There are many reasons why people decide to renovate homes. First-time buyers tend to buy older homes that may be out of date. Or maybe you’ve been in your home for more than a decade and are looking forward to becoming free and clear of the mortgage. Investors have earned big profits with fix-n-flip remodels. Whether you are the owner or an investor, the idea of fixing an older home has been popular for many years.
Analysis of U.S. Census data shows that at least half of the houses in America are more than 37 years old. New York state has the oldest median home age at 63 years and Nevada has the lowest median home age at 26 years. This means a lot of roofs, furnaces, flooring, and appliances have reached the end of their lives. Reports show that most people planning a renovation intend to spend $10,000 or more for air conditioning repair, roofing replacement, heating repairs, etc. For that kind of money, you need to do some upfront planning.
1. What’s going on in your life? Before making any major decisions, consider what you want out of the renovation for tomorrow and the next 5 or 10 years. Converting the a 4th bedroom into an office probably isn’t a good idea if you’re planning a family or see yourself taking care of elderly parents in the coming years. On the other hand, home offices have become very popular as more people work from home. Personal needs matter.
2. Preliminary research:
3. Cost and budget. Your major costs involve materials, labor, and local market conditions. You’re going to want a minimum of 3 estimates and probably the recommendations of contractors hired by people you trust, also if you're planning to do a small work by yourself, using information from sites like toolpip.com on how to use the tools could be the best choice for you. However, you can calculate your rough estimate using online calculators such as https://app.mykukun.com/Home-Renovation-Costs. Online estimates are only a beginning and you should expect significant cost variations depending on your specific needs, wants, and decisions.
4. Hire your contractor. Once you’ve decided what you are going to do and how you are going to pay for it, it’s time to hire a contractor. For plumbing you can go with Gottfried Plumbing to get the best services. If you need a roofing contractor, I suggest Plano Roofing Company. When you call a roofing contractor, make sure to ask for an estimate of the labor costs and materials. But still keep a 20% to 30% buffer in your budget. Prepare a list of questions specific to your project to ask each contractor. General questions include:
5. Plan how you’ll live during the remodel. How are you and your family going to live during the renovation? Are you going to move out? Are you going to put up a plastic sheet between your living zone and the construction zone? Are you going to eat out during a kitchen remodel? How are you going to protect valuables and heirlooms with workers in the house? Will you and your family be safe from open holes and other obstacles? Is anyone allergic to dust or chemicals (paint and floor finishes)? Do you need a storage shed? Will you be able to get in and out of your driveway? Make sure your contractor will clean up daily. What else needs to be planned for?
6. Manage contractors. Mistakes will happen. Special order materials will arrive late, inspection dates will be missed, and a wall might even be built in the wrong place. Be mentally prepared for these and other issues during construction when your patience is probably short. Talk to your contractor regularly and point these issues out as soon as you find them to avoid a ripple effect. Keep a list and go back to make sure mistakes have been corrected. All changes need to be in writing and include costs. Keep all communication cordial. If you lose your temper, apologize. Expect the same of him or her.
At Akkaya Construction, we are proud to provide our homeowners and business owners with the highest quality residential and commercial remodeling services.
Soon you’ll be cooking in your dream kitchen, showering in luxury, or enjoying a high-tech lifestyle.
What are your renovation tips? Please add your comment.