Tips for Planning Your First Remodel
Your first home renovation project will be filled with a lot of different emotions. There’s the excitement of picking out new fixtures, seeing the changes progress, and customizing your home to function better and be exactly what you want. This excitement pairs with the anxiety of planning, living through a remodel, and navigating the surprises that pop up along the way. Our Texas-based architects are comparing the benefits of remodeling, giving tips for planning your first renovation, and revealing the things you wish you knew before you started a reno project.
Compare the Benefits of Remodeling vs. Moving
When a house no longer functions, homeowners must decide whether to move to a new home or renovate their old one. While moving may seem more manageable and less expensive at first, there are actually hidden costs like realtor commissions, moving fees, and a higher price per square foot for newly built or renovated homes. Here are three benefits of remodeling to consider when making your choice to upgrade or move up.
Location
Remember that you can remodel a house, but you can’t change where it’s located. We recommend assessing the size, location, and views of the lot and then examining the home’s function. Renovating your downtown property may be more convenient for your lifestyle than moving to a new home in the suburbs. Buying older properties at less expensive prices and renovating them is also a great way to get the neighborhood you want and save money in a competitive real estate market.
Limitations
Assess the limitations of your renovation project and if you can accomplish what you want. In certain historic districts, you may have to work within the existing confines of the home and stay true to the style. However, with the right-sized budget and property, you can drastically change the house’s architectural style and even tear it down to the foundation. Talk with an architect first to get an idea of what is possible. You may get your dream house with simple space reallocations and architectural touches that don’t break the budget.
Lifestyle
A renovation may disrupt your lifestyle in the short term but provide long-term benefits. Consider your project’s estimated timeline and know that you will have to be patient while living through the remodel. Remember that if you love a property, a renovation will allow you to enjoy it for years to come and be well worth the wait.
Before You Start Your First Remodel – Know Your Needs and Plan
To pull off a successful home remodel, you will have to plan ahead. Before you ever tear down a wall, make sure you have the next steps mapped out and a clear vision in mind for the final product. Here are three things to make sure you do before you start your first home renovation.
Formulate Your Renovation Goal and Vision
Decide what your renovation goal is and what your style vision looks like. Remodeling a property to flip and renovating your forever home are two very different goals that will affect decisions on materials, budget, and timeline. You also want a clear plan to make sure you prioritize your must-haves and design a space that functions. Keeping a clear style vision in mind from the start will help make material selections easier and ensure that the space’s style is cohesive and visually appealing.
Set Your Remodel Budget
Setting a clear budget is crucial for keeping your first renovation project on track. When budgeting and financing the remodel, make sure to include costs for permits, labor, building materials, as well as cosmetic finishes. Talking to an architect will help you understand the price of labor, plans, and materials, and browsing design showrooms will give you an idea of the costs of fixtures you like. Make sure to set aside around ten percent of the budget to handle any unexpected issues that may come up, like structural issues, plumbing fixes, and rewiring.
Plan Your Renovation Timeline
Building a timeline for your reno project will not only help to keep you organized through the process, but it will also save on expenses. An architect will be able to expertly build a projected timeline with a start and estimated completion date. Some considerations to make will be preparing the space for work, cleaning up after the construction, material deliveries, holidays, and workflow order. For example, you don’t want cabinet installers to show up on demo day! Also, make sure to account for your personal schedule in your timeline, like the desired move-in date or planned vacations.
Things You Wish You Knew Before Remodeling Your Home
When doing something for the first time, we tend to make mistakes or wish we had known what it would be like before we started. Your first renovation will be no different. However, there are experts in the field, like our architects here in Austin, who can help guide you through the renovation process. If you want to plan your first remodel like a pro, take note of these four tips.
Hire the Right Team of Professionals
Hiring the right team of design professionals can make or break your project and drastically affect your experience through the remodel. Know what questions to ask before you hire a design team, and make sure you understand the responsibilities of each person’s role. Some good things to inquire about are past project successes, design style, workflow, service offerings, and budget.
Pack Your Space and Create a Renovation-Free Zone
If you are living through a remodel, then you will want to make sure to pack up and clear your space and establish a renovation-free zone in your home to get away from the chaos. In some cases, it may be better to do the work in phases rather than all at once. Creating even a small space free from construction will help ease the process and give you a break from reno life.
Obtain Permits
Any professional will tell you that you must obtain permits before starting construction. While permits add another expense and task to your budget and timeline, they will save you money and headaches down the road. Unpermitted work can affect home resale, result in building code violations, and require additional construction to remedy.
Plan and Budget for the Unexpected
Renovations for both newer and older homes can uncover unexpected surprises. Make sure your project timeline and budget have room for flexibility and can handle them. It is best to assume that there will be delays, unforeseen repairs, and alterations to the project’s plan. A design professional will help you through these mishaps and keep the project on track and moving forward.
Ready to start your renovation?