Renovating a house is an exciting experience. You have the opportunity to reinvent your living space by changing the look and functionality. But when is the right time to do it? And how to do it smartly? Here are five tips that can help you.
1) Budget Is Important
One of your first considerations should be your renovation budget. Never try to renovate your home on a tight budget – A cheap handyman can do more harm than good. To have a successful renovation, knowing what your financial limits are is a must.
It’s best to work with professionals rather than looking to save money by hiring the cheapest possible service providers. Make sure whomever you hire is reputable. You don’t want to have an inexperienced handyman doing your renovation. It can be costly if mistakes are made. If that means waiting until you have the right budget to hire professionals, that might be the best choice.
You can do research to find estimated costs for some renovations. It’s a good idea to get professional estimates before you commit to starting a renovation project. Otherwise, you might get your hopes up to start, only to be disappointed once you find out the budget is way more than you thought. It’s hard to pinpoint exact costs. This article will give you some idea on average costs to remodel a kitchen for example.
It’s also a good idea to be realistic, and to keep a budget in mind that is 15% higher than what is quoted to you with a handyman or contractor. There are inevitably things that come up along the way that are unexpected and will add costs to the project.
2) Have A Clear Vision
You shouldn’t start renovating your house until you have a clear idea on what you’re going to renovate. Some people start redesigning based on a whim, or because someone said they should remodel their home. It’s great if you can do some research on defining what you want.
Talk to professionals. Look to design websites and magazines like Architectural Digest and articles from Better Homes and Gardens like 19 Budget-Friendly Home Renovation Ideas for Every Room in Your House. Search Pinterest and Houzz.
Take a look at some of HomeSquare’s renovations to get ideas. Gather ideas and narrow them down. It’s also a good idea to save photos or pages from magazines with details you want to see in your renovation. Take your time. Make sure that you have a clear idea what you wish to renovate. It will help bring you closer to an end result that will make you happy.
3) When Your Kitchen Needs Help
Is your sink too small? Is your fridge too far away from your prep area? Do you need more counter space? If your kitchen lacks functionality, it’s a good idea to consider a renovation. Since we spend so much time in the kitchen cooking, entertaining, even doing schoolwork and office work, it’s so important to feel comfortable in the space. It needs to work for you, for all of the things you use your kitchen for.
Read about some savvy kitchen storage ideas from the National Association of Builders. And take a look on Pinterest or at The Container Store for more great ideas to make your kitchen space work better for you.
This kitchen closet wasn’t working for our client in Greenwich, CT so we updated it by adding shelving. It was transformed and made much more functional. A change like this doesn’t need to break the bank.
Work with a professional. If you’re looking for a total kitchen renovation, keep in mind the points we made above around budget and developing a clear vision. You can get some idea around the average cost for a kitchen remodel in this article from HGTV.
For this kitchen, our client in Westport, CT, wanted more counter space to make their kitchen function better for them. We added an oversized kitchen island to create more counter space and an area for eating and entertaining. And for doing schoolwork!
4) Do You Hate Your Bathroom?
If you have the patience, the budget, and do the work of planning, you don’t need to live with a bathroom that you hate. You probably agree, apart from the kitchen, the bathroom can be the most important room of the house. It might not be surprising to hear that bathroom remodels are more popular than kitchen remodels. And you can get the best return on your investment when renovating your bathroom. So why not enjoy something now that can help add value to your home in the future?
If your bathroom really needs to be renovated, you should definitely put it on the top of your priority list. You might be cringing at the thought of how long the work can take. The longer it takes, the more you spend. Fortunately, with proper planning and making sure you have decisions made in advance, you can help prevent delays. Learn more in our Bathroom Remodel Checklist.
There are many things you could do in order to improve the functionality, the look, and overall feel of your bathroom. Some things you do, don’t have to be extravagant expenses. You can put in new and stylish tiles, or you could consider installing a new showerhead. There are many possibilities, but you should focus on the things your bathroom needs the most.
Let’s say, for an example, your sink isn’t in the best shape. You should focus on getting a new sink. If your bathroom is very small you can look at installing a smaller sink that will make it feel like you have more space. If there isn’t enough storage, there are vanities with multiple drawers where you can fit bathroom supplies. Functionality in the bathroom is something everyone wants. It can be more important than the look of your bathroom. You really need your sink to work. You don’t want washing your face or brushing your teeth to be a hassle. That’s why most people prioritize this type of renovation as compared to stylistic ones. Keep in mind that you can always ask for professional help if you need assistance or advice on making renovation decisions.
4) Renovate To Sell
This is something a lot of people do when they think about selling their house. Renovating your home when you’re trying to sell it is something that can bring you a great return on investment. You’ll compete better against other houses for sale in your vicinity and you’ll attract more potential buyers. Most importantly, you can list your home at a higher price if you manage to renovate all of its shortcomings. The most important thing to remember when you’re trying to do this is that you are absolutely going to need professional help. Not because you’ll need handyman assistance, but because a realtor or an interior designer is going to be able to tell you where you can profit the most if you decide to invest in renovations.
This historic home in Darien, CT, received some welcome upgrades courtesy of our amazing HomeSquare team. With renovations to kitchen flooring, cabinet refinishing, and a fresh coat of paint to the bathroom interior and living rooms, this house hit the market and sold in just seven days after a competitive bidding war!
Sometimes the functionality isn’t what people are looking for when they are trying to buy a house. They might be looking for the Wow! factor and curb appeal. Investing in your front yard and the overall aesthetics can sometimes result in more bids than interior functionality when you’re trying to sell. That’s why professional help is going to bring you a long way when you’re trying to sell.
If you’re thinking about renovating, make sure that you have a clear idea on what you wish to achieve, and what it will take to get it done. Then you can feel confident that it’s going to be something you actually want to do. When you’re ready to discuss your ideas, or if you want some advice, please contact a HomeSquare professional and we’d be happy to guide you through the process. We have decades of experience and professionals who have worked on renovation jobs of every size from small updates to total home remodels.
Alison Pearson is an interior design student. She is a writer and designer, and her ultimate passion is art and architecture. She is also a bibliophile and her favourite book is “The Sound and the Fury” by William Faulkner. Follow her on Twitter.