Sometimes, you just want a change. Or maybe you bought a home intending to make the kitchen bigger, add a second bath, or combine two smaller bedrooms into one. A home remodel can bring new life into your home. First, however, you’ll need to know the process so you know what to expect.
Plan Your Remodel
For some, it’s easy to see the complete picture in your imagination. That’s a great start, but there’s a lot more to it than just seeing it. There are a lot of decisions you need to make before you even start work.
The first thing you need to do is set a budget. What you’re willing and able to spend can affect many factors of your home remodel, so this is the most important step. Then, decide what you want to do yourself and what you’ll need to hire a contractor to do, as well as any repairs you want to make while you’re remodeling. You may want to paint or replace cabinets yourself, but you’ll definitely want to hire a professional to take care of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, work, and work on any load-bearing walls.
Make Hiring Decisions
There is a lot of work and coordinating you can do yourself, but a home remodeling contractor can make the process easier. Look for an experienced contractor who has done similar work and has good references.
If you don’t hire a contractor who can help coordinate plumbers, electricians, and other professionals, start your search now, while you’re still planning. Look at past work, get estimates, and make a decision on all the professionals you’d like to hire.
Look for the materials and supplies you’ll need, and get those ordered while you’re making hiring decisions. If you have everything ready before you begin, the process will be smoother.
Now’s also the time to start looking at what permits you may need. A contractor knows the local regulations, so they can help determine what permits are needed and help you apply for them.
Demolish the Old
Once you’ve planned your remodel and have your supplies ready, you can start tearing out anything that needs to be demolished. If you’re doing this yourself, make sure you’ve planned for another place to stay or living around the mess while you’re remodeling.
In a large home remodel project, demolition can be slow. Work carefully to avoid tearing down anything that you’ll need to replace later and avoid electrical or plumbing that doesn’t need to be destroyed.
Rebuild and Replace
It may take weeks or even months to get to this point after planning and demolishing, but now it’s time to finally put everything together. Make sure to do everything in order and that your installation and service professionals are coordinated. If you have a home remodeling contractor, he can make sure everything is done properly.
After everything is done, you’ll finally have the home you’ve always wanted. Remodeling can be a long and frustrating process, but it’ll be smoother and less painful with the right planning and expectations.