As a homeowner, there are many times when you want to do some work on your home. It could be a minor home improvement project, or it could be a full scale remodel. Either way, there are some things you should consider when making your renovation plan to help save you a lot of headaches in the long run. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2020, many (about 33%) of the new contractor-built single-family homes took 4 to 6 months to complete. Preparing for the progress can help avoid disappointment and problems which could end up costing you more money. Before you start down the home improvement path, consider these tips.
Consider Getting a Lockbox
Most of the time, when you take on a home improvement project, you are going to need a contractor to do the work. Unfortunately, this also means that you may not be in your home while the work is being completed. Perhaps you have not moved into it yet, or you have decided to go on vacation or just move out of the house during the duration of the work. No matter what the reason, your contractor is going to need access to your home. Unless you want to be called at random hours to go let in the contractor, installing a lockbox or a smart lock may be a sound idea. If you install a smart lock, you can control and be aware of who is entering your house and when.
Take Your Time
When you work on home improvement projects, there are other decisions that need to be made. This often happens once you paint a room or change the flooring. The number one renovation project in 2020 was painting a room. When you select paint early in the process, it may look different once it is on the walls in a renovated room. It would be best if you spent time in the room to see what you want to add or take away. You may find that your light fixtures are inadequate or the furniture no longer matches the room. You can spend some more time up front to make sure everything is going to flow the way you want. Or you can take your time through the renovation process to see how all the pieces fit together.
Timelines
Every homeowner wants their renovation work done immediately and as quickly as possible. However, you should be prepared for your home improvement work to take longer than you expect and definitely longer than you want it to. You should also make proper accommodation for the duration of the improvement process. Otherwise, you are going to become frustrated and stressed during the process. It would be best if you also kept in mind the delivery dates of items. Anything that has to be ordered can take a significant amount of time to come in, which could delay the renovation process.
Expect Everything
You should expect just about anything to happen during your home renovation process. You do not know what is under the floor of your house until you rip it up. All of the problems become obvious during a renovation. You may find that you have unexpected repairs to make first before you can lay the new floor. You should add some time and money to your project for these issues that will pop up.
When you take on a renovation, that is the time to address the common problems you may find around your home. These include the seven common plumbing issues such as leaky pipes, dripping faucets, low water pressure, leaking hose bibs, slow or clogged drains, sump pump failure, and water heater failure. When you plan well, you can handle unexpected problems with ease and a minimal amount of stress.
