Proper Planning – The Key To Successful Remodeling

Many home remodeling projects are doomed before they even get off the ground because of improper planning. And many of the most complicated and tough remodeling jobs go off smoothly because of the detailed initial planning that was done. Planning for a major home remodel involves a few basic steps which, if kept in mind, can turn a tough job into a much easier one.

• Sketch out you dreams.  From the time you think of remodeling your home, start sketching out your ideas. Revise them as often as you want and get inputs from the rest of the family. The more time you spend on this the better. When you do start talking to architects, your sketches will help them to understand what you are looking for more clearly than words will.
• Think of the future. The family’s needs will change over time. What looks great today could be a problem a few years down the road. Will you be retiring after a couple of years? Will the kids be going off to college? Do you want to start working from home? These are the kinds of things you need to consider and build into your planning.
• Are you adding value? Evaluate all the changes you plan on the basis of how they will affect your home’s value. Even if you have no plans to sell it, are you sure you want to make changes that could reduce its market value? And if you plan to sell after a few years, you will want to get the best price.
• Learn from what others have done. The inputs of those who have remodeled their homes can be invaluable in helping you get the best results, cut costs and avoid hassles. Even if you don’t have friends who have remodeled their home, there are websites, blogs and online discussions on home remodeling where you can learn, ask questions and pick up valuable tips.
• Plan your expenses. Most remodeling projects run over budget, so always keep a buffer. And evaluate the need for everything you use – there may be more cost effective options. For example, do you really need high end designer tiles or will less costly options work?  This doesn’t mean to compromise on quality. That is a huge mistake as the future repair and maintenance bills will hurt. Look at things in terms of luxury versus essentiality. When the essential are in place, use the money left for the luxuries.
• Get the right team. Having the right architect and contractor is crucial to the outcome of the remodel. Obviously you will look at their qualifications and experience. You can even look at other projects they have done. But do not overlook the importance of working with people you are comfortable with and whom you think understand what you want. They will be able to translate your ideas into reality. Using the services of a design-build contractor makes the process much easier since you have to deal with one company for everything and coordination is easy.
• Plan for domestic disruption. Your household routine will be upset when the work is going on.  Kitchens and bathrooms will be unusable and the whole house will be full of dust and debris. Think about how you are going to manage for the duration of the project and plan on ways to minimize the discomfort and inconvenience. The disruption can lead to irritation and family squabbles. Plan a regular weekly family outing to give everyone a chance of unwind.
• Expect the unexpected. No matter how much you plan, problems will arise. Be mentally prepared for them so that you can deal with them better. Remember that problems arise when things seem to be going really well.