14 May 15 Things To Do Before Remodeling Your Home
Changing up your home can be an extremely exciting prospect, but it can come with a lot of stress as well. Fortunately, there are a lot of things that can be done to minimize the stress you feel over these major changes. By planning ahead and being prepared for the remodel, you can ease anxiety and put your mind at rest. Here are a few things you should know before you dive in:
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Plan ahead.
The best thing you can do for your remodel is to plan ahead. Have all of your selections (and their prices) ready before the work even begins. This will help streamline everything and keep you from going off track with your budget.
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Get a detailed contract.
There is nothing more terrifying than the idea that your general contractor will leave you high and dry with no work to show for your money. Make sure to get all of the details of the work outlined in your contract in great detail. The more detail, the better!
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Avoid air conditioner failure.
Replacing your central heating and air conditioning system can be quite costly, so be sure to factor maintenance for your current unit into the budget. This will help keep you more comfortable and can save you money on the final bill of your remodel.
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Be kind to the workers.
Yes, you are the one who is ultimately in charge of the project and are responsible for getting everyone paid on time. However, that doesn’t give you license to treat the workers badly. Remember to treat everyone with kindness and respect so that the crews will want to come to your house and perform the best possible work for you each day.
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Changes happen.
Unfortunately, there is no way around the fact that changes are going to happen on a job site. Maybe you will change your mind about how you want a room set up or perhaps a certain material will be out of stock. Even though you should be planning ahead, remember to be a little bit flexible with the process as well.
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Plan for emergencies.
The worst thing you can do is max out your budget without planning for any unforeseen expenses. There should always be a line item in your budget for things like common plumbing emergencies.
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Not all deadlines are set in stone.
Keep in mind that you will not always hit your deadline. Weather and product availability both play a large role in how well your contractor can meet your deadline. The project will likely take longer than you think it will.
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Make note of change orders.
Most people have the experience of going over budget with their remodels. If you experience any change orders, make sure to write them down. This will give you a better idea of exactly where all that extra money is going.
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Hire one person to manage everything.
You might be tempted to hire the best in the business when it comes to every trade. However, most homeowners wish they had hired one general contractor who handles the whole remodel. This means that they can coordinate with their own teams for things like plumbing and electrical instead of relying on you to set up a schedule and time frame that works for everyone.
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Box up valuable items.
No matter how careful your construction crew is, you will want to box up your valuable items. This gives you peace of mind that they will not be in danger and prevents any heartache if they were to be broken.
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Everything will get dirty.
There is no way around it – a home remodel is going to stir up a lot of dust and dirt in your home. You will likely be cleaning it out of the nooks and crannies of your house for weeks after you move in and settle down. Be prepared for a lot of heavy-duty cleaning to get things back to normal.
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Set up a temporary kitchen.
If you are going to be remodeling the kitchen, make sure that you have a temporary version set up elsewhere. This might mean moving the refrigerator and the microwave to the garage or another area of the home so that you can continue to cook for your family.
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Plan a new routine.
Make sure that you and your contractor are clear about your personal routine and how they can work to minimize disruptions to your daily life. You may have to make some adjustments to your usual routine while the crews come in to perform work day after day.
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Create drawings and vision boards.
To keep everyone on the same page, make sure to put your ideas down on paper. Create drawings of what you envision for your home or create vision boards using images you find on the internet. This can help you with the overall design of your home and help to communicate your ideas to your contractor more easily.
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Have a free space to relax.
While renovations might be an exciting thing at first, you will eventually get tired of the mess and the chaos. Make sure that you have somewhere you can go to get away from it all for a little while. For example, you might leave a single room untouched until the end of the project. On the other hand, you might want to set up a couch and television in the garage or create a seating area outdoors.
When you’re ready to remodel your Hill Country home, contact the professionals at CMW General Contractors. Our team can handle all types of remodels and renovations, and would love to help with your next project. Contact our team today to get a free quote!