It often happens that the project originally designed as a solution to an inconvenience leads to another issue and so on, until your own home starts to resemble a construction site. And then, what starts out as a small “do it yourself” home design mission, becomes both a time and money consuming addiction that could leave you in a bigger mess than you were in the beginning.
Home improvement experts say that the biggest problem with home remodeling is the fact that most homeowners end up overspending while over-expecting. If you want to avoid this situation, the most important thing to remember is that not all home changes are actually improvements. A series of specialists advise all property owners to carefully plan each project and follow these 7 rules of house renovation.
Rule No.1: Timing Is Everything
A new patio, a swimming pool, a Jacuzzi and a new barbecue might all seem amazing ideas that could greatly increase your property’s value but if the weather is going to render them useless, they will become nothing more than bad investments. No outdoor improvement can change or compensate for the bad weather conditions so whatever additions or changes you are planning, don’t forget to take the surrounding climate and its meteorological particularities into consideration.
Rule No.2: Leave Your Mark, Just Don’t Take It Too Personal
While hand painted tiles and walls might have a sentimental value for you, they might also go against you when you’ll put your property up for sale. Same goes for every item, decoration and fixture with a unique or quirky character that perfectly serves your original sense of style but won’t be too appealing for a potential buyer. Pro tip: personalize your home with accessories that can be easily changed or replaced while keeping the overall design as clean and attractive as possible.
Some experts even advise us to change our entire furniture and style every 5-7years, to add freshness and prevent us from “disaster redesigns”.
Rule No.3: Fall For What Truly Matters
People are certainly subjective when it comes to what really matters in a home. Some invest heavily into aesthetics while other prefer functionality. But here’s the thing: form is function and function is form. If you have gone and installed an expensive heating system but if the roof is in shambles, you will most probably struggle to sell your property.
Rule No.4: Design a Budget and Stick to It
Plan your home remodeling project taking into consideration your income and your monthly expenses. Create a realistic budget, discus all the details with your contractor and be honest and transparent about your concerns and expectations.
Rule No.5: Invest In Professional Services
Don’t hesitate to ask for professional advice from professionals like architects or interior designers. Every vision, no matter how far-fetched or realistic, must take into account practical aspects and concerns and only a trained professional could deal with them in an objective manner.
Suggestion for further reading: Home Improvement Guide.
Rule No.6: Don’t Just Do It “Because”
We all feel the need for a change every now and then. But does your house really need one, too? If you are one of those home owners who have no real need to carry out a home remodeling project other than to give yourself a job to do, you are not alone. Every year thousands of DIY projects are undertaken by property owners purely to keep themselves busy. In these cases, the planning only occurs in hindsight, by which time the building codes have been ignored or significant and irreversible changes have been made.
Rule No.7: Hire the Right Contractor
A good contractor is hard to find and experts advise to choose a professional with good recommendations and a sturdy portfolio rather than a cheap one. Remember, what matters are the amount of quality delivered within the budget and the estimated timeframe so doing serious screening work before starting your project is definitely a good idea.
Take your time, don’t rush head first into your remodeling project and, most importantly, learn as much as possible about what the building works will involve. This way, you’ll be able to speak the same language as the contractors you’ll meet with and ask the right questions.
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