Renovating a home can come with a lot of worries, but we always try to make it easier for you. That’s why we brought here today five golden rules to follow when renovating or remodeling your house. Check them out!
“A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.” - Benjamin Franklin
Check Your Priorities
Always start with the most urgent projects! You may want to do a whole new kitchen first, but there’s no use in doing that if your bathroom is out of usage - of course, that being an extreme example, but you get the idea.
Urgent projects might be smaller things, but if they’re classified as urgent, then it’s because they’ll make a big difference in your home’s functionality and value, which is the main reason to remodel, right?
Projects that you can get started with are:
- Replacing old water heaters
- Replacing worn-out carpets (or completely removing them)
- Updating appliances
- Fixing plumbing issues
Make an Accurate Budget
You can easily find on the internet the average price for a home remodel for the area you live in, from there it’ll become easier to plan your budget. Take into account materials, labor, and unexpected costs - the recommendation is to plan your budget and then add about 15% of the total value for the unexpected costs.
Another thing to keep in mind,
You need to plan your budget according to the room’s proportionate value. For example, a kitchen is generally worth 10 to 15% of a home’s total value (for a $300.000 home, that’d be around $45.000), so you don’t want to pay higher than that on your remodeling project
But more than that,
You will want to have a professional helping you with the math of the entire project. Whether their price is within the range of the calculus you made or not, you can ask as many questions as you want to understand what went different.
Know How Much to Spend in Each Room
- Kitchen: 10 to 15%
- Master suite: 10%
- Powder room/bathroom: 5%
- Living room, dining room, and bedroom: 1 to 3%
- Finished attic/basement: 10 to 15%
- Patio, deck, and landscaping: 2 to 5%
Don’t DIY
Remodeling and renovating the house is better left to the pros, even if it’s something smaller, you don’t want to mess anything up and pay a higher price later on. Mainly because there are some projects that need to follow state or local codes, and sometimes there are warranties and HOA rules to follow as well.
Unless you’re a trained professional yourself, you should always hire a pro for house remodeling projects.
Know What Buyers Want
If you’re renovating the house to put it on the market, you may want to consider some stand-out elements for possible buyers, like:
- Energy-efficient appliances
- Hardwood floors
- Neutral color palettes
- Curb appeal, patios, and decks (general landscaping)
- Garage storage space
- Light-filled rooms
That being said, this next item may come as a bit of a challenge:
Add Character Without Making it Personal
Sure, if you’re renovating to live in a pretty new home, it’s easier to pick what you want. However, if you’re renovating to sell the house, it can be hard to find that thin line between adding character and going all-in with your own personal style.
What you need to do is stick to neutral colors, and pick elements that are interesting, but simple - like wood beams on the ceiling.
Renovating your home is easier with professional help. Get a free quote here!
More from homeyou:
- These 10 Kitchen Projects Will Boost Your Resale Value
- 5 Home Projects for a Better Life this Year
- 7 Designs Tips to Create a Feel-Good Home