5 Tips to Surviving a Home Renovation

Home renovations are full of surprises. You’ll want to have all your ducks in a row before you get to work on your project. It takes a lot of planning and early preparation to successfully carry out a home renovation, so don’t be afraid to take your time for the best results. For all the seasoned and newbie home renovators, consider these five tips for successfully surviving a home renovation.

1. Interview Multiple Contractors

You will likely have a specific design in mind for your home renovation, so it will take the right contractor to understand and emulate in their work what you see in your mind’s eye. For the best results, take your time with the hiring process and review each potential hire in detail. Review previous projects that potential contractors have completed and ask to see photo galleries as well. It is important that you get a feel for their design and work style so you can decide if they are a good match for what you need done.

2. Store Your Valuables

A major home renovation tip to consider is safety. Given that you will be inviting strangers into your home to complete your renovation work, you might want to consider storing your valuables in a storage facility so that you can know they are safely put away while your renovation takes place. You can even consider portable storage if you plan to sell and move after the remodel is complete. You can also install cameras in your home if you are concerned about stealing and install a key lockbox so that your workers can let themselves in and out of the house as needed.

3. Be Mindful of Your Budget

You want to make sure that you hire the contractor, crews, and plasterers who offer you the best quality for your money. You only want to hire those with the ability to create what you want in your home remodel. You want to be mindful of your renovation budget, but don’t fall for the best quote if you know that the design quality will be lacking. Do your best to find a happy medium between price and work quality for the best outcome in the end.

4. Prepare for the Unexpected

The home renovation process comes with many unforeseeable events. From accidents to realizing afterwards that you selected the wrong paint color, it will take some time to get into the swing of things. Expect there to be delays in how quickly work gets done, as well as how long the project takes as a whole. Be willing to extend your deadline to accommodate these changes as they naturally occur throughout the home renovating process. Prepare for the unexpected, remain as cool and calm as possible as you work out the details.

5. Patience is Key

You need to exercise patience throughout the entire home renovation period. Whether you are irritated by project delays or the fact that you have to stay with your in-laws during the renovation, you’re bound to find something to test your patience. Do your best to stay grounded and understand that home renovation is a complex process. Remind yourself that sometimes things have to get messier before they get better; home renovation is a perfect metaphor for this life lesson!

The Bottom Line

Preparing for a home renovation is all about planning. Map out exactly what you want your contractor to do, and mentally prepare yourself for the unforeseeable changes ahead. Make a promise to yourself to see this thing through, and you’ll be even more delighted with the end results.