Everything You Need To Know Before Starting A Home Renovation Project

Everything You Need To Know Before Starting A Home Renovation Project

Ready to start your home remodeling project but feeling a little anxious? You’ve come to the right place. I’ve been in your shoes countless times and can offer friendly professional advice to sidestep mishaps and hopefully prevent some unnecessary tears and expenses along the way.


So if you’re asking, “I want to renovate my house, where do I start?” Here are my top three tips for starting your next home remodeling project.


Take your time and plan ahead. Do your research and find the most qualified contractor if you're working with one. And remember to stay organized—it will keep the project on track and within your budget.


If you caught my home renovation tips on my earlier post, Read This BEFORE You Start Any Remodeling Project, unpacking your WHY is a crucial first step in getting started to avoid losing time, energy—and yes—hard-earned funds. Laying the foundation for why you’re starting (and carrying out!) a home renovation project lays the groundwork for making necessary improvements that create a happy home to suit your individual family needs and improve the overall functionality of everyday life—the real key to a blissful home.


Next it's time to proceed with the right renovation action plan. Remember, if your reno involves plumbing, electrical, or gas, it is necessary to work with an expert in those home categories. This is to avoid safety issues as well as costly mistakes. Remember only a contractor understands building codes and necessary permits and can ensure your home's health and safety.



Account For Every Home Update in Advance

First you’ll need to determine every aspect of the home renovation. Consider all the updates you’ll want to complete to avoid backtracking or unplanned expenses (i.e., cabinets, tile, lighting, flooring, etc). This first step will help initiate cost projections and set realistic expectations. It can also enable you to determine what items you might need to purchase in bulk to cost-cut if you are making home improvements in more than one area of your home (paint, wall adjustments, window/door frames, hardware, etc). I recommend valuable checklists like the ones I created in my book House Story: Insider Secrets to the Perfect Home Renovation to account for every step in your home repair process. This will really help you know what to look for and how to stay on course. My book also helps you understand and articulate the finishes, style, and quality you’re wanting to achieve your happy home.


Having a pre-renovation home checklist helps you to track and prepare for all areas of your home repair including: determining all the necessary tools, taking accurate home measurements, what to consider when hiring a licensed contractor, the proper sequence to follow when starting your home renovation, and when to turn off your electricity and water, etc.


Being specific about your design choices and accounting for every home update in advance will help translate your ideas onto paper. Having a step-by-step renovation plan will ensure your vision comes to life without hiccups in design and construction.


Manage Expectations and Budget

It’s imperative to set your budget and manage expectations right at the start so you’ll want to consider what’s the most convenient time to conduct your home repairs. Factors like climate, family vacations, and kids' schooling can play a significant role in home renovations, so it is best to plan in advance.


Be realistic when determining the actual costs of items and repairs and determine how much flexibility you can lend towards this project as often renovations can last longer or cost more than planned.


Also, determine your budget upfront to see what changes are actually possible and suit your lifestyle the most. And because you're planning ahead, be sure you're getting the most return on your home improvement. If you’re thinking about selling in the future, don't overspend on things that won’t increase your property value. Remember that you don't have to make super expensive design choices to make a difference. Personalizing your home should be fun and encourage you to think outside the box. This will bring in more of what you love and eliminate unwanted stress. See where you can cut costs to still have the same look and feel without added expenses. Try to anticipate delays and determine workarounds whenever possible. Remember shipping times as supplies and furnishings can be backordered for months. Knowing deliverable deadlines helps determine start dates and product ordering flows.



Think About Hiring An Online Home Renovation Consultant

It can be very cost-effective to hire an online consultant—especially if you’re not working with a contractor. From helping you narrow down style choices to unlocking solutions to challenges along the way, licensed consultants guide you on how to secure permits while avoiding pitfalls, etc. Home renovation consultants keep your home repairs on track. Consultants also simplify projects and serve as a huge source of comfort throughout the process.


Plus, if you’re on a tight budget, an online home renovation consultant can save you time and money. This is because they have the expertise, skills, and access to innovative ways to solve problems. A professional online home renovation consultant helps you plan and execute your vision from the very beginning, while easing your anxiety. They can help you stick to your budget while getting the most efficient results and avoiding costly mistakes.


Need more tips and tricks for renovating specific areas of your home? Try the following helpful articles as well. Happy renovation, friends!


Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting A Kitchen Remodel

Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting A Living Room Remodel

Don’t Make These 11 Bathroom Remodel Mistakes

17 comments

  • Great tips on planning and budgeting for renovations, Jasmine! I especially like the idea of using an online consultant. Have you found any particular platforms or services that you recommend for loft boarding projects in the UK? As a loft boarding specialist, I’m always curious to see how homeowners approach this type of renovation.

    Loft Boarding

    on January 31, 2024

  • Thank you for sharing these invaluable tips for embarking on a house renovation project. Your practical advice on planning, budget management, and the potential benefits of engaging an online home renovation consultant truly simplifies the daunting task of home remodeling. This comprehensive guide serves as a reassuring resource, emphasizing the importance of thorough preparation and strategic decision-making throughout the renovation process.

    Sunny Armstrong

    on January 31, 2024

  • Thank you for sharing these invaluable tips for embarking on a house renovation project. Your practical advice on planning, budget management, and the potential benefits of engaging an online home renovation consultant truly simplifies the daunting task of home remodeling. This comprehensive guide serves as a reassuring resource, emphasizing the importance of thorough preparation and strategic decision-making throughout the renovation process.

    Sunny Armstrong

    on January 31, 2024

  • I’ve been planning our home’s custom makeover for a while since I never really liked how the previous owner planned it. Because I adore that look, I thought about how a reliable and experienced general contractor could help me achieve it. It’s excellent that you went into further detail on how narrowing down your design options and planning for every renovation would make it easier to put your thoughts on paper. A detailed remodeling plan will guarantee that your vision is realized with no unexpected delays in building or design. By then, I’ll make sure to remember this!

    Elle Jones

    on January 31, 2024

  • Some very useful information here. Using an online renovation consultant would surely save money that I had not thought of. Thanks for your insights.

    Larry Waserback

    on January 31, 2024

  • You made a great point about the need to engage with a specialist in those respective fields if your renovation involves plumbing, electrical work, or gas. This is done to prevent safety hazards and expensive errors. Keep in mind that only a contractor is qualified to safeguard the health and safety of your home and to obtain the required licenses and permissions. My sister will find this useful as she plans to remodel her home this year to give it a more pleasant and spacious appearance. In light of this, I’ll be sure to let her know about this article so she can choose the best contractor for the task.

    Elle Jones

    on January 31, 2024

  • Great information. Thank u so much for sharing.

    Thanh Hung

    on January 31, 2024

  • Great article! I just finished reading this article on home renovation tips, and wow, it’s packed with some seriously useful advice. I’ve been thinking about giving my place a makeover, and this piece gave me a bunch of great ideas. Thankyou for this insightful article.

    Emily

    on January 31, 2024

  • It’s good that you brought up how important it is to consider the climate, vacation time, kids’ schooling, and lots more when planning a home renovation, which is why it is imperative to prepare this in advance and determine how much flexibility we can allow for this project when it comes to the timeline and costs. I have a house in Hyattsville that needs a bit of touching up since it’s a little dilapidated now, so I plan to have it remodeled soon before I move in next year. I’ll take note of this while I call remodeling services operating in Hyattsville to hire for this project.

    Clare Martin

    on January 31, 2024

  • The first time we did a home reno we did not manage our budget as well as we should. We’ll follow these steps next time.

    Denis

    on January 31, 2024

  • It’s helpful to know that we’d create and manage a renovation budget. Not long ago, my wife and I decided to start renovating our home next month. We want a better and much bigger kitchen space and a swimming pool, so we’ll use your tips to start preplanning our remodel.

    Eli Richardson

    on January 31, 2024

  • Hello! I think this article could help my cousin hire the right contractor sooner or later. Why? Because he’s decided to remodel his holiday house in Vancouver this summer. It’s a good thing you reminded us to consider our budget to ensure a sustainable renovation project.

    Sam Andrews

    on January 31, 2024

  • After inheriting my grandparents’ old house, I realized that it requires significant renovations and updates to make it suitable for my family. To transform it into a comfortable and modern living space, I’m looking for a reliable and skilled professional home remodeling service to handle the project. I’ll take note to establish your budget in advance to discover what modifications are practical and best suited to your lifestyle.

    Taylor Abrams

    on January 31, 2024

  • This is a great article, thank you for sharing! We’re in the middle of some renovations and I wish I found this before we started! We just had our cabinets refinished last week so we’re diving into painting and redoing the floors, but this has definitely made me rethink some of the plans we have! Thank you!

    Jeanie Manser

    on January 31, 2024

  • Last week, I had a chat with my ex-neighbor who expressed his wish to rebuild his new house in Ohio next year. In my opinion, such a project could be made possible if he approaches a reliable contractor shortly. After all, you highlighted that establishing a clear budget could help us better manage our reconstruction matters.

    Sam Andrews

    on January 31, 2024

  • Nice

    Priya

    on January 31, 2024

  • Oh, I wish you were in Florida! I don’t know when I’ll ever be able to afford a budget for home renovations but I’m really enjoying your HGTV show for inspiration and aspirational goals. I’m glad I found your website. Lots of great tips.

    Robin

    on October 15, 2023

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