No matter what kind of home renovation or remodeling project you’re planning, you’re going to quickly discover that every instance comes with its own unique twists and turns. Whether it’s that custom dark oak cabinet you ordered from Switzerland becoming lost at sea during delivery, or that independent contractor you hired knocks out a load-bearing wall, things are bound to go awry.
With the proper planning and professional help in place, any complications that might come up during your project will be much easier to deal with. Below we’ll go through the key steps you can take to prepare for your upcoming home renovation project.
Do Your Research
Envisioning Your Dream Home
First things first: research (don’t worry, it’s not as dull as it sounds). Start by visualizing designs, styles and home materials that suit your lifestyle. Let your imagination run wild at this stage by browsing any interior design articles and videos you can find! Create a scrapbook, Pinterest board or hand-drawn sketches of your perfect luxury home, mapping out a living space that will complement your tastes.
Ask yourself: How do I want my home to make me feel? What do I like about my current home’s design and what don’t I like? Will this design still appeal to me in a few years or is it a passing trend? What spaces have appealed to me in the past when visiting another home or browsing online?
There are tons of popular interior design styles that you could look into and pull elements from, including: Rustic; French Country; Shabby Chic; Coastal; Traditional; Transitional; Hollywood Regency; Scandinavian; Bohemian; Urban Modern; Mid-Century Modern; Industrial; Eclectic; Contemporary; Minimalist; and the list goes on. You’ll find plenty of online resources that can help you uncover ideas for creating your luxury home.
Finding A Contractor That Fits
After you’ve pieced together the designs and styles you’d like to use, it’s time to find the right contractor to help get the job done. Whether it’s a small project or a large one, the right luxury home builder will turn your dream home into a reality. They’ll guide you through getting the correct permits, sourcing the best materials, and keeping your home protected during the renovation. A professional contractor will often offer additional insights into trends and designs that you may have missed!
When you work with Crystal Coast Construction, our team will free up your time during the home renovation journey so you can focus on designing a home you’ll love for years to come. We will take care of all the not-so-little details of municipal regulations, importing materials, deliveries and other technicalities. Book your free consultation (certain conditions apply) to find out how we can help you build your luxury dream home!
After you’ve found the right designs and trusted contractors to get the job done, it’s time to decide on what you need from your home versus what you want.
Split Up Your Wishlist Vs. Your Must-Haves
Take the time to sit down and write out a list of everything you want to add, remove, or change about your space. Every renovation project is different, so remember to consider all of the spaces you’ll be renovating and remodeling.
After you have your list ready, break those items down into two categories: What you need versus what you want. Important factors to consider when splitting these up are:
- What’s broken or not functioning in a way you need?
- What rooms do you use the most?
- What’s the scale of the renovation?
- What’s your budget looking like?
- What are the long-term benefits?
Fun Fact: Kitchen, deck, and bathroom projects can make your home more appealing to future buyers compared to other renovation projects.
As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to start with the large projects when remodeling or renovating and then work your way into the finer details. If you plan on updating plumbing, or refinishing your floors in the future, incorporate those tasks into your renovation plans now. By starting with a good foundation, you’re future-proofing your remodel.
After splitting your wishlist into these categories, you’ll have a much easier time laying out a realistic budget.
Plan Out Your Budget
The budgeting stage is usually the time when most homeowners have to reign in their imagination. Fortunately, a good contractor will help you walk that line between creating a spectacular luxury home and not breaking the bank.
There are a variety of things to take into account when creating your home renovation budget:
Permits: These costs can be higher than you’d expect, although for some types of renovations you may not need a permit at all. You can find this information on your municipality’s website, or consult with your contractor about any additional fees you’ll need to address.
Labor costs: Labour can eat up a large portion of your expenses during a renovation depending on the complexity of the project. Ensure you have plenty of budget set aside for your contractors.
Demolition: This is often the start of any renovation or remodel, and may also need to be done at various stages throughout (for example if you run into mold, damaged structure, water infiltration, and more).
Unexpected events: Surprises are inevitable, so it’s good to keep Murphy’s Law of, “anything that can go wrong will go wrong,” in mind when budgeting. Set aside around 15% of your total renovation cost for any surprises that might come up when you embark on your home renovation project.
Other factors to consider include unplanned work that you might want to add along the way, material costs and the current state of your home.
Your final budgetary consideration should be time. As the trusted saying goes, time is money, making it one of the most important factors to remember throughout the home renovation process.
Consider Your Timeline
Nearly all home renovation projects take longer than expected, so being realistic and generous when creating your timeline will help you account for obstacles and unexpected events along the way.
Remember that for everything being replaced, you’ll have to factor in the time it takes to source the materials, install them and any other dependencies that may come up.
Finding the right contractor, like Crystal Coast Construction, will do wonders to speed up your timeline and help your renovation stay on track.
Find The Right Contractors
We’ve all heard stories of poorly done renovations, which is why it’s important to check credentials and references for any contractors you’re looking to hire. You’ll be working with these people for an extended period of time so don’t hire them based on price alone!
Remember to ask contractors to submit a preliminary timeline and schedule for the project – be clear about your expectations and ask them about their expectations from you.
If you’re not certain about the direction of your renovation or remodel, Crystal Coast Construction will work with you to discuss your needs. If you have a vision and a budget in place already, we can create a plan and timeline that brings your build to life while working around your daily routines.
Prepare For A Lifestyle Change
Living through a home renovation project will undoubtedly have an impact on your daily life. Depending on the scope of the renovation or remodel, it’s generally a good idea to find another place to stay (for example, if you’re gutting the floor or redoing the plumbing and electricity).
Doing a kitchen remodel, for example, will leave you without a usable kitchen until the project is complete. Make sure you’re planning for these disruptions accordingly well before you undergo the home remodeling process.
