Advice With Regards to Home Renovation

There are many people around the country that are looking into home renovation ideas. There are many options that are available in this regard. Here we will look at some important things that people need to know.

When it comes to doing renovation work of any kind a person needs to look into what laws they need to take into consideration before beginning the project. There are often permits that need to be gotten before a person can begin any of the actual work.

Another thing that people need to do is plan what they want to do ahead of time. By doing this you can see what the cost of the project will be and be able to modify it in certain areas if need be to fit the budget that you have to work with. A budget is essential if you are to keep your money under control as it is far too easy to lose control in this regard especially when doing renovations.

Finding ideas for things that can be done to update the look of your home is another part of the process that people should look into. The internet is a great place to find a lot of interesting and unique ideas that can help you personalize your home in a way that reflects your personality. Looking at various websites can open a lot of options to people that they would never have thought of any other way.

Taking some time to look into the things that you must have regarding permits is an essential part of any home renovation project. Another must is to plan things as much as possible beforehand.

This can help you avoid unwanted slowdowns when the work actually begins. Following these tips can help you tremendously and you will see this in the finished results.

What To Consider When Doing Home Renovations

Because of the weather and time, a home may become a bit battered and may be subject to some damages and leaks. In instances when a simple repair may not be enough, it may be time to consider doing a renovation to the house.

Renovations can be done by either the homeowners themselves or by hiring a professional. Doing renovations on your own may be less expensive, but if the person does not have enough knowledge in simple carpentry, plumbing and reparations, it may add more cost in the long run.

Hiring professional help has all the advantages, despite the cost. Contractors are skilled professionals in home renovations and will ensure that all work will be done properly, according to your liking in a predetermined number of days.

There are several factors to consider when doing home renovations such as the age of the home. An older home is more likely to break or give in several areas of the house, and may already be subject to total renovation. Total renovations are obviously more costly, but may be necessary depending on the age of the house.

Another factor is the remaining period the owners plans to stay in the house. If there are any plans to sell the house, it is best to start renovations in the kitchen and bathroom, as these are the area that most buyers fuss about. You may not want to spend the money to renovate if you're planning on selling the house, however if you don't renovate it may make it harder to actually sell the house.

Repainting the walls and the rooms is a cheap way to renovate that owners can do themselves. If you are selling your house, it is best to stick to neutral colors and ensure that you have enough paint to cover all interior and exterior walls.

Plumbing, electrical wiring, heating, sewer and water are some of the costly yet important renovation that old houses usually need. As much as possible, ask for professional help when doing these items to make sure that the work is done properly. You also want to seek professional help for safety reasons.

There are home renovation classes that people can enroll to learn about the subject. This can help owners when doing small renovations they can do on a regular basis. Check with your local hardware or lumber store to find out if there are any available classes.

Home Renovations That Increase Your Home's Value

Home renovations are not only important when it comes to making your home more comfortable or liveable, but they can also significantly increase the value of your home. Yet, when it comes to adding value to your home, not all renovations are created equally. The following home renovations are among the best way to increase your property value, even on a budget.

Space and Light

Dark, cramped spaces tend to be a real estate agent's nightmare. Home buyers want to see bright, open spaces so if your home has small rooms or little natural light you should consider renovations that add space and light. You could remove some walls to open up your floor plan, install a skylight, or even widen doorways or add windows. Also, open floor plans are increasingly popular nowadays so considering renovating your kitchen and living areas to create an open-plan feel.

Curb Appeal

Your house needs to look attractive inside and out. Many homeowners ignore the potential impact of the curb appeal of your home, but many experts point out that a good first impression can add as much as 10 per cent to the value of your home. Give the exterior of your home a paint job, or power wash your vinyl siding. Repair any damage to the exterior of your home including driveways and walkways. Also, consider improving your landscaping by regularly mowing the lawn or planting flowers and trees. Most importantly, ensure that your property is free of clutter and trash.

Build a Deck

Outdoor spaces are a cost-effective way of adding to the value of your home. In fact, the cost of a deck is one of the most easily recouped costs when you sell your home. Indeed, today's homeowners rank outdoor living spaces among the most important aspects of a new home, and the more interesting your deck, the more value it will add to your home. In other words, try to design a deck that has a unique shape or features such as a built-in fire pit, benches, and garden beds.

Paint your Interior

Easily one of the cheapest ways to add value to your home is to paint. Painting gives your home a fresh, new appeal without the need for extensive renovations. You can even paint cupboards and cabinets to restore the look of your kitchen and bathrooms. Nevertheless, if you're painting with the intention of selling your home, be sure to pick bright, neutral colours as they'll be less startling to potential buyers (not to mention the fact that it's easier to imagine your own designs and decorations over neutral colours).

Finish your Basement

Finally, one of the top renovations that add value to your home is a refinished basement. Many homeowners decide to add a new living room or recreation room, but you may also want to build a suite. Even the smallest budget can see improvements to an unfinished basement; and these improvements will almost always increase the value of your home.

5 Easy Steps to a Stress Free Home Renovation Project

Now is the perfect time to start planning for your spring home renovation project. Take the next several months to analyze, research and evaluate your current home to find out what you really want and need. This will eliminate costly mistakes and wasted time down the road.

Whether it's that gourmet kitchen you've been dreaming about, the outdated master bathroom you've been putting off, or the new bedroom addition you desperately need, winter is for planning and spring is for building.

Following this five-step approach will take the stress and anxiety out of the home renovation process, at the same time saving you valuable time and money.

1. Dream It!

Assess Your Situation: Taking a realistic look at your current situation will make all the difference between a good home renovation project and a great one! What problems need to be solved? Walk through your home room by room and take great notes along the way.

Inspiration File: Educate yourself on the materials, finishes and appliances that are available to you. Check out the design magazines and the plethora of home design shows to gather ideas that inspire you in some way. You'll see a pattern beginning to emerge.

Wish List: Creating your wish list will influence the overall concept and design that you ultimately want your home to reflect. Gathering all of this information will help you determine the overall scope of your project.

2. Plan It!

Budget and Financing: If you plan on staying in your home for ten years or more, then budget what you can to create the home of your dreams. Be realistic, as your lenders will let you know exactly how much you're qualified to borrow.

Professionals: Hiring the right design professionals will definitely save you valuable time and money, and eliminate any planning mistakes down the road. Pre-planning is undoubtedly the biggest money saver!

The Contract: Once you've committed to a licensed contractor review the bid and contract line by line and make sure that the scope of your project is documented throughout. If you're unclear on a item, ask for clarification.

3. Design It!

Floor Plan: Designing the floor plan is where you begin to see your dream
take shape. Try to visualize this space three dimensionally.

Details: Whatever your style, focusing on the details will set your space apart from the rest and will provide you with a true reflection of your
personality.

Shopping: Selecting the perfect materials, finishes, appliances and fixtures
is what will infuse the detail and character into your project. Take your
plans, samples and photos with you on every single shopping trip. You never know what you'll find.

4. Do It!

Demolition: This is chaos at its best. If you want to release some deep seeded aggression now's the time to grab a hammer and crow bar and help the demo crew. I highly recommend it!

Construction: The most exciting phase of the renovation process. This is where you begin to see all the pieces of the puzzle come together. Attending weekly site meetings and following an agenda will keep your project
running smoothly.

Coping with Construction: Be realistic and plan for delays. It will reduce the level of stress and anxiety you could potentially feel. Be flexible.

5. Live It!

Punch List:

Do a walk through with your contractor and list all the outstanding minor repairs and completions that still need to be done before your project is one hundred percent complete.

Clean Up:

Even if your stipulated a clean up clause in your contract, hire your own cleaning crew to come in just before you move back in. Just remember though - it will take weeks for the dust to settle.

Moving Back In:

It's all behind you and you've made it through the renovation process relatively unscathed. Now roll up your sleeves and put your personal signature on everything. Invite some family and friends over for that dinner party you've wanted to host - and start living the dream.

Top Reasons Why Home Renovation Costs Can Go Overboard

Home renovation costs are generally high and homeowners need to carefully plan the remodeling project. Before commencing the project it is important for owners to list down their requirements and the budget allocated for the renovation.

Here are some reasons why home renovation costs can get higher than originally planned by the owners.

• Equipment cost - There are many reasons why labor saving equipment is not easily available. This makes it necessary to use manually operated equipment, which is time consuming and costly. Therefore, the total cost increases.

• Excavation - Excavating equipment availability is limited. Moreover, the excavated materials need to be transported over long distances. These factors combine to increase the home renovation costs.

• Load bearing structural modifications - Remodeling a home involves making structural modifications to the home's interior and exterior walls. These modifications may result in a change in the home's load bearing capacity. Additional expense will therefore have to be incurred to compensate these changes. This increases the total costs.

• Material and labor in small quantities - Home renovations generally use the method of procuring materials only as they are needed. Therefore, owners cannot benefit from the economies of scale and hence the home renovation costs increase.

• Adherence to deadlines - Mostly, the renovation isn't able to adhere to the pre-determined timeline. While the work is being undertaken, homeowners may find unexpected circumstances along the way. This leads to time and cost overruns, thereby increasing the total costs.

• Modifications to plumbing, HVAC and duct systems - These can be expensive. One of the reasons that the costs increase is because the original items may no longer be available and owners have to opt for more expensive replacements.

• Protecting the existing and neighboring structures - This involves constructing adequate safety mechanisms. These mechanisms require money that increases the total home renovation costs.

• Contractor charges - The amounts are generally charged irrespective of the total time taken to complete smaller projects. Thus this also increases the costs.

Though all the above factors are instrumental in the increase in the total home renovation costs, homeowners should get an estimate before embarking on the remodeling project. Costs are a simple function of materials, labor and time. Procuring more than one estimate will assist homeowners understand the average cost of the renovating the homes.

For most homeowners the wish list of needs and requirements will exceed the available funds. Because the renovation cost is highly variable, preparing a budget is critical. An accepted norm for the cost is to invest between 20% and 30% of the home's market value.

Renovation is generally done to some common areas, such as the kitchen, bathrooms, adding an extra bedroom or extending the homes. These are expensive alternatives.

Homeowners should consider the incremental value that these remodeling projects will bring to the homes to maximize their returns. Home renovation costs are a factor of numerous variables. Homeowners should keep in mind that irrespective of the time spent on creating a budget, the costs will definitely increase by 10% to 15% from the estimated amount.