How To Prepare Your House for Renovations – let’s take a look
Renovating your home takes a lot of preparation.
Before you contact your contractors and let plumbers, carpenters, and builders inside your house, make sure you go through this list. Don’t just start your renovations and wing it. If you want to have a successful, stress-free, cost-effective renovation, then you should prepare first.
Here, I have listed down a sort of checklist when you’re renovating. Feel free to give it a read so you can avoid a nightmare experience.
Make a list of all your belongings
Before you start letting dozens of men inside your house, take an audit of all your possessions. Making a list is dual-purpose:
- Safety – You want to be on the safe side of things. There will be a lot of men coming in and out of your apartment. Most of the time, you won’t even be there to supervise and closely monitor what goes on.
- Declutter – Since you’re already taking account of their items, it would be great if you add decluttering in the process. Give your items a good look and determine which ones you want to keep and which ones should have been thrown away years ago.
Are you looking for ideas? Read here for Simple, Affordable ways to transform your home in 2021.
Find a storage unit
Now that you have a list of items, you need to start looking for a storage solution. If you have a spare guest room or an attic, then great! Stuff all of your belongings in there while a specific part of your house is under construction. This way, they’re out of the way when people are hammering away and painting the walls.
When you’re renovating the entire house, it’s best to rent a storage unit. This way, you can store all of your prized possessions and valuable assets inside a remote storage space where they are safe and secure.
Just a tip when you are looking for the perfect storage units: Look for self storage that is close to your house for easy access. For instance, you may rent a London self storage in case you are residing in the area.
How To Prepare Your House for Renovations – Consume what you have
While this may usually be a tip for when you are moving, but the same still applies. Think of it this way. By consuming everything that you have, you reduce the amount that you will need to pack. Finish off all your leftovers, clean out your bathroom toiletries, and empty your pantry.
Keep Everything Organized (and Digitized)
Keep all of your contracts, receipts, and idea boards organized. This way, you can continuously refer to it in times of altercations with your contractors. Ideally, they should all be digitized and on your phone for quick reference. However, hard copies must also be placed in a folder and with you at all times. Ensure that you have a calendar on-site to keep track of the timeline and if the project is delayed or on-time.
Read here for Kitchen Renovation Ideas!
How To Prepare Your House for Renovations – Set a Strict Budget
There’s no secret that home renovations are expensive and costly. A simple home refurbishing can set you back thousands of pounds. If you’re not careful, your renovations might leave you with a sky-high bill that razes your bank account to the ground. Avoid this by having a talk with your contractors about sticking to a set budget.
Decide how project delays are charged. Will they be free of charge if it was their fault? How much of each material do they need? Make sure that you’re on top of all the expenses so you can monitor closely where your money is going.
Let your contractor know how much your budget is and if it’s doable. Negotiate for fees and offer to buy the materials yourself. If you buy them in bulk, you get more savings.
You should set a bail-out fund for when you have to go over your budget.
Look for living accommodations elsewhere
Living in a house while it’s under construction can be unbearable. Men are hammering away at all times, you can’t get your privacy, and there are just way too many people inside for you to relax. At the same time, having you, your stuff, and your furniture inside can hinder your contractors. It can even be considered a health hazard considering they have to go around your items to finish their work.
You don’t have to rent a hotel room. Reach out to a relative or a friend that’s nearby. This way, you can still check in on your house at random times to ensure everything is going according to plan.
How To Prepare Your House for Renovations
There’s no need for you to fear house renovations when you prepare accordingly. It doesn’t even have to be expensive. You need a bit of patience and not go in headstrong.
How To Prepare Your House for Renovations is a feature post
