A house experiences a lot over the years. From family gatherings to rowdy game nights, your home reflects the memories made inside of it. Over time though, things start to show wear and tear. Whether it’s the grease-stained walls of your once-pristine kitchen or the peeling wallpaper in your kids’ bedrooms, there comes the point where you can’t ignore it anymore. And this means it’s time for a renovation.

But where do home renovations begin, and how do you know what you must do and in what order? How can you ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck? We will put all that and more under the microscope in this article as we explore the ins and outs of home renovation planning.

1. Make a Plan

It is a no-brainer that a solid plan is crucial to any successful endeavor. The same goes for home renovations. You must know what you want to accomplish, how much it will cost if you need a team of professionals, and how long it will take. It will help you set expectations for the project, make appropriate arrangements, and avoid costly mistakes.

For instance, if your designers are traveling to your home, you need to ensure there is a place for them to stay and work. Man camps are perfect for this type of thing as they provide comfortable, furnished living quarters along with office and meeting space – everything your team needs to get the job done.

You can turn to Google to look for man camps in your area. For example, if you’re in Pecos, type “man camp Pecos TX” in the search bar to get the most relevant results.

2. Start with a Thorough Inspection

In most cases, a homeowner knows what areas need the most work. But in certain cases, it takes a trained eye to spot problem areas that you may have missed. For example, maybe there’s a mold issue in the bathroom or water damage in the basement.

That is why starting your renovation project with a thorough inspection is always a good idea. If you’ve got the eye for it, you can do it yourself. But if not, hire a professional inspector to help you get started on the right foot.

You wouldn’t want to open your house for repair work again in a few months because you missed a critical issue, would you?

3. Create a Budget and Stick to It

Let’s face it – money doesn’t magically appear out of thin air, no matter how badly we want this to happen. So, before starting your home renovation project, you must sit down and create a budget.

And when we say “budget,” we don’t mean an approximate number you’re pulling out of thin air. Instead, we mean a well-thought-out, detailed budget that considers the cost of materials, permits, labor, and other miscellaneous expenses.

It’ll help you keep track of your spending and avoid going over budget.

You might even be able to break down your budget into phases to make it more manageable. For example, you can do the kitchen this year and save up for the bathroom next year.

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4. What’s Your Finance Plan?

One significant reason to budget before starting your home renovation project is to ensure your finances are in place. Unfortunately, not all of us have enough saved up to cover the entire cost of a renovation.

That’s why exploring your financing options and creating a plan that works for you is essential. For example, you could get a home equity loan, take a personal loan, or use your credit cards.

Ensure you understand your financing agreement’s terms and conditions before signing on the dotted line. Your contractor or designer should also help you understand your financing options.

5. Get the Required Permits

Depending on your renovation project’s scope and nature, you may need to apply for and obtain permits from your local authorities.

For example, if you’re planning on doing any electrical or plumbing work, you’ll need to get the appropriate permits. Otherwise, you could be fined.

Some home renovation projects that require permits include but are not limited to:

• Adding or removing walls
• Installing or replacing windows
• Replacing your roof
• Doing any work on your home’s foundation
• Adding or removing a fireplace

Some states require permits for projects that exceed a particular cost. Others have a blanket rule that requires licenses for all home renovation projects.

It’s always better to avoid caution and get the required permits before starting your project.

6. Know the Material

You may not be doing your home renovation, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t know about the materials used. It’ll come in handy when it’s time to sign off on the final product.

For example, suppose you’re renovating your kitchen. In that case, you need to know about the different countertops available, such as granite, marble, quartz, and laminate.

You should also know about the different flooring options, such as hardwood, tile, laminate, and vinyl.

The more you know about the materials being used, the better equipped you’ll be to make informed decisions.

If, for instance, your budget only allows for laminate countertops, then you’ll know to steer clear of granite.

7. Hire the Right Contractor or Designer

The skillset, ability, and experience of your contractor or designer will significantly impact the outcome of your home renovation project. From our experience, we’ve seen too many homeowners try to save money by hiring inexperienced contractors or designers.

Don’t make the same mistake.

Hire a reputable and experienced contractor or designer you trust to do a good job. They may cost more, but they’re worth it.

Licensed professionals should always do projects like siding installation, roofing, and electrical work.

8. Always Take Multiple Quotes

Are you purchasing the material for your home renovation project, or is your contractor?

If you’re purchasing the material, then you should always take multiple quotes from different suppliers. It will help you get the best price for the material.

If your contractor is purchasing the material, get multiple quotes from different contractors. It will help ensure you’re not being overcharged for the material.

In either case, ensure you get at least three quotes before deciding.

Final Thoughts

Updating and revamping your home is fun and a dream we all have. But as with anything in life, planning and preparation are crucial to ensuring a successful outcome.

With the right tips up your sleeve, you can avoid common mistakes and make your home renovation project successful.

We also recommend planning a few weeks, if not months, in advance. It will give you time to save up, get the required permits, and hire the right contractor or designer.