The Ultimate 12 Step Home Renovation Checklist
Renovating your home often feels equal parts exciting and overwhelming. On the one hand, you are transforming your space into the home of your dreams. On the other hand, there are seemingly endless stressors to planning the process, and this is the exact phase where so many folks just break down faced with all the overwhelming design and planning elements:
What and how can we change this/that?
Can we do this and how much will it cost?
Can we remove walls?
Will we need permits?
Who can we hire to do the work from start to finish without problems?
How long will it take, and will we need to move out during the process?
The right professionals can definitely help you along your journey. Fortunately, the whole process is totally manageable with the right plans in place, even if you’re handy and want to move forward on your DIY remodel. Knowledge is key! The important thing is to identify what you are willing and able to do, and what elements you will required outside help such as with the design, product selection, installations, or general contracting. Don’t get over your head! Personally assuming too much is where stress and costly mistakes result, so evaluation and education upfront are very important.
Following are a few steps to get you started on your remodel. Don’t forget to grab our FREE design planner here for more tips.
1. Determine Your Budget
The best place I advise customers to start their planning process is with their budget. It’s not the most pleasant place to start but knowing how much you are willing and able to invest on your projects sets the stage for the entire remodel including the general design, materials, and scope of work. This is where knowledge of costs contributes to this determination. If you only have $5,000 allocated to your home upgrades for the coming year, we know that the new kitchen or bathroom will come down the line, but perhaps you can change the vanity in the hall bathroom. I’ve also found that some customers just don’t know what remodels cost! I’ve received requests from potential clients wanting to complete an entire bathroom remodel for this amount. In reality, this may only replace the tub surround. Do some research or schedule a design consultation for quick and knowledgeable guidance. Also be aware that the pandemic period has dramatically affected the cost of materials. As a designer of 16 years, I am no longer able to stretch budgets across multiple projects as I could just 3 years ago.
2. Outline Your Renovation Priorities
First, list all the projects you want to complete in the home with your spouse and family. Secondly, prioritize these projects using what I call your “live in the home pain point” and budget as your guides.
For example, if the kitchen makes or breaks your happiness in the home due to its layout and lack of functionality, that might be your first priority. A modest small kitchen remodel generally starts at $30K+ for quality cabinetry. (You also always want to set aside a minimum 10-15% contingency for unforeseen expenses.) As an alternative, a facelift with new countertops, backsplash, plumbing fixtures, appliances, and cabinet hardware may be only half of that budget. Whether you are tapping into the equity in your home or using personal savings set aside for home upgrades, your budget will help you decide which projects are most comfortable for you and your wallet at this time.
You will also want to evaluate renovation costs with your home’s value based on the time you plan to live in the home. Are you renovating to increase your home’s equity to resale within 5-7 years, or are you settling into your forever home?
While it's true that renovation projects are often expensive, they can also increase your home's monthly energy costs and resale value providing a significant return on investment within a relatively short time. For example, changing out the windows in your home may save around 40% per month in utility costs. Or a kitchen remodel may yield your family the most happiness while you’re in the home while also yielding more equity upon resale. These remodels, while one of the costliest, also result in the highest returns, with an average ROI of 72.2%. See your area’s cost vs. value at: https://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2021/
3. Plan Your Aesthetic
Once you finalize your budget and priority spaces, you can start having some fun with design. What’s your style? What look are you going for? This is where I get the most chuckles when I ask, “Do you lean toward traditional or transitional?” Many people don’t know what that means, and they also just don’t know what style they actually like.
Spend some time researching Pinterest, Houzz, Instagram, or product vendor websites for ideas. Spend a Saturday visiting vendor showrooms in your area. This is where I get most of my inspiration when I’m meandering amongst product “jewelry.” 😊 This research time will provide you boundless interior inspirations that you can collect to share with your contractor. The design and product materials affect your installation costs, so you will need to share these elements upfront for an accurate bid. If this gets overwhelming, don’t hesitate to call an experienced professional designer. A mere paid consultation will provide ideas and education that may otherwise take you valuable time, help direct your plan, and save you money in the process.
4. Create Realistic Renovation Timelines
The pandemic has created a frenzy in the remodel industry. More families are working from home, and they have decided NOW is the time to make improvements they’ve been putting off. Limited productions and product backorders have also affected project timelines. Realize this going into your remodel. You are not in control of this fact. This is a sign of the times right now, and we don’t see an end to it in the near future.
What you can control, though, is realistic timing of the remodel based on the guidance of your designer and/or contractor. Don’t expect to plan a kitchen remodel in late spring and have it installed by the end of the summer school break. Cabinet vendors have pushed normal deliver times from 5-8 weeks to over 20 weeks among some brands. Then, you need to coordinate delivery times with your contractor’s client load. Be flexible and determine which installation time works best for your family’s schedules. Then, reverse engineer the clock from there.
5. Research Installation Contractors
If you’re not DIY’ing your project, you’ll want to spend considerable time researching and interviewing contractors. Go into this knowing that the cheapest bid is not necessarily the best. You get what you pay for in this arena, and you will want to evaluate the value of experience, expertise, staff, and streamlined processes as you review total costs. The best contractors charge more because they build their businesses on these values and attract a referral clientele due their professionalism. Don’t shop for installers based on price. Seek a specialized contractor for your project, and research their background, licensing, insurance, and past clients to prevent a nightmare installation and costly mistakes. Following are important steps in the process of selecting the right contractor.
Collect personal referrals from friends, family, and colleagues. They are a primary source of finding a professional you can trust. Inquire among your network, and post on your neighborhood’s Nextdoor social media group. Start with a trusted community.
Do a Google search and read customer reviews and testimonials. Thanks to the power of the Internet, you can easily research reviews on nearly any contractor. Make a list of 3 prospects, and then visit their websites to view their projects, processes, and experience.
Check credentials. In addition to reading reviews, verify their credentials to ensure they are licenses, bonded, and insured adequately. Visit https://www.angi.com/angi-license-check.htm to learn what licenses a contractor needs to complete your project. Also, know the difference between a contractor tradesman and a General Contractor. Any structural changes should always be referred to a licensed GC.
After narrowing your list of potential contractors to no less than 3, request cost estimates from each one. Often, the contractor will first need to visit your home to determine the scope of work. Plan to spend unrushed time with each explaining your needs and wants to reduce miscommunications and incorrect bids. Also expect that more and more reputable contractors have begun charging a nominal amount for these bids upfront which they then apply to your work if you hire them. This, in turn, pays them for their time if you chose to go elsewhere for your project. Customers don’t realize the enormous amount of time that goes into creating designs and bids. Time is money, and the days of complimentary bids is waning in order to remain in business. In other words, only call your top prospects knowing they may ask for a commitment after your initial meeting if you plan to move forward.
6. Select Your Contractor
The next step is to select and hire your contractor. Once you have all of the estimates, take some time to weigh the costs against the contractor’s skills and expertise. The cheapest estimate isn't necessarily the best option. Weigh the value offered in the bid such as crews with specialties, decades of experience in business, past client referrals, etc. You will pay more for experience and professionalism. The cheapest bid may potentially wind up costing you the most in mistakes. Do your research!
A true professional will also present you his insurance information, references, and a formal legal contract itemizing the scope of the project. Do not hesitate to request this information as it presents you as a knowledgeable client. Do not order materials or schedule your install without a signed agreement to safeguard both of you and document each of your responsibilities moving forward.
7. Create a Rough Renovation Timeline with Built In flexibility
Renovations often take longer to complete than planned, and this should be factored into your renovation timeline and your family’s schedule. When drafting the timeline, consider as many elements as possible including the time it will take to plan the project including designs, revisions, and product selections. You should then add time to interview and hire contractors, obtain necessary permits if applicable, and the estimated construction timeline. If there is a particular date by which you need to complete the renovation, this should be discussed at the onset of your project with your designer and contractor.
8. Prep Your Home for the Renovation
With plans in place and a great contractor by your side, it's time to start prepping your home for the big project ahead. This is a great time to source donations as you change the appearance of your home. For items you are ready to part with, consider resale social media groups, Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, or your town’s Family Services. Often, they offer pickups for larger items. For those items to remain, research storage options or PODS to keep them safe and secure during your project.
9. Plan Your Living Arrangements
It’s important to anticipate whether you need or desire to leave your home during major construction. Speak in advance of recommendations by your designer and contractor based on your family’s routine, children or elders in the home, and any health issues that may be of concern due to dust debris.
10. Take Photos
Before-and-after photos of your home renovation are not only important to your designer and contractor, but they are also important to document your renovations process should any conflicts or legal issues surface. Most professionals will insist on photos for their own legal protection. Also, they are a great way to showcase your beautiful transformation to others on social media and websites.
For safety reasons, your professional should present you a publicity waiver that legally obtains your permission to use your home’s photos for marketing publicity. Ensure that names, locations, and pictures of family members are not included in any promotional pictures for the safety of your family.
11. Start the Renovation
Don’t contract with an installation professional without a plan to be available during your installation each day of construction. Miscommunications and unforeseen issues sometimes arise which can slow down your home’s renovation. The faster you can address and make decisions about these issues, the sooner your renovation will be completed. If you are not available, request a trusted family member be present. You also have the option to pay your designer a project management fee to keep an eye on the birth of his/her design. I offer this within my package options as a concierge service for those clients that are busy with travel, work commitments, or just want a more knowledgeable person to take the lead.
12. Share Your Experience With Others
Now, you’re at the end of your project! It’s been a long journey for you, but also for your designer and contractor. Don’t forget to pay them promptly and be kind to those who made your idea come to life. Offer to post a referral on Google or on their website. True professionalism deserves to be highlighted!
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