Different home renovations can be beasts to try and tackle. Without careful preparation for the reality that is home renovation, you could find yourself in a sticky situation—either being disappointed with your remodel or running out of funds to complete it. Thinking about these different ideas and then implementing them will help you begin your remodel with the right mentality, follow a solid plan, and see your remodel through to a truly positive end.

Have a Good Plan from the Outset

Of all the things you can do to ensure that your renovation goes well, starting with a good plan is among the best. As you think about your plan for your remodel, there are a variety of different things that you should be considering. Plan out the various materials you want to use, the overall style you want to emulate, and the main priorities of your renovations. Then plan out the timeframe you want and the procedures you want to follow throughout the project.

Be Realistic About Your Budget

As you start to plan your remodel, it’s essential that you not pin yourself in too tightly. Remodels tend to fluctuate in their cost as the remodels start. You don’t know exactly what your contractors might find when they knock out a certain wall or when they tear up the floor. Plan for unplanned problems. Set aside money specifically for this purpose so that you will still be able to achieve your desired look if the remodel starts to cost more than originally anticipated.

Work Closely With Contractors

No matter what remodel you are considering, it’s probably a good idea to get a contractor involved. Contractors bring a wealth of experience performing a variety of different types of remodels for a variety of different sizes and styles of homes. Having that expertise and insight inform your decisions about your remodel will help ensure you make the best decisions for functionality, appearance, and maximized home value.

The closer you work with your contractors, the likelier you will be to have a successful remodel process. Contractors tend to need your permission to go forward with different stages of the remodel. Staying involved with them will help your project run smoother and quicker.

Take Safety Precautions

Having good safety procedures throughout your home renovation is just as important as establishing your specific priorities for the end product. Work with your contractor to establish the proper procedure—when the area will be a working zone, when you as a homeowner can visit, and how to navigate the space so everyone stays safe.

As you think about your safety procedures, you must figure out where to put the demolition waste. Trash hoppers help keep the worksite safe by collecting hazardous materials. Consider having one onsite.

Know When to Splurge and When to Save

Knowing when to splurge and when to save is key to a successful remodel. Navigating this fine line depends a lot on your priorities in your remodel. Think about your particular non-negotiables, evaluate how rational those are, and then figure out how to work within those parameters. If you can’t budge on the countertops, you may decide to simply give your current cabinets a facelift instead of completely replacing it.

Don’t DIY Complicated Things

Home remodels seem like a tempting place to try your hand at different DIYs. But if you don’t know what you’re doing, make sure that you accurately gauge the risk of the different projects you are undertaking. Are the possible failure and the resulting look of the room worth the money you could save?

If you are set on DIY-ing, consider trying to practice beforehand. For example, if you want to replace the flooring in your kitchen with tile that resembles wood, try to replace the tile in a small bathroom first and see how the process goes. If it doesn’t go well, you can probably hire a contractor to touch up your mistakes and also do the kitchen floor.

Set a Clear Timeframe

Setting a clear timeframe for yourself and/or for your contractor will help you approach your remodel with a better mentality. Maybe you moved into a home with an unfinished basement and have been working on it occasionally over the years. Approaching remodels this way tends to result in a multitude of different problems, not the least of which is your loss of motivation.

Setting a timeframe for yourself with reasonable flexibility allows you to work towards a goal, allowing you to experience the satisfaction that comes when the job is done and the job is done well.

Ask Hard Questions

One of the most important things you can do throughout the process of home renovation is asking important questions. If you can, find people who have worked with a contractor before and ask them about their experience. Did they have additional costs outside of the original estimate, and did they feel like those additional costs were reasonably unforeseen? Did they feel like the contractor understood and executed their vision? Were they happy with both the functionality and the look of their final product?

Asking these questions will help you gauge how well a contractor will be able to meet your needs. You should also try and find individuals who had work done on their house similar to what you want. Ask them about their experience with their contractors and figure out if you like the end product of their homes.

While there are a million things to think about when it comes to your remodel, don’t let yourself get tired of making decisions. Through the course of this project, you will probably have to make more decisions that can all seem incredibly permanent in the space of very little time. To combat this decision fatigue, identify your priorities at each stage of the remodel, make sure you get those right, and loosen up a little with some of the other less consequential decisions.

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