The Complete and Only Home Renovation Checklist You’ll Ever Need

Posted On Monday, 16 August 2021 19:47

In 2020, over 60% of American homeowners took on home improvement works. More and more owners are tackling small and large-scale projects and are more house proud than ever before.

And there are tons of benefits of a modern home remodel. You could increase your home appraisal value, curb appeal, and quality of living. But before venturing on such a lofty quest, you need a home renovation checklist.

A solid checklist will ensure you do not waste time and money on the wrong projects. It will help you consider every angle of your ideal outcomes so you are happier with the results. 

Follow this simple checklist so you stay on track and feel in control during every step of your remodel. 

Create a Home Renovation Plan

The very first thing you should do is to write down everything you want to renovate in your home. Don't miss any rooms, including your home exterior.

List any essential works like plumbing, electrics, ventilation, and insulation. Then, think about the bones of the rooms like doors, windows, floors, and walls. After that, consider what storage you need, furniture, and lighting.

Your home exterior plan might include the following:

• House paint
• Window boxes/frames
• Fences
• Gates
• Sheds
• Decking
• Driveway
• Landscaping/plants

You can always adapt this plan as you go but it is important to write down your initial ideas. You do not want to realize you missed something important when you are already halfway through renovating.

Re-Prioritize Your Home Renovations

Unless you are Jeff Bezos, you likely do not have the funds to begin all your home renovation projects all at once. So, you will need to prioritize which projects you want to do first.

You can do this by asking yourself some questions. For example:

• What is the main purpose of this renovation?
• What are the non-negotiables and must-haves?
• What are the non-essentials and nice-to-haves?
• What are the plans for using this space?
• What are the most frustrating parts of the house to live with right now?

Don't skip this part of your home renovation checklist as it may change your entire plans.

If you have children, child-proofing might be at the top of your agenda. You may want to renovate their bedrooms first so they feel comfortable. And you will also need to keep in mind that as your children grow up, they will have different needs so their rooms need to be adaptable.

Parents of fur babies will need to put their needs first, too. If they like to scratch and rip up carpet, laying down wood floors might be the first port of call.

If your house is a real fixer-upper, you might need to concentrate on the essentials first. Tasks like modernizing the electrics and plumbing might be at the top of your to-do list.

Those with extra cash to splash can opt to focus on luxury or eco-renovations to their home. Solar panels, skylights, hot tubs, and landscaping might be more important to you than anything else.

Nail Down Your Budget

Once you have an idea of which home remodeling projects you want to do first, you can build a budget for them. 

The average cost of a home renovation is around $10 to $60 per square foot. And most don't spend more than $12,000 at a time. 

Of course, the real costs of your home renovation will depend on the contractors you hire, the scope of work, and the materials. If you have a ton of essential work that you need to sort out ASAP, consider a home renovation loan.

Research Home Renovation Ideas

You likely researched renovation ideas during the budgeting stage and you might already know what you want. But now you have a firm budget, you can get creative!

Start a Pinterest board for every room of your house and pin tons of interior design photos and ideas that inspire you. Spend your free time scrolling through online stores and websites to find a theme you love and decide how you want to decorate your house.

Find a Construction Company

Then, find a trustworthy and affordable construction company in your local area. They need to strike the balance between staying within your budget but delivering great work.

Check their references and reviews to verify past customer satisfaction. Even better, if you know any friends or neighbors who had a recent home remodel, ask them for a recommendation. 

Your construction company are professionals and should be able to offer expert advice and experience. They are the ones who should check for load-bearing walls before knocking them down, for example. And they need to make sure your schedule and plans are workable.

If you are hiring construction workers or tradespeople for a small job, why not try it out yourself first and treat it as a DIY project? Reattaching doors, shower rails, and shelves are not as difficult as you might think.

With a big tool kit and tons of how-to videos on YouTube, anything is possible.

Choose the Right Time of Year

There is never a right time of year for home improvement work. No matter when it happens, the noise, mess, and inconvenience are inevitable. But there are wrong times of year for a house renovation.

Any smart homeowner knows not to schedule construction work right before a holiday like Christmas. If the work gets delayed, you will have sawdust in your turkey dinner.

You also want to choose a time of year when your children are often out of the house and you will have no houseguests. Summer vacation is the worst time for a modern kitchen remodel. You will be feeding your kids lunch at McDonald's every day until it's finished.

Use This Home Renovation Checklist to Guarantee Good Results

Any home remodel is never a simple or easy process. Spending a lot of money can be stressful and the work can be time-consuming. But as long as you follow this home renovation checklist and follow your plan, the results will be more than worth your effort.

Looking for more expert real estate and home repair advice? Browse our website for tons of helpful tips and guides!

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