Monday, December 23rd, 2024
There are a variety of steps you need to consider, before beginning any kind of renovation. Save yourself a lot of time and money by putting in some careful planning and decision making, before you begin renovating your home. Home renovations unfortunately rarely go as planned, as they’re often way over budget or schedule, or unforeseen complications unexpectedly happen.
Most of these situations would never have gone so awry with some careful planning and early decision making sooner in the renovation process. Below are a few issues that it is vital to think about before you begin your home renovation.
9 Things That You Need To Know Before Renovating
• Prepare a budget
• Know local regulations
• Hiring a contractor
• Know your start and completion dates
• Selecting products
• Preparing blueprint plans
• Purchasing products
• What should I purchase myself
• What utilities are available
Prepare A Budget
Before you start shopping for your new bathroom or kitchen you must know your spending limits. Whether you are getting a loan or paying cash, you need to work out how much your project is going to cost. Some businesses also offer finance solutions for approved customers.
Know Local Regulations
Find out all the information you can before you arrange contractor. If your home is heritage listed you will need to meet strict council regulations. Many renovations must be approved by the council before work can commence. Contact your local council for more details.
Hiring A Contractor
Speak with family and friends who have done renovations or built a home. It is important to find a contractor that you can communicate with. Make sure you understand everything they are telling you. Book a contractor well ahead of time, as they can be booked for months in advance. Ensure that your contractor is licensed. Your product warranties are only valid if installed by a licensed contractor.
Know Your Start And Completion Dates
Communicate with your contractor and come to an agreement of realistic start and completion dates for your project. If you have a specific date that the job must be finished by, for example you have relatives coming to stay, let your contractor know. Keep in mind that unexpected problems can hold up your project, no matter how well you have planned it.
Selecting Products
It may take a few shopping trips for you to decide on the products that give you the look you desire and are also practical for your needs. Browse through a print or online catalogue. Once you have decided on a style (modern, heritage or easy living) this will narrow down your product choices. Be aware of any size restrictions of the room. Print out or write down product specifications and measure up your bathroom.
Talk to your contractor about your choices. If the contractor tells you that a product you have chosen is unsuitable, find out why. It may just be that extra work is required that they don’t want to do. Remember, it is your home and you need to be satisfied once the job is complete.
Preparing Blue Print Plans
It is important that you draw up plans of your bathroom or kitchen. Discuss the plans with your contractor. Let him know what sort of products you would like, so he will know what work needs to be done.
For example if you have chosen an inwall cistern, the trades person will need to know so he can set up the plumbing correctly before the tiling is done. It is best to have specifications of all of the products you have chosen so the contractor knows exactly what work is required.
Purchasing Products
When selecting products, find out how long it will take for delivery. Some goods such as hardware and toilets will be in stock, while others such as spas and vanity units are custom made and can take up to 1 month to order in.
Often these custom made products are non-refundable so confirm your product choices with your contractor before ordering. Find out from your contractor which products they will required first. Generally, the first products needed are the shower base, bath or spa and mixers if they are being installed on the wall.
What Should I Purchase Myself
If you are owner building, make sure you purchase all of the main products for your bathroom, kitchen and laundry. This will ensure that you make all of the decisions and achieve the result you want. There will be things you will not think about when placing an order, such as different handle types on a vanity unit, the pump position of your spa, that you will need to decide on.
It is important to make these decisions yourself as they will affect the overall result of your project. Smaller fittings for plumbing can be purchased by your contractor.
What Utilities Are Available
It is important to know whether you need gas or electric appliances (hot water unit, cooking appliances). If you live further out from the city, you may need LPG appliances. If you currently have electric appliances and you want to change to gas, speak with your contractor to determine if this is going to be cost effective and worthwhile in the long run. If you are building a new home, decide on the appliances you want before building begins, as the plumbing will need to be roughed in based on your product selection.
Many of these points seem somewhat obvious, but the problem arises when you start taking things for granted. When you don’t make sure that all your bases are covered, you may find that you have invested a lot of time, effort and money in a home renovation that you may end up unhappy with.