A home renovation project brings a lot of excitement, fun, and anticipation but challenges and stress. If you don’t address these challenges ahead of starting, things can go off track pretty badly along the home renovation journey.
For instance, you might need some changes because the budget exceeds your expectations, or the project may face delays due to unforeseen circumstances.
Planning your home renovation project meticulously can eliminate these issues to the maximum. Also, you need to have all the helpful information surrounding your home renovation projects.
If you don’t know what to consider and where to start, don’t worry. It requires nothing more than reading the article below for you to know tips for a stress-free home remodeling project.
1. Carefully select your contractor
Some people are more inclined to DIYing their home renovation. But it is not always a good idea, especially when your project involves making complicated changes—certainly more than painting a few walls. So, hiring a contractor is always a better idea. Visit Supa Group if you are interested in home extensions.
However, be wise in your selection of a home renovation contractor. You will find many quacks who claim to be the master of their craft, but they are not, stay away from them.
Extensively research the contractors; read their success stories; ensure they have renovation permits. In addition, they must have a few years of experience working on some prominent projects in the construction industry.
2. Ensure worker’s accommodation
The contractor must ensure the accommodation and food of the workers they hire. But you can make some recommendations too, to ease the accommodation, especially if you live in Odessa. You can ask your contractor to opt for man camps in odessa tx, to accommodate the laborers for the project duration.
In Odessa, these man camps are becoming a convenient and practical option due to proliferating construction and home renovation projects.
These man camps provide clean temporary housing with all the essential amenities at an affordable price. If your contractor agrees to this setting, you will be relieved of the burden of accommodating a team of workers.
3. Choose the material wisely
Once changes are made in the house, they can go on for years if done properly. Therefore, don’t try to save a few hundred dollars by buying cheap, low-quality materials. Select high-quality, long-lasting material that will eliminate the need to replace them in a couple of years.
When selecting designs, don’t concentrate much on fad trends and focus on functionality. Go with classic and simple designs that are timeless and practical.
Also, choose your suppliers carefully. If this is your first home makeover project, you won’t want to have a bad experience by getting coned.
Ask your family and acquaintances for the recommendation of reliable suppliers. You can also ask your contractor to find any reputable suppliers from their previous jobs. They might know people personally and help you get some discounts too.
3. Have a lawyer on board
Starting a home renovation project requires signing a lot of contracts. Having a lawyer on board means you won’t be signing agreements that you should not and pay more than the required amount for a job.
Lawyers are great negotiators; they can negotiate on your behalf and help you save money. They will also ensure that agreements are fair and have no loopholes. A lawyer will ensure that the agreements have the provisions that:
- Prevent the contractor from asking for a fee increment during the project
- Leave the project midway
- Make certain that the project is finalized on time
- Ensure adherence to quality requirements
- Hold people accountable in case of property damage
- Clearly defines the penalties for damages
- Define the responsibility in case of workplace injuries
Both the parties will read the agreement and sign the papers if they agree to the clauses.
4. Hire a project manager
Sometimes a project contractor is also a project manager, and you get the details of the timelines from the contractor. Nevertheless, it is not an obligation; you can hire a project manager to supervise your house renovation.
The manager keeps a record of the material being used, adheres to the timelines, prevents material waste, and ensures everything goes smoothly. In many cases, you may find a contractor biased about the work of its team, but a project manager will be an unbiased supervisory figure and the primary point of contact between different parties.
Some homeowners manage their projects themselves, which is time-consuming and hectic. With a manager on board, you can call them at your home or get the progress report daily over a call.
5. Make an informed budget
Making a budget is a cardinal rule of a stress-free home renovation project. So, make sure you make a detailed budget sheet for your project before starting the project. Your budget should consider the following aspects:
- The money you have allocated for the project
- The current market price of the material
- Contractor’s fee
- Current labor cost
- Fees of designers, structural engineers, architects
- Contingency budget
Your budget should stay within the total money you can spend on the project. Also, take a few rounds of the market and check the market price of the material you plan to use. If you make a budget on your whims and ideas, there is a high chance that it won’t be sufficient (because we always try to spend less).
Another aspect you must consider is the contingency budget. A home renovation doesn’t always go according to your plans. You are often forced to make changes in the initial plan; often, new problems appear.
For instance, you might be renovating the cabinets in the kitchen and, to your dismay, find out that water damage is causing trouble in the bottom cabinets. Now that you have seen the problem, you cannot overlook it. So, have at least 20% extra budget for these unseen problems.
Conclusion
Home renovation projects are undertaken occasionally; therefore, you must consider all its aspects. Consider making a realistic budget, hiring a contractor, buying high-quality material, and setting achievable timelines, among other things. The more all-embracing and detailed you are in planning, the more the chance of a stress-free home renovation project.
