Organizing a Smooth and Stress-Free Home Renovation
Organizing a Smooth and Stress-Free Home Renovation
Home renovations can be messy, long-drawn-out affairs that sometimes go off track in unexpected ways. Missed deadlines, overshot budgets, problem contractors, and low-quality of work are fairly common occurrences. If you’d like yours to go off without a hitch, you’ll need to plan it out carefully. Getting yourself – your time, money, and energy – organized is key to success.
Here, Susie’s Organization Solutions, LLC, explains how you can plan a smooth and stress-free home renovation.
You should budget first
Before you begin designing a blue-chip kitchen or bathroom with the latest bells and whistles, consider your finances. Home renovations can be expensive, costing up to $25,000 on the low end and up to $76,000 or more on the high end, according to a Realtor report. Nailing down a budget first is how you avoid debt. It’s a good idea to prepare a wishlist and, after consulting with your contractor, come up with an estimate for the final cost.
Use estimating apps or software to create a budget
Professional handymen use apps to help them with their work, such as bookkeeping, design, project management, HVAC software, and electrician estimating software. We can use estimating software for electricians or contractors to create an accurate budget for the renovation. For instance, electrician estimating software can help us create and send estimates, account for labor and material costs, and send invoices.
Consider the associated overheads
Keep in mind that some renovations are more than a one-time expense. For instance, if you add an external seating area or kitchen, you will have to keep it clean, well-maintained, and protected against rough weather. If you add an external swimming pool, you will have to create a maintenance budget. Consider the pros and cons carefully.
Plan out your renovations – like a home office – with health and comfort in mind
You’ll likely only ever renovate once or twice. Spending time and energy during the designing phase will help you avoid mistakes and come up with something future-proof. Keep your family’s health and comfort in mind at all times. For instance, if you add a home office, it’s a good idea to allow in plenty of natural light. It maximizes productivity and is good for your mental health. If there isn’t enough natural light, investing in overhead lighting is an option.
Set a schedule
Renovations can take a lot of time. Minor renovations – think painting the wall or adding in new flooring – can take a few days or weeks. Major renovations – foundation work or adding a separate room – can take months or even over a year. Make sure you are prepared to oversee the work. You may need to arrange to move out of your home for the interim if the work is extensive.
Pick professional contractors
Good contractors are worth their weight in gold. You can rely on them to keep to deadlines, not overshoot the budget, do good work, and generally not cause problems. Shop around and compare quotes from various contractors. More importantly, take a look at their past work, if you can, and research their reputations before making a decision. Professionals will be able to help you come up with estimates, arrange permits (if necessary), schedule, and answer questions. HouseLogic offers advice on finding trustworthy contractors.
Get your interiors organized for the renovation
Renovations can be chaotic. Getting rid of the clutter, packing away non-essentials, putting away valuables, and covering up everything that’s nailed down (such as heavy furniture) are some things you should, ideally, do to avoid damage. Also, if your family will continue living there, you may want to section off your living space from the work area. You can get in touch with the Susie’s Organization Solutions, LLC team to help you organize your living space, make extra room for your renovations, and keep your family comfortable when the work is ongoing.
Conclusion
Getting organized is the key to a smooth and stress-free experience when it comes to home renovation projects. Come up with a budget using estimating software, plan out your home office and other renovations carefully, hire solid contractors, and de-clutter and re-organize your interiors to keep your family comfortable.
Image via Unsplash