There's no question that property renovations can be challenging; they tend to place a great deal of financial and personal strain on homeowners. However, although this type of project can be difficult, the finished result (namely, a property which is both more enjoyable to live in and likely to have a higher re-sale value) almost always makes the costs and effort worthwhile. If you have plans to carry out a home renovation project, here is some advice on how to make this process as simple and straightforward as possible.
Be practical
During the initial stages of a renovation project, you will probably spend a lot of time thinking about the aesthetic you want to achieve; for instance, what paint colours and tiles you want the kitchen, or what decorative theme you should go for in the bathroom.
Whilst this is perfectly understandable, it's a good idea to prioritise the practical necessities before delving into the more superficial finishing touches. This is especially important if you're working with a somewhat limited budget, as you'll need to make sure that you have enough money set aside for say, rewiring the electrics or upgrading the unreliable heating system, before you begin spending money on wallpaper or carpeting.
You don't want to find yourself in a situation where your home is beautifully-decorated, but is freezing cold and riddled with damp, because you made the mistake of spending your renovation budget on decorating supplies, rather than new radiators.
Create a work schedule and stick to it
Delays are part and parcel of any renovation project. However, with some careful planning, it is possible to reduce the likelihood of any serious interruptions to the building work. Devising a schedule of works will make keeping track of the project's progress far easier and ensure that the overall experience is far less stressful for everyone involved. A detailed schedule will also allow you to arrange for jobs to be done in the correct order (for instance, making sure that the leaking roof is repaired before putting new carpeting down in the loft).
When drawing up this 'to-do' list, it is crucial to devote plenty of time to consulting with your contractor, so that you know the exact sequence all of the jobs need to be done in. Once you have created this plan, do your best to be faithful to it; changing your mind about a particular task on the list will have a domino effect, impacting the arrangement of subsequent work. This in turn could lead to delays and additional costs.
