When you own your home, there will occasionally be the need for improvements. Some of these improvements may be needed because of pre-existing damage. Others might be geared toward developing your property closer to being your dream home.
In either case, these renovations shouldn’t be approached in an improvised fashion. Effective and safe modifications come from well-considered planning and execution.
Let’s run down 5 things to consider when planning and executing home renovations.
1. The Benefits of Renovations
When planning and executing home renovations, you should know the benefits of doing them. After all, the process requires an investment of money, time, and energy. By taking the time to understand the benefits, you may find it easier to sustain the motivation to start or sustain them.
Some of the key benefits of renovations include:
Greater property value;
A property better suited to your needs;
Quality of life improvements for your family;
The property better suits the sales market trends;
Potentially reduced utilities concerning energy efficiency renovations.
Alongside these more generalized benefits, there will be some that are subjective to you and your family. It’s important to closely examine and even make a formal list of the renovation advantages that meet your specific priorities. Refer to these when designing your project and even at times you may be getting cold feet throughout the process.
2. Any Property-specific Challenges
Even though some renovations may be commonplace, this doesn’t mean the planning and execution will be necessarily straightforward. Every property has unique features, designs, and architectural components. This means that every property will have its own challenges. It’s important to consider what your property’s specific hurdles are likely to be and take steps to mitigate these.
For instance, there are various positives and drawbacks to owning a waterfront property. While living near the water can benefit your mental and physical health, there are often living regulations. The local homeowners association may have rules about the type of renovations you can perform. Not to mention that waterfront exposure to storms may weaken the land around your property, which could affect the work you need to do.
In the case of larger projects, particularly structural renovations, you can’t necessarily review them alone. Working with professional contractors to at least assess the property and your plans is wise. Whether or not you do the work on your own, you’ll at least have reliable information as a foundation for your project.
3. Your Budgetary Needs
Most home modifications are not solely directed by your ambitions or needs, but also by your budget. Unless you’re independently wealthy, the cost of the work will dictate the scope, materials, and even the schedule. It’s worth treating this aspect seriously.
Take the time to develop an informed budget. If you’re taking the DIY approach, research all the materials you’ll need and their associated prices. If you’re working with contractors, get multiple quotes. You can then build a budget to fit your current finances for the year.
Review the budget throughout the execution, too. You might discover additional challenges that require a reconfiguration of your project finances. There may also occasionally be errors, and if you’re working alone, you’ll have to foot the bill for these. The more accurately you can budget, the less financially difficult the project is likely to be.
4. Effective Furniture Protection
If you’ve been living on your property for some time, chances are you’ll have a great deal of furniture. Some of it may be expensive or have sentimental value. Unfortunately, any renovation can be messy and even destructive. The last thing you want is to sacrifice your valuable items during the process. It is, therefore, important to plan how you will protect your furniture, fixtures, and fittings.
Temporarily moving items to a separate facility can be a sensible step here. Nevertheless, effectively keeping furniture in a storage unit requires planning to get the most out of the investment. Measure the furniture you plan to store so you can choose the right size of the unit. Wherever possible, find a climate-controlled facility to mitigate damage from mold and the elements. Take the time to wrap each item carefully in plastic wrap for added protection.
5. Your Health and Comfort
It’s important to remember that your home is not the only consideration for renovations. Your needs during the process also need to be taken into account. In some instances, moving away briefly while contractors perform the work may be preferable.
This isn’t always practical, though. If you’re doing the work yourself or planning to stay at home during renovations, you should be mindful of the safety and comfort considerations. Review all the potential risks, including the particularly common fire hazards during construction. Make sure everyone in the home understands how to navigate work areas securely and utilize protective equipment where necessary.
If you have mobility challenges, it’s important to make arrangements for this during renovations. If you’re performing the work yourself, formalize where equipment and materials can go in the home that doesn’t obstruct you. Speak to any contractors you’re working with about steps they can take to ensure your free movement.
Conclusion
When renovating your home, carefully consider various elements of planning and execution. This should include the benefits of making changes alongside the budget you need to maintain. Get to know any challenges that are specific to your property type. Importantly, establish effective ways to protect your belongings and safeguard your well-being. These considerations take extra time and thought, but your project will be all the better for them.
