Major home renovations are often extensive and time consuming and require a significant effort by a homeowner throughout the process. One of the most challenging parts of a major home renovation is simply getting started with it. Here are some of the key steps to get started with a home renovation.
Define Your Project
The first step to any home renovation is understanding the major home renovation that you want to pursue. You may be looking to add some living space to your home by adding a new floor to your home. Alternatively, you may be pursuing a major renovation to a kitchen or living area or simply looking to renovate the entire interior of your home. The first step should be to define the scope of your project and have a clear idea of what you are attempting to accomplish with your major home renovation.
Develop a Budget and Save
Once you understand the major home renovation that you are attempting to pursue, you will need to develop a budget and save for it. Start by researching what the cost of a similar renovation would be in your area. The internet is a great resource for this type of general research. As you begin to approach the commencement of your major home renovation you can start to get bids from contractors who would be able to provide you with a more accurate estimate of the cost of the major home renovation. Be sure to get at least three separate quotes for home renovations and use this as a gauge for the final cost.
Be sure to save regularly to put together money for your home renovation. Be sure to save at least 20% more than the quote you receive. For one, you will need to put aside some additional money for new furniture and decorations for your newly renovated home. In addition, you will want to have some cushion for any overages from contractors or due to any major problems that may be found as part of the home renovation. It is better to be safe than sorry. Given the nature of a home, it is good to set a part of your pay check for home renovations and then put aside a little extra when you have a major home renovation coming up.
Try to avoid piecemeal home renovations, if possible, and save to have the work done all at once. This way, you can avoid having the work done in a ramshackle way.
Find a General Contractor
Unless you are particularly handy, you will need to find a contractor to assist you with your major home renovation. While major home renovations will typically require a number of different contractors such as electricians and plumbers, you are often better off finding a general contractor who you contract with who will then sub-contract amounts out to the various individuals that they need to use. This way, you can avoid having to contract with many different specialists and avoid having to worry about how well the various contractors work together. Let your general contractor handle this process.
Find a general contractor who has a significant amount of experience tackling the size and scope of the renovations that you are pursuing. Look to see that they have the time to devote to your project and the resources to handle the project. In addition, obtain three or more bids and make sure that the quote that they are providing you with is reasonable for the major home renovation that you are pursuing.
Undergoing a major home renovation is a major inconvenience and often overwhelming from the start. Consider the aforementioned items to get started and put your renovation on the path of success.