Are you sick of living in a ragged, cramped, and outdated house? Need a change of place, but don’t want to leave your current neighborhood or house? A home extensions Melbourne can help you create the home of your dreams.
But the thing is, anyone who’s ever tried to deal with a fixer-upper can tell that it’s a massive pain in the neck. Between trying to stay on budget, on time, and on top of a million moving parts, it can leave you hanging by a thread. But fortunately, it’s not impossible. In fact, with a drizzle of organization and a little prep work, you can pull off the entire home remodeling project like a professional, even if you’ve never done one before.
Without further ado, let’s check out the best home remodeling checklist.
- Hire Contractors
Most homeowners have only one aspect of consideration when searching for contractors; the cost. But that’s not how it should go. When it comes to considering a team of contractors, here’s what you should look out for:
- A contractor who’s been doing working for years makes for a safer bet than one who’s new to the business.
- Contractors should have liability insurance and workers’ compensation for the type of work they perform.
- A well-reputed contractor won’t ask you to pay the entire price upfront. However, it’s essential to discuss payment terms beforehand. Also, remember to hire someone you’re comfortable working with and who is professional as well.
Furthermore, it’s not only the contractor’s job to show a certain level of proficiency; you have to do your part as well. That said, make sure everything is within your team’s reach, which includes food and water. Other than that, ensure there are restroom services available for your construction workers. Since your house will be on the verge of chaos, rent a construction porta-potty facility so your team can do their business as they please. Whether you’re remodeling your humble abode or the family beach house in the city outskirts, you can take the porta-potty anywhere.
- Have a plan
Undoubtedly, you can’t remodel a unit if you don’t know what the end product will be. It isn’t a “think forward” situation; instead, it’s the one situation where you need to move backward. Once you have a result in mind, you can start creating a step-by-step blueprint on how to get there.
Make a list of all the features you want. For instance, you might want a new kitchen with an oversized island or a home office/guestroom combo. Then, browse the internet for some design inspirations. You can even approach the contractors to help you devise the plan beforehand. Moreover, it’s wise to jot down these details on a post-it note so you can refer to them later.
- Develop a schedule
By now, you should have a solid idea of all the steps necessary to bring your project to life. Decide upon which task you must do first, how each task affects the other, and make an order. Additionally, once you have an ideal date in mind, talk to each of your team members, and ask for an estimate of how long the remodeling will take. After that, create a schedule accordingly.
Since you’re planning a house remodel for the first time, don’t be afraid to rely on expert advice. Ask how home renovations like yours have gone in the past and which tasks make more sense. For instance, is it better to work on lay tile or plumbing first if you remodel a kitchen? You never know what you may learn in the process.
- Decide your budget
The following essential task on our list is to set a budget. To make things easier, you can use some online templates to keep track of the remodeling process. However, it’s best to evaluate every factor of your remodel, one step at a time, and finalize a realistic estimate for it. Consider aspects like acquiring the necessary materials, getting permits, labor expenditures, and aesthetic touches.
If you’ve been yearning for a house remodel, you probably have it all figured out. Consider your saving, and estimate the costs of each aspect beforehand by consulting the experts. If not, prefer to make some changes to your design plan or spend less on renovation.
- HVAC, plumbing, and electrical needs
Once everything has been demolished, it’s time to start the ‘rough-in” process. It involves any work done behind walls or beneath floors, like installing an air conditioner, ductwork for central heating, a new plumbing system, etc. That is when electrical and plumbing inspectors from Plumber Knoxville Tn will need to come and inspect your home to ensure everything is up-to-date. Since plumbing and re-wiring will likely need to be done, get all the rough-in work before the drywall, painting, and flooring work, else you might damage it in the process.
- Schedule a mop-up
After a long day of remodeling, it can be tempting to turn off the lights and leave the mess for tomorrow. Sadly, this can cause bumps, lost items, and lost sanity along the way. Therefore, be sure to write in an ample amount of time in your remodeling plan to tidy up things at the end of the day. Your future self will be grateful. On the bright side, you can hire professional cleaners to take care of the mess.
- Prepare for uncertain situations
In all honesty, despite our best efforts, no home remodel will ever turn out perfectly. The best thing you can do is to assume that a few setbacks might occur and plan accordingly. While you’re at it, be sure to pad both your schedule and budget for unforeseen expenditures and timing holdups. However, there’s no need to fret; any unexpected turn of events is manageable at the end of the day.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, we have to stop here, but you, on the other hand, have to keep moving if you want that dream house of yours. The key to remodeling a home beautifully and efficiently is to set a goal for yourself. Then, paint a picture of what you want and take the “one step at a time” approach to remodel every inch of your home. After that, kick your feet up and enjoy your new space.
