Are you thinking about starting a do-it-yourself home-improvement project? Major home renovations and additions require complex processes that must be adequately planned for. Below, I’ve offered a few key steps to remember when planning for a major home-improvement endeavor.
1. Rate Your Priorities
Organize the aspects of your plan according to importance. For example, do you want your new home addition to be low-cost, fast, and of superb quality? Most likely, you would prefer all of these traits, but they don’t always go hand-in-hand. So prioritize these elements and decide what is most important.
2. Figure Out the Cost
You don’t want to put yourself in the position of having to stop your home-improvement project because you ran out of money. Plan for this. Before you begin work on your home, visit some home-improvement stores to get a general idea of how much you’re going to need to spend on your project. Also, contact home-improvement professionals to gauge whether or not you will save money by doing the project yourself. If hiring someone to do the work is cost-efficient, you may want to go that route.
3. Ask for Help
Most home-improvement projects take more than one person to be done properly. Safety is a key issue with any major renovation or addition, so don’t be afraid to ask friends and professionals for assistance. You may find that certain aspects of the project are easy, and other aspects require special knowledge that only a professional holds. Sort out these tasks beforehand.
4. Get the Proper Tools
Make sure you have the right tools for the job. Sounds simple, right? Far too often, people find themselves tearing their house apart, only to realize they must wait for certain parts to arrive. Make sure you know when appliances and materials are going to be delivered to your home. Make a list of tools you need, and inquire about purchasing or renting them.
5. Inquire About Central Texas Real Estate Permits
If there is any step that can’t be overlooked, it is this one. You’d be surprised at how many home-renovation projects require permits from city/county building departments. Structural, wiring, and plumbing alterations often require special consent from these departments, so make sure you contact them. If you overlook this step, repercussions can ensue in the future.
6. Formulate a Timeline
Establishing a reasonable timeline is key to ensuring efficiency and eliminating frustrations. DIY projects often take up to twice as long as professionally done projects. Set milestones for yourself, including accurate delivery times for appliances and other materials.
7. Solidify Work Systems and Other Minor Tasks
Make sure you prepare for any excess garbage or noise that will arise during the home-improvement process. Let your neighbors know what you will be doing and how long it will take. Make a schedule for yourself and anyone else who may assist you with the project. Gather contact numbers from those working with you. Don’t overlook any detail, no matter how small.
Hopefully, these steps cover everything you need to get started on your home-improvement project. If you have any further questions, feel free to Contact Us and we will either answer your questions or put you in touch with someone who can.
