What should you do first when renovating a house?

As obvious as it sounds, it's important to postpone some decisions, such as paint colors, carpets, and lighting fixtures, until you spend time in the space you're renovating. For example, if you want to replace an outdated rug, the options can be overwhelming.

What should you do first when renovating a house?

As obvious as it sounds, it's important to postpone some decisions, such as paint colors, carpets, and lighting fixtures, until you spend time in the space you're renovating. For example, if you want to replace an outdated rug, the options can be overwhelming. Thick or loose fibers? Ribbed or unpatterned? What exact shade of gray? The answers depend on the other aspects of the renovation, such as the choice of paint colors. The paint palettes selected before the renovation began should be seen on the walls and may change as time goes on in the house.

Freshly painted walls and new carpet may reveal that some lighting fixtures simply don't illuminate the space as you thought they would. If you spend a little more time at first considering how everything works together in the room you're remodeling, you can save yourself several moments of returning to the drawing board. All houses keep secrets, on walls, under floors and elsewhere. A renovation can bring them to light.

Like when your contractor tells you that your floors are uneven due to a displaced center joist while measuring your highly anticipated new hardwood floors. Now you have to deal with the home inspector who missed it and repair the floor joist before the new material can fall off. This is just one example of how you should expect the unexpected by planning additional time in your renewal schedule and additional money in your renovation budget to allow for unforeseen mishaps along the way. However, before doing any work, there are plans to do, hire contractors, get permits, etc.

all of which takes time. The most important aspect of the planning process is to ensure that you have enough money to pay for the project, regardless of how large or small the scope of the work is. So, the second step of home remodeling planning involves making a simple list of the work you want to do and deciding if it's something you can do yourself or not. Once you've established your plan and chosen your contractor, it's time for the demolition to begin.

To make way for the new, you first have to clean up the old. This involves not only demolition, but also debris removal, so you'll likely need to rent a large, rolling container to handle the debris. This will minimize risks and clutter during your demolition project and allow you to finish it as quickly, safely and smoothly as possible. If you decide to do any of the demolition work yourself, be careful and follow all safety precautions.

Demolition can be very dangerous, especially when done in a disorderly manner. Once your demolition work is complete, you can begin the “prep” process. Because rewiring and plumbing will likely need to be handled, handle all roughing work prior to flooring, drywall, and paint jobs, as they could be damaged in the process. Once all plumbing, electrical, and HVAC upgrades have been addressed and approved, it's time to address the structures and drywall.

Painting is something you can do yourself, but it can also be exhausting work. Kitchen renovation with granite, stainless steel, new cabinets and floors is second most requested renovation project, says NAHB. Be realistic about the renewal process and schedule and select new updates before existing materials are removed. Properties ripe for renovation are often described as “superior repairers”, “needing upgrades” or “handyman specials” in the real estate listing details.

And if you're thinking of hiring an architect to plan your renovation, now is the time to get in touch with him. You can also look for renovation insurance, which covers things like construction materials and vacant properties. Everyone knows this isn't true, but this style of quick remodeling chaired by simplistic hosts takes away the central idea that home renovation is complex and difficult. Basically, it's a list of all the work that needs to be done during your renovation project, in order.

A home renovation project that includes the installation of new windows and doors leads to lower cost in running the house. A few practical questions like this could give you the answers you need to move forward with a successful renovation. If you are renovating so that you can stay in your home for a longer period of time without the systems going down, your approach is different than if you are renovating to get a higher price when you finally sell. Use recommendations from family and friends to help find an architect, a builder and, if necessary, a project manager, unless you are planning to be the project manager of the renovation.

Windows will also increase your renovation budget considerably, so watch for rot around window frames or condensation. All that renovation dust gets everywhere, so ask a professional to go and clean the vents and oven. . .

Abigail Taylor
Abigail Taylor

Subtly charming organizer. Incurable beer fan. Passionate coffeeaholic. Hardcore beeraholic. Infuriatingly humble tv expert.