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Planning a Home Renovation

Planning a home renovation can be an overwhelming and stressful experience for families or first-time renovators. Renovating post-pandemic with price increases, high demand and supply chain issues it can and will feel like an uphill battle at times. Here are the beginning 3 Steps to Planning a Home Renovation you don't want to skip.

STEP 1 | Getting Organized.

Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to organize and prepare for a renovation before construction starts. The most successful projects I’ve seen are the ones that were completely planned and organized well before any demolition started happening.

Whole House Planning.

When starting to plan for a renovation, it's always best to look at the whole picture, think about how long you are planning on living in your home and write down a list of all the areas you would like to update. You don't have to do all the work at once, but once you have a good overview, you can decide where to start.

Make a List.

Once you've figured out what area you would like to start with, it's important to make a list of all the ideas you have for this space. Get the whole family involved! Once you have the lists, sit down and divide everyone's ideas into 4 categories: Necessary / Must-Have / Wishlist / Not a Chance.

Do Your Research.

Chances are you know someone in your neighbourhood or in your family who has had a renovation completed recently. Talk to them, ask them about their experiences, what went right and what went wrong. Facebook has a lot of great groups that can offer recommendations of who to hire or help troubleshoot some common mistakes made in the renovation process.

Contact your City Building Department and inquire about what permits are required and if there are any by-laws or zoning requirements that might apply to your project.

STEP 2 | Budgeting.

Set a Budget.

Now that you have a clear idea of what your priorities are for your renovation project and have done some research, you can start assigning costs and determine your budget.

Important items to account for in your budget are:

• design/drawing fees

• permit application costs

• construction costs

• supply and installation of materials

• storage fees for current household items

• cost of furniture, fixtures, appliances and decor updates.

• accommodation costs (if you are completing an extensive renovation you probably will want to rent a home for a short period during construction).

• 10-20% extra of your total budget for unexpected costs that might come up during construction.

For help with budgeting, don't be afraid to contact professionals and ask them for budget pricing. For materials, furniture and fixtures, you can visit a local supply store to get ideas on pricing.

You may have to do the renovation work in stages in order to achieve your entire needs and wish list. You can speak with a design professional or general contractor about the best way to organize a multi-stage renovation.

STEP 3 | Hiring Professionals.

Hiring Professionals. Make it a Reality.

It is time to start searching for the professionals to help make your project a reality.

Whether it is a general contractor, a painter or an interior designer, chances are you are going to have to hire someone to help you with the work. When interviewing a professional consider the following;

• Years of Experience

• Professional Designations and Certifications

• Proof of Insurance & Worker's Compensation

• References

• Process & Payment Schedule

• Availability (most designers/contractors/trades book months in advance and require a deposit to secure a spot in their timeline)

You will be opening your home to these people so making sure they are a good fit is a very important part of a successful project.

Set a Date.

When you've selected the professionals that are going to help you achieve your project, it's time to start looking at a start date. The professionals you are hiring should be able to help guide you with this process.

Next take a look at a calendar and based on your professionals availability, set a desired construction start date. Remember to plan in extra time for unexpected issues that may come up during construction.

These are beginning steps but are extremely important in setting up your home renovation for success. We’ve laid out a lot of information here, and created this awesome download with these 3 beginning steps, pro-tips to help you along the way, and a handy notes section on the pages to jot down ideas or thoughts as you start your home renovation process.

Looking to start a home renovation?

Take a look at Our Interior Design Services and see where we can help you along the way for the best results!