Easy Tips On How You Can Prepare Your Crib For A Home Remodeling Project
Remodeling Guides
Assemble a Good Team
Don’t jump to hire the least expensive designer, architect or builder unless they also come highly rated, well-regarded and positively reviewed. Have a thorough chat with their past clients to make sure there are no red flags. Ask to see examples of recently completed projects to make sure they have a proven track record.
Hiring the best team may mean having to cut back on something to make the budget work. But I guarantee it will be money well spent. And often you’ll save more money in the long run than if you had simply gone with the lowest bid.
On a related note, it’s a good idea to bring together professionals who have prior, positive experiences working together. Ask your architect or designer to recommend builders they’ve previously worked with. Or if you have a great builder on board but need an architect or designer, ask the builder to recommend someone they have a proven track record with. Think of it like a good marriage — you want to bring together people who can communicate effectively and resolve problems quickly, efficiently and amicably.
Settle Budget and Scope Before You Begin
Before you even start dreaming about demo day, get a firm handle on your project scope and budget. I’ve seen this scenario happen to people before: Imagine being on year two of a remodel that was originally supposed to be just a master suite renovation. You experienced major “scope creep” and started adding and adding to the project, then got stopped in your tracks when the city caught wind and insisted you update your permits (something that can take ages to resolve in a place like). You’ve gone over budget, especially since you had to cover such a long stay in temporary housing. And so on.
Include Budget and Timeline Contingencies
Make sure you are prepared for “worst-case scenarios” because, inevitably, they’ll happen. You’ve probably heard it’s a good idea to add a 1% to 20% contingency to your budget, but you should also add the same amount to your timeline
How to Stick to Your Remodeling Goals
Remodeling is a great way to stay in the house you have. Plus, making changes can improve the way you live. But everyone has heard the horror stories of going 50% or more over the remodeling budget. Truth be told, even contractors will admit that it’s hard to provide an exact price on the work, because there are often unforeseen circumstances that could cause the price to rise. I always recommend factoring in about 20% over what you think you should budget. But knowing what you want from the very beginning — and sticking to those goals — can greatly help your project stay on track. Even if it seems like it’s going off the rails.
Are you seeking to increase resale value? Improve layout? Improve energy efficiency? It could be a combination of a number of things, but make sure you’re being rational. If you want pro-style appliances but you eat out most evenings, you might want to reconsider.
In one project our client wanted to double the size of his kitchen because it felt like he had no counter space. Instead of just going for space, we talked to him about how he prepares meals and worked to increase the amount of usable counter space rather than just making the kitchen bigger.
Create a budget you’re comfortable with, then set aside 20% of that to cover the unknowns that inevitably come up. This is your “build to” budget. During the design phase, your designer should make you aware of the amount that is your build-to budget. You should avoid the temptation to spend your contingency before you begin construction. A contingency is not a slush fund that, if you can avoid spending, you can direct toward appliance and finish upgrades.
A contingency is an integral part of the cost of building, especially remodeling, that is as deserving of budget allocation as any other component of your project. Unknowns are very hard to predict and can easily drive your project over budget otherwise.
Home Renovation Guide
There comes a time for every homeowner when they look around their property and think, “Should I sell, or should I just stay and renovate?”. It’s anything but an easy decision, especially in an expensive real estate market such
The Pantone Colour of the Year is used to influence trends in a variety of industries for the upcoming year such as fashion, home decor, and product designs. For 2020, Classic Blue is the colour to ring in the new decade and the colour that everyone should include in their homes to encourage goods vibes
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If you are looking at houses for sale but don’t quite see one that fits your personality, consider the major changes you can make with just a coat of paint. When it comes to painting your home, though, there are a number of decisions that you’ll need to make to get your desired look.
Home renovation projects can be very exciting to take on. Not only can they boost the value of your real estate, but they can also create a more enjoyable space for you and your family. That being said, these projects can be a little stressful if they’re not properly planned.
Homeowner’s Workbook: How to Remodel Your Bathroom
So you’re ready to remodel that bathroom. Congratulations! As you probably already know, you’ve got some tasks ahead of you. Even with the help of a professional bathroom designer and a general contractor who will take care of the construction and installation, a lot of the mental work inevitably falls right on you, the homeowner
So it’s going to be up to you where you want things to go, how much you want to spend, what you want it to look like and how you want it to function. This step-by-step workbook will help you navigate the process through the planning and conceptual phases. Just remember to keep your eye on the prize, and seek the help and guidance of people who’ve been there before.
What Are You Trying to Achieve?
It seems like a simple enough question that should have a simple answer: “Well, I need a new bathroom.” But when embarking on a journey that will take a good chunk out of your time and bank account, you want to get it right. And you want to be happy with the end result.
Before you do anything, think about what your ideal bathroom would be. Forget constraints of money and space; just imagine what you want and what the intended purpose will be. Who is this bathroom for? Is it a master bathroom? A powder bathroom? A kid’s bathroom? How often will it get used and what will the function be?
Other considerations:
How many people will use it?
How much time do you spend in the bathroom during the morning, afternoon and night?
What’s your routine — how does your current space hinder it and how could a new space improve it?
Do you plan to grow old in this house?
Do you have medical issues like poor eyesight or arthritis to consider?
Do you just want something that’s easy to clean?
Is storage the catalyst? Relaxation?
Or do you just want to update the look for resale?
Your Guide to a Smooth-Running Construction Project
Imagine walking into your newly built or remodeled home and seeing it exactly as you had imagined it at the start of construction: the windows are all in the right places, the flooring is the right color, and the kitchen cabinets are a perfect fit.
Now allow me to pinch you on the arm, because for most people, reality is often different from that idyllic scenario. You might see missing trim around the bedroom doors or wonder why that small change in the kitchen cost so much. Looking back, you might ask, “And why did we have to hire another subcontractor to finish the bathroom?”
Of course, there are things you just can’t plan for, but there’s plenty that you can. Costly changes and additional time-consuming work can be kept to a minimum if you fully understand what you are building before you start. By understanding the construction process, being part of the team and keeping a firm grip on the budget, your construction project can result in the home of your dreams.
Don’t Skimp on Design Help
Given the busy lives most of us lead, we don’t have the time to research every type of technology and material that might be used on a construction project. Use professionals to save some of the time that would otherwise be spent learning and perfecting the process.
Architects are trained not just to make a project pretty but to match building systems, thermal envelopes and other properties to the client’s needs. They have a broad, up-to-date knowledge of these systems as well as of materials and processes for a wide variety of project areas.