5 Essential Home Renovation Tips

Home renovations can be a great experience but they can also turn out to be quite the hassle. Unfortunately, as a home owner, they are often inevitable. Here are 5 tips that will make the home renovation process that much easier

1) Learning to prioritize

People tend to start with bathroom and kitchen renovations, as these are the busiest rooms in the house and they have a high return on investment when selling. However, in some cases, it is better to opt for renovation projects that are not as enticing, such as renewing the home’s plumbing system, electricity or thermal insulation. The state of the house is more important than its appearance.

2) Determining what to DIY and what to delegate

Some tasks can be completed by the homeowners themselves but this option comes with certain risks. Those with limited knowledge and manual skills should leave the work to professionals, as completing a renovation project can be tricky and overwhelming. Rookie mistakes may cost big as they will need to be fixed afterwards. It should also be noted that in some provinces, laws and regulations make it so that tasks such as plumbing and electricity

have to be completed by certified contractors to conform with current building norms.

3) Calculating and respecting the renovation budget

It is extremely important to establish a budget before embarking on a renovation project, to keep spending in check and to avoid accumulating too much debt. The initial budget should include an amount equivalent to 15% of the expenses for unplanned fees and events. This should be enough to cover any extras that come along the way. It can be very tempting to add more to the project, especially when shopping at home renovation stores or when speaking with a contractor. However, it is important to stick with the budget to avoid being faced with financial problems later on.

4) Choosing value over money

Looking to save money should be considered normal behaviour for anyone planning a renovation project. However, quality must never be sacrificed in order to save a few dollars. Although using cheap materials and labour may cost less in the moment, over time this choice will be expensive and could even lead to serious problems. It is best to look for materials and contractors that offer the best price/quality ratio.

5) Prepare for the unexpected

More than half of all renovation projects end up costing more than planned. Therefore, as stated earlier, part of the budget should be allotted for unplanned expenses. In doing so, if everything goes as expected, this money will be available for other projects or it will go back into the homeowner’s pocket.

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