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Frustrating
home
renovations
can
be
avoided
by
careful
planning
on
the
part
of
the
homeowner.
Here
are
some
simple
tips
for
keeping
your
renovation
on
budget
and
on
time:
What’s
your
reason
for
renovating?
Begin
your
renovation
with
a
clear
vision
of
what
you
are
trying
to
achieve.
Do
you
want
to
add
living
and
recreation
space
to
your
home
or
are
you
merely
trying
to
improve
its
resale
value?
Having
a
clear
vision
will
help
you
plot
your
budget
and
timeline.
Budget
Figure
out
how
much
you
can
afford.
Once
you’ve
come
up
with
a
sum
that
you’re
willing
to
spend,
determine
what
materials,
fixtures
and
appliances
you
want
to
use
for
the
renovation.
Itemize
every
expense
on
your
budget,
no
matter
how
small.
Hint:
even
the
best-planned
renovation
projects
tend
to
cost
more
than
you
anticipated.
Be
ready
to
go
10%
over
budget
to
cover
unexpected
expenses.
Do
it
Yourself
or
hire
a
professional?
Are
you
a
handyman?
Perhaps
you
can
do
your
own
home
improvements.
There’s
no
shortage
of
stores
that
cater
to
the
do-it-yourself
crowd,
many
of
which
offer
classes
on
home
renovation
projects.
If
you’re
not
a
handy
person,
you
can
still
save
money
by
doing
simple
jobs
such
as
painting
yourself.
Ask
potential
residential
contractors
for
credentials,
references
and
photographs
of
previous
jobs
they
have
done.
Be
wary
of
general
contractors
who
demand
full
payment
up
front
in
cash
or
pressure
you
to
expand
your
renovations.
Always
ask
the
contractor
if
your
home
remodeling
project
will
require
any
special
permits
from
city
hall.
Timeline
Ask
the
contractor
to
produce
a
timeline
– in
writing
–
for
how
long
they
think
the
project
will
take.
Get
specific
time
commitments
for
each
stage
of
your
project.
Communication
Check
in
with
your
contractor
on a
daily
basis
to
see
if
things
are
working
according
to
plan.
Be
prepared
to
go a
little
bit
over
schedule
(just
as
you
should
prepare
to
go a
little
over-budget).
Don’t
go
changing
Once
you
have
settled
on a
budget,
contractor,
timeline
and
creative
vision
of
what
you
want
to
get
done,
try
not
to
deviate
too
drastically
from
the
plan.
Major
last-minute
changes
have
a
way
of
adding
time
and
cost
to
your
project.
Camp
out
vs.
move
out
You
can
save
on
hotel
and
food
bills
by
staying
in
your
residence
during
the
renovation.
If
your
kitchen
is
being
remodeled,
move
the
fridge,
stove
and
microwave
into
another
room
and
set
up a
temporary
kitchen.
For
obvious
reasons,
it’s
best
to
do
home
renovations
in
summer.
A
home
remodeling
project
is
never
easy,
but
following
these
simple
steps
can
reduce
your
stress-load
and
keep
your
budget
and
schedule
on
track.
Make
sure
to
consider
features
that
will
be
desirable
should
you
decide
to
sell
your
home.
Your
Better
Homes
and
Gardens®
Real
Estate
sales
associate
can
help
you
determine
what
projects
will
help
increase
the
value
of
your
home.
Contact
Me
I can help you with every
aspect of buying or selling your home because I’m
experienced, because I am a Better Homes and Gardens
Rand Realty Real Estate Professional . . .and because I
care.
As
your
Better
Homes
and
Gardens
Rand
Realty
Sales
Professional,
I
will
provide
you
with
the
information
you
need
to
make
an
educated
decision.
The relationship between a home buyer or seller and their agent is based on trust, shared goals and understanding. I strive to continually improve and to do this I listen and take the needs and wants into consideration.
For assistance with any of your real estate needs, please contact me, whether it's to get started on helping you realize your goals and dreams, or just to ask a question - no pressure, no hassle, no obligation - just a friendly conversation. I would welcome the opportunity to make a difference for you. |
