Before starting any remodeling project, it’s important to prepare your home. Even small projects require preparation, so you need to know what steps to take to have a successful home remodeling experience in the Chicagoland suburbs that is free of setbacks or delays.
1. Determine Your Goal
Before you get started, you’ll want to decide what your goal is for your home remodel. Do you plan to sell your home or stay in it forever? This will determine which home remodeling projects are suitable for you and your home.
2. Do Your Research
Doing preliminary research is a good idea if you’re at the beginning stages of a kitchen remodel, bathroom renovation, or any other project. You’ll be able to get a better understanding of what’s involved in a remodeling project, what the timeline might look like, and how involved the work will be.
3. Set Your Budget
Before you begin your home remodel, you’ll need to set a budget and stick to it. Be sure to include a contingency fund for any unexpected costs and living expenses, such as ordering takeout or staying in a hotel.
4. Select a Design-Build Firm or Contractor Carefully
Take your time choosing a design-build firm or contractor to work with. Don’t feel pressured to select the first one you meet. You’ll want to meet with each one, ask questions, request references, and look at before/after images of their previous work before making a decision.
5. Avoid DIY Disasters
You might take the DIY route for minor updates around your home, such as updating your hardware or light fixtures. However, you’ll want to avoid a DIY disaster and hire a contractor or design-build firm for a home remodel.
6. Set a Realistic Schedule
Remodels take time, so in order to avoid unnecessary disappointment and frustrations, you’ll want to set a realistic schedule. Be sure to add time to account for unexpected delays or changes as well.
7. Decide If You’ll Stay or Go
The timeline for home remodeling projects varies depending on different factors. If you’re only having work done in one room in your home, you might not mind living through a few weeks of construction. If you’re doing a home addition or renovating an entire floor of your home, it may become too inconvenient to stay at your house during the remodel. In this case, you’ll want to consider staying with a friend or family member while the remodeling project is underway. When making these decisions, think about your children and/or pets, and come up with a plan that will accommodate them as well.
8. Set Space Limits
It may seem like construction has taken over your entire home once the kitchen renovation, bathroom remodel, or home addition begins. That doesn’t mean you have to give workers free rein, though. Set limits on where workers are and are not allowed. This will help keep your home free of dust and debris and make it easier to continue living at home if you decide to stay.
9. Determine Where You’ll Eat
If you’re doing a kitchen remodel or renovation, that room will be off limits until the work is done. That means you won’t be able to prepare food as you normally would. If you’re staying at home, you’ll want to set up space in your dining room or another area where you can prepare food. You might also want to install a mini fridge, microwave, or other small cooking appliances.
10. Move as Much as Possible
Before your home remodeling project begins, it’s helpful to clear out the space as much as you can. Pack up smaller items and move larger items, if possible. This allows the construction team to begin demo as quickly as possible, which helps keep everything running on time.
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