The “R” word is something that many people are scared of; and it’s no wonder when you hear horror stories of reno’s gone wrong where budgets are blown and timelines don’t exist.
We at Hawthorne Kitchens always strive to help you sail through the process of renovating your kitchen or bath and now we’re putting ourselves to the test…literally.
The newest members of our team (Chris and I) have bought a house, and are planning to renovate the great starter home from top to bottom. Over the next couple of months you’ll be able to follow along with us as we update our 1960’s house. Before starting a renovation there are a couple of things to consider from HandyCanadian.com.
1- Why do you want to renovate?
Your first step in planning for your home renovation is to decide exactly “why” you want to make alterations to your home. For instance, is your bathroom renovation project to increase floor space or update fixtures? Is your basement remodel for the purposes of finishing off the walls and adding new flooring, or to provide a work area or increase storage space?” It is also important to keep in mind if the renovations are for you, or a prospective home buyer. Remember, the new buyer may not see the funky tiles in the bathroom as “upgrades.”
2- Budget & Timeline
Once you’ve established your reason for renovating, you MUST establish a budget. The budget and your reason for renovating go hand in hand. Remember that if you’re not the end user, don’t spend money on choices that will limit the interest in your house when it comes time to sell. Many companies will come to your house and give you estimates for free. For just a few hours of your time, can make sure you are getting the best price and feel comfortable with the company you want to hire. Setting a realistic timeline can be difficult, but it can help save money, limit chaos and relieve stress. Hiring a contractor may be the solution if you just don’t have the time for reno’s.
3- Contractors
Many people like to tackle DIY projects- which can be a fun way to cut costs and put some sweat equity into your house. But there are some jobs which should be left to professionals. Hiring a contractor provides you with peace of mind as well as assurance that the job is done right. It costs less to have the job done right the first time, rather than fixing “do it yourself” jobs gone wrong.
With these points in mind we have started demo. We’ll post pictures later this week, along with a list of everything we would like to change. Here’s a sneak peak…..
