with these types of tasks especially when renovations are already underway.
This means getting an electrician involved for wiring changes or upgrades but also having a plumber come in as well depending on what kind of bathroom updates you’re making such as replacing your tub with a shower enclosure instead.
Renovations involving new windows might require some carpentry skills too so make sure that everything is fixed up properly before moving ahead with construction anywhere else around your home.
Want to Learn More About Renovating a Home?
As you can see, renovating a home can be a complicated process. To learn more about this subject, continue reading this blog for more helpful articles.
