Home remodels can be extremely stressful. Improper planning can cost you a significant sum of money; because of this, it’s vital to plan out your home remodel in detail.
Today, we’ll be going over a few tips to make planning your home remodel just a little bit easier.
Settle on a Fixed Budget
The most important part of planning your home remodel is ascertaining that you have the funds needed to pay for it.
A lot of things go into a remodel, so penning them all down will help you understand exactly how much money you’re spending. We recommend setting up an Excel spreadsheet and sorting all the things you need to have and some luxuries you’d like to have in your remodel.
You don’t need to be extremely precise about this. Googling the average cost for each part of your remodel should give you a good estimate. Labor costs can be difficult to estimate, but they generally fall at around 20-40% of your remodeling budget.
Once you’ve started your home remodel, stick to this budget. Don’t add anything new to the spreadsheet unless it’s necessary or you’re certain you can afford it.
Include a Contingency in Your Budget
Having 10-20% on top of your budget stashed away just in case of an emergency can be a lifesaver. A lot of home remodeling projects end up incurring unpredictable costs. For example, leaking pipes, improper wiring, termite damage, and the like can only be discovered mid-process.
In order to fix them, you’ll need to have some funds on hand. Even if 10-20% might seem like a lot, keep in mind that if you don’t use them, you can always spend them on things in your “want” list above.
Future-Proof Your Home
Purchases such as gutter covers, water-resistant paint, and the like might seem like a luxury at first. However, they can save you a lot of money in the long run. Not investing in these peripherals can lead to you having to remodel parts of your home all over again after just a few days of really bad weather or in-house accidents.
In the long run, not only will these items provide you with convenience, but they’ll even save you money. Getting new gutters or a cleaning service every time they clog, are damaged, or get extremely dirty is much more expensive than a one-and-done purchase.
Consider DIY
Since home remodels involve a lot of moving parts, there are often sections you can do yourself with ease. Listing out the things you can do yourself can greatly help your budget.
While doing electrical or plumbing work yourself is either going to take a lot of time or prove risky, there are still some things you can safely do yourself. For example, flooring, painting, and tiling are quite expensive when done professionally but are also relatively simple to do yourself.
Do a Lot of Research
Doing the proper research can save you hundreds of dollars on your remodel. A lot of expensive furniture has similar counterparts that are drastically cheaper. Similarly, you should do research for if you’re getting the most bang for your buck in each section of your remodel. Are the contractors you’re planning to hire worth the money? Are there cheaper, well-referenced alternatives in your area? Are you looking at online stores to find deals on furniture and the like? Did you browse local brick-and-mortar stores for sales?
Keep Lighting in Mind
Lighting does a lot for how a room looks and feels. However, many homeowners don’t pay it much heed when remodeling. Furthermore, lighting can affect the painting process, and different colors will look differently depending on how light hits them.
When choosing colors or window placement, keep in mind how that will light your house during the daytime, and ensure your windows have a nice view in front of them if possible.
Pick Contractors Carefully
While it can be tempting to pick contractors quickly and get your remodel started ASAP, take your time when considering your options. Take a company like 26 Remodeling as a prime example of the kind of company you should look for. You’ll ideally find a high overall review rating when you search them online, along with clear examples of their previous work on their site or social media channels.
Getting quality contractors is half the battle of conducting a good home remodel. It’s also important not to skimp out on this. Less professional contractors will quickly drain your contingency fund, and your remodel might not even look how you imagined it. Because of this, you should talk with at least a couple of contractors and compare their quotes and references.
Closing Words
Home remodeling is much more complex than it looks at first glance. Thankfully, with a high-quality plan behind you, you can save a lot of money and stress for you and your family.
You can look at some more tips to make your journey easier here. If you’d like to learn some DIY skills, you can do so on our site and kickstart your remodeling experience today!
