Thinking About Home Remodeling? Start Here
Sooner or later you may join the millions of people who remodel their homes each year. Perhaps it’s at that moment when you realize that avocado green and harvest gold are no longer the “in” colors for today’s trendy kitchens. Or maybe you have an epiphany one day as you stand in line to use your own bathroom. Whatever the impetus, the thought crosses your mind: Maybe it’s time to start a home remodel. The reasons for home remodeling are as varied as the projects we undertake.
Some of these include:
Adding more space
Upgrading cabinets, counters, appliances and fixtures
Creating a floor plan that’s customized for your lifestyle
Improving energy efficiency with new windows, doors, insulation, and climate control systems
Increasing the resale value of your home
Where to Begin
The first step is to develop an idea of what you want to do with your home remodel. Write a prioritized list of your needs and wants. There are many sources to find design ideas for your home remodeling project. Look at magazines and websites and collect pictures of homes or remodeling projects you like. The more clearly you can envision the project and describe it on paper, the better prepared you’ll be in making your decision.
Think about traffic patterns, furniture size and placement, colors, lighting and how you expect to use the remodeled space. If your decision to remodel involves creating better access for someone with limited mobility, you may want to consider contacting a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist.
Can you do it yourself?
Once you have created your list of priorities, you’ll need to decide how to accomplish that vision. For the handyman or woman, a do-it-yourself project can be both rewarding and cost-effective. However, more than 30% of all jobs home remodelers perform come from failed DIY projects
Insanely Cool Remodeling Ideas For Your Home
Level up a window seat by adding a trundle bed
Whether your child is having a sleepover or you’ve got some relatives in town, this extra bed has got you covered.
Lower your living room to create a conversation pit.
The bi-level living room will give your home an incredibly spacious yet cozy effect.
Dogs are people, too, which is why your dog should probably get his or her own little haven underneath the stairs.
Make space for two dishwashers instead of one
You can load one while the other washes. KitchenAid also makes a double drawer dishwasher.
Install an in-wall pest control system.
Pest-tube installation means that all the exterminator has to do is inject some stuff into one end to keep insects and rodents away
Tips for Remodeling Your House When You Have Kids
Does the difficulty go up with kids involved? You bet. Will their routine be disrupted? For sure. Will there be tears? Yes. (Probably yours!) But with planning you’ll get through it, and it’ll be worth it—we promise.
Two years ago my husband and I gutted and rebuilt our kitchen, living room, and foyer while staying in the house with our three small children. Less than a year later, we sold that house and bought a fixer-upper that we’re currently in the process of overhauling. In other words, I know from experience that renovating with kids won’t kill you (although living with my parents for two months almost did).
Consider the time of year.
I polled parents around the country who’ve renovated, and they all concur that spring and summer are the best seasons to remodel. Your kid’s routine is already shaken up, vacations are easier to take, it’s warm enough for al fresco grilling and dining, rinsing off after the pool can count as a shower, and there are no big holidays to work around.
Plan for what kids will need later, not just what they need now.
If you’re redoing spaces for your children, think about the future. “Don’t design anything to be mini, like a tiny built-in desk or bed,” says Melanie Rosen, a mother of three, who has renovated three homes. She made this mistake when she redid her boys’ bathroom: “It has a slanted roof, so we put in a little shower stall under the low ceiling. Our boys are on the shorter side, so I thought it’d be okay, but our oldest already has to bend down to shower—whoops!”
Let them make some small décor decisions.
“It’s important to give kids a room that reflects their personality,”. I let my 8-year-old have a super-subtle glitter finish on her bedroom walls, which went a long way to make up for the fact that I didn’t approve hot pink. Rosen swears by the rule of three: “Narrow it down to three wall colors, three rug options, or three duvet covers, then let them pick their favorite so you’re not opening the door to an entire PJ Masks–themed bedroom for the next few years.”
Home Renovations That Will Not Increase the Value of Your Home
While getting your house in tip-top shape before listing it can push up the selling price, it’s also easy to go overboard with renovating. Some upgrades simply aren’t worth the expense and time
Is your outdated bedroom decor inadvertently putting you to sleep? These easy, budget-friendly bedroom ideas will help you add some much-needed zing back into your favourite space.
Sure, you can plunk in a basic cabinet that houses a sink and plumbing hardware and be halfway done with your bathroom reno — but what’s the fun in that? These va-voom vanities showcase the power of creativity. A repurposed antique washstand. A unique cylindrical floor-standing model. A bold, bright colour.
Things That Can Go Wrong With a Home Renovation
Almost everyone has a nightmare story about their home renovation or has at least heard one or two. The truth is that people often cause their own nightmare by hiring the wrong person or undervaluing the project
You Get Multiple Quotes But Every One is Too High
This one is easy. Too many people believe what they see on TV or what they hear in the neighbourhood about what a home renovation should cost. If your budget is too low, you can’t expect someone to do the work. Do your own research. Talk to professionals. Above all, be reasonable. You don’t work for $50 a day – you can’t expect a qualified tradesperson to work for less
You Start Your Renovation Without Municipal Permits and Get Caught
If you try to bypass the permit process and enter into a renovation without following the law, you will most likely get caught. When you do, you will have to pay fines and your renovation will take a lot longer than planned. DON’T DO IT. Permits are in place to protect you. They are not just a money grab from “Big Brother”. Most permits relate to fire codes or seismic requirements. You wouldn’t want to live in a house that was made unsafe by an illegal renovation, would you? Contact your City Hall and ask them if what you’re planning is legal and what permits you need to complete the work. They will work with you so you can start the project legally. Later, city inspectors will come to ensure the work is done properly
The Guy You Hire Doesn’t Show Up
This is pretty common, especially with smaller jobs like painting or home maintenance. Often the homeowner thinks the project is too small to get quotes from larger, more established companies. The little guy is small because he doesn’t have a track record of successful jobs to establish a clientele. This may even mean that he is restarting his business over and over. You may get lucky with a small business but you take your chances. It’s best to meet with a few different contractors to hear what they have to say about your project. Always check references and research reviews.
You Hire a Family Member or Friend to Help
I don’t know about you but I like my family and friends. I would never want to put them in a position where I might lose the relationship. Home renovations can be very stressful. The last thing you want to do is involve someone you love in a situation where you have to pay for their mistakes or, worse, fire them for theirs. Keep it professional. Hire someone you trust to do the work properly and pay them fairly when they do.