Home Renovation Tips

A home renovation shouldn't be a negative experience because it's a step towards improving the appearance and value of your home. However, this process can be stressful, with things not going as you would expect them to. In addition, the process can be expensive or even affected by bad weather conditions or other unforeseen factors.

Planning a home renovation is a way to ensure that the project runs smoothly, and planning should be done with thorough research to reduce expenses and minimise delays.

You can easily convert the stressful experience into a valuable long-term investment. In this article, we'll take you through some home renovation tips you should know before starting the project.

Top Home Renovating Tips

Here are some tips to consider when home renovating or planning to enhance your home décor:

Regulations

The first thing to do is to perform research on the building regulations that apply in your region before you start the house remodel. This ensures you are not affected by unforeseen surprises or charges from your local authorities. In some councils, rules and regulations are created to limit the likelihood of flood damage and bushfire and maximise sustainability.

Other councils don't design these specific rules, and you won't have anything to worry about if you live in these regions. Even though researching won't change the final renovation cost, it will help you know what to expect during the renovation process.

Budgeting

Many factors can alter the smooth running of the renovation process, so it's advisable to stay expectant and assume that something can go wrong along the line. Weeks of intense rainy weather conditions can cause significant delays to the project, increasing the project's cost while prolonging the time it takes to complete the project.

If the supplier you want to use for the project is unavailable, you might need to consider booking someone else, which might be one with a longer project time and a higher cost. It's best to have spare money so that you don't have to cut corners or lower the quality of materials you use for the project. By choosing not to cut corners, you will likely be saving money in the long run.

Valuation

Renovating is generally a risk, but you can make it informed and calculated when you know the value of other properties in your area. It's also wise to know the value of your property before and after the renovation process. You don't have to spend so much on the renovation process if it doesn't improve the value of your property.

Another thing worth noting is the fact that real estate values usually experience highs and lows. It's not always easy to determine when the market will be at its peak. Therefore, it's advisable to consider whether it's the right time for a costly renovation or if it's best to wait until it is right.

Seek recommendations

Getting advice from professional and experienced renovators is a great way to gain invaluable tips. You can also talk to people who have recently renovated their property to get an idea of key things to expect and features you might want to include. Another critical thing to ensure is that you don't get enticed by cheap quotes or the most available supplier. Recommendations from friends are always a better approach to take.

Plan ahead

Prepare and get every council development application done as soon as possible. This is because approvals are not usually granted quickly, and you may need to strategise and plan again if you don't get the approval. Therefore, you need to have a firm idea of everything you want to achieve and always stick to your plan.

Making unnecessary changes to your plan will only increase cost, and if you must do this, it's best to keep these changes to the barest minimum. Also, try to finalise your plans as soon as possible so that you can have time to book a builder or architect for the project.

Drive a bargain

While making plans, it's crucial to perform research on renovation fittings, and you can do this by shopping online or in person. You'll be surprised to find that there are many offers available for you to maximise.

There are many retailers available and ready to give you the best offer you can get. However, you need to be confident when getting a bargain. Retailers want sales, so you should consider haggling, especially when you're buying expensive items or a large order.

Think long term

When renovating your property, it's wise to always have the next owner in mind, and for this, you need to ensure that the updates you add are universally appealing. There are many versatile features that you can include in the property, and you can be sure that the next owner won't need to change these additions. You can also consider using neutral colours for the paint job.

Painting the ceiling off-white or white won't hurt anyone because it's the generally accepted colour for paint. However, a red wall or blue ceilings might get potential buyers irritated because of the extra cost and effort required to repaint. Consider consulting interior designers when adding colours and accessories to your property.

Get gardening done

When renovating your property, especially if you plan to sell it, the garden is an area you should not overlook. Ensure that it is tidy and with plants that are suitable for the soil, area, and climate. This is a lot better than having a garden that constantly requires pruning and watering.

If you're not a big fan of gardening, you might want to consider creating an easy-care yard with paved areas and a slow-growing lawn. Another approach is to consider replacing back-breaking garden beds with trees and shrubs that can grow on their own.

Cut costs

When trying to save money, it's essential to ensure that you don't compromise the quality of work that is done. This is illegal and also dangerous, as it can introduce different hazards. Poor plumbing and electrical work can have dire consequences, and doing this to cut costs will only cost you more money subsequently.

An effective way to save cost is by determining tasks that you can do on your own and completing these tasks without hiring anyone to do them. Examples include removing carpets or dismantling kitchen cabinets. These are tasks that don't need the expertise of a skilled expert, and you can save money by doing it yourself.

Maximise space

When renovating your home, it's essential that you maximise your interior space. Regardless of the type of project you perform, there are different ways to create extra space, and some standard methods include the following:

• Sliding doors: You can minimise door restrictions by adding sliding doors to hallways and rooms.
• Higher ceilings: Even though this doesn't increase your floor space, it will make your room appear larger and make it easier for you to attach fixtures to your wall.
• Built-in shelves: These help to create extra storage space, and you can add this feature to your hallway, above the laundry beck, in your kitchen, around the TV, or even under the stairs. 
• Wide entrance: Having a wider entrance can make the main areas in your house feel more prominent, and this can also enhance movement from one room to the other. 
• Remove some walls: This would depend on the structure of your home, but it's a great way of opening your floor plan.

Use a Professional Home Renovator

In addition to everything above, the most essential thing to ensure is that you use a trusted and experienced home renovation company when renovating your home. This is to ensure that the company can deliver home improvement projects with exceptional quality and have the experience you need for the renovation project.