A Home Renovation Checklist

By Author: Susan Hu
Total Articles: 4762
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Planning any major changes to your home can be exciting and scary at the same time. You're looking forward to the improvements but what if something goes wrong? Following these essential steps can help you ensure your home renovation goes as smoothly as possible. This means you'll be left with the improvements to enjoy and not hassles or messes to clean up after the fact.

Make Your Dream Home Renovation List

Go ahead and dream big. There's no harm in doing so. Make a list of the renovations you dream of, and create a corresponding list of the renovations you absolutely need. Creating your list with both your wants and needs in mind will help you make decisions later down the road, especially when it comes time for some crunching of the numbers involved in the renovation itself.

Figure out Your Renovation Budget

Before you even think of picking up the phone to schedule an appointment with a home renovation firm, carpenter, or contractor, you absolutely need to take a look at your own finances. Having a realistic estimate of your own budget in mind will allow you to make the most of your time with ...
... the contractor. You'll be able to immediately benefit from your planning time with the renovation specialist and to determine your actual plans for the work you are going to have done.

Plan When you Want to do Your Renovations

When is the right time to complete your renovations? Make sure you're planning the project during a time that you don't have any other big events going on. Stay away from family holidays or other parties you will be having at your home. Keep in mind that not all projects go as planned, and sometimes schedule adjustments are necessary which means you may have your home in disarray longer than originally anticipated while the renovations are being completed after an unforeseen bump in the road. For this reason, you should give yourself a cushion of at least a couple of weeks in your renovation calendar. Plan your project timeframe and add some time to the end of it, just in case.

Start Your Search for a Contractor or Renovation Firm

It's always best to start with recommendations from people you know. Honest responses from friends and family will give you an idea of which remodeler you may want to go with. If you're still unsure, see if you can find contractors in your area who are registered with the National Association of Home Builders or the National Association of Remodelers. Checking the credentials of a remodeler or contractor ensures you get better results. Those who are registered or certified with a professional association are held to a set of higher standards in order to maintain membership in those organizations.

Interview Remodeling Firms and Contractors

You should conduct interviews with several contractors before making a final decision. Even if the first contractor you speak with sounds wonderful and seems to have all the right answers, you should still talk with others. You need to be able to compare responses and quotes in order to make the best choice. Don't be afraid to call a contractor back again to ask additional questions if you need to make a better comparison to the responses of others. Even if you end up going with the first remodeler with whom you spoke, at least you know you're making the right decision.

Take Notes During Your Interviews and do Your Homework

Don't just speak with the contractors but take detailed notes during your conversations. Request information from them in the form of printed bids on work, quotes, examples of previous projects they've completed, and testimonials from other clients. Take some time to review all your findings and compare the information you obtain from each remodeler or contractor before making a decision.

Read and Understand Everything in Your Contract Before you Sign It

It may sound like a given but it's easy to get in a hurry or excited about your remodeling and miss critical details in the contract, only to regret it later when a problem arises. Take the time to thoroughly review the entire document and don't hesitate to ask for clarifications if necessary.

Make Plans in Advance Regarding how you Will get by During the Remodeling Process

Dependent upon what area of your home you are having remodeled, you may feel like you're displaced within your own space for the duration of the remodeling project. Take this into consideration in advance, and try to make arrangements that will allow you to be as comfortable as possible while work is being completed. For example, if your remodeling project is going to make it difficult for you to get ready for work in the morning, what can you do to make the situation more practical? Maybe you'll need to sleep in the spare bedroom during the projected timeframe, and use the kids' bathroom to get ready in the mornings.

Be Realistic and Prepared for the Inevitable Hitch in Your Plans

Don't be surprised if there are a few minor bumps in the road. Rarely is any significant undertaking completed without some adjustment in plans. No matter how well you plan or how good the contractor you hire is, there is still always the chance that adjustments may be required. Be calm and realistic about this possibility and you'll get through it just fine, with a beautiful, remodeled space to cherish for days to come.
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