For some people, home renovation is a hobby – something they do to keep the sense of novelty and excitement in their life by changing their immediate environment. Others do it out of necessity – to increase the value of an aging home or remodel a recently bought house to their tastes. But no matter what your reason for renovation is, anything that can make it cheaper or less arduous is usually welcome. In this article, we have gathered some simple tips and tricks that many people nevertheless tend to overlook – use them and make your next renovation a walk in a park!
1.Make a Realistic Budget
It is obvious that any activity needs planning, especially such a significant and large-scale one as home renovations. However, many people do not realize how complicated it may turn out to be and often give up in the very beginning. They decide to start doing something and see how things develop from there. Avoid this pitfall – it will save you from unexpected expenses, debt and disappointment. Do your research and see how much the supplies will cost. Do not rely on home improvement TV shows – they can be wildly inaccurate. Besides, supply and transportation costs differ greatly depending on location, season, and other factors. Find a balance between the way you want your ideal home to be and your resources.
2. Make Sure You Have All the Right Tools
It does not matter what you have seen on TV – DIY home renovations, even the most superficial of them, are complicated, time-consuming, and often frustrating. The speed with which professionals deal with every task they face comes from two major components. Firstly, they have been doing it for years. Secondly, they have all the necessary tools ready. While getting a job as a home renovator to acquire the necessary experience is not usually a viable solution, getting the right tools is. Here is a basic list to go by:
- Measuring tape
- Lots of duct tape
- Japanese cat’s paw (a handy multitool combining a hammer, a chisel and a nail-puller)
- Set of saws (both handsaws and circular saws)
- Cordless drill (make sure you get a quality model because their performance varies dramatically depending on the model you use. You can find the best cordless drill by reading this site on cordless drill reviews);
- Sledgehammer;
- Speed Square;
- Ladder;
- Pliers
3. Be Realistic and Know Your Limits
DIY home renovation can be extremely fulfilling and satisfying, as well as an excellent way to bring the entire family together. However, before starting, you should be realistic about your knowledge and capabilities. If you have a stressful job that keeps you busy for most of your weekend, it may be a bad idea to plan large-scale projects. If you have zero experience with plumbing, it is better to hire professionals.
4. Wait for Sales
Renovation is a huge endeavor that usually takes time to prepare. What we mean here is that it is rarely necessary to carry it out urgently. One often can afford to wait. It is why you should prepare for it long before you intend to start working. Make a list of everything you are going to need, and try to arrange your main purchases to big sales. For examples, outdoor furniture and lawn care equipment are cheapest at the end of summer, power tools and electronics are best bought during Black Friday and so on. Do some research, determine when and what you are going to purchase and make sure you have enough money at the time.
5.Obtain Permits
You may believe that it is nobody’s business how you remodel your own home, but the sad truth is that before you make any significant changes, you have to get all the relevant permits ensuring that your renovation meets structural and fire safety standards. It will slow down the process, of course, but unless you do it beforehand, it is very likely to come back to bite you later if code inspectors find out. They can force you to remove the work you have already done, which will turn out to be much more time-consuming and expensive than getting a permit in the first place.
6.Plan a Renovation-Free Zone
When renovating your home, you have to be ready to live in discomfort for the duration of this process. However, you can limit the degree of this discomfort by designating at least one room that you are not going to touch until you are done with the rest of the house. It should be a place where you and your family will be able to gather, eat, talk and relax as best you can under the circumstances. Having this safe zone will go a long way towards ensuring you stay positive for the entirety of your renovation and do not regret starting it.
We hope that these tips will help you the next time you plan changing something about your home!
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