Useful advice from past renovating homeowner , including contractors , budget , and timeline .

You want to start planning your nursing home remodel but do n’t know where to start , right ? Well , you ’re not alone . Many homeowners dive into quicken a house with no clue of what to expect . It ’s only after they ache throughrenovation mishapsthat they regret not take in a plan .

Without readiness , the home renovation process can be full of disappointment because , unlike building a new business firm , you are n’t starting with a blank slate . There can be out of the blue expenses and issues that make the physical process composite . So before you go down the twists and bend of the renovation path , here are seven points you should know before starting a home renovation .

painted brick exterior of midcentury-modern home with wood front doors

Credit: Anthony Masterson

1. Invest in a Key Lockbox

If you ’re renovate your home before moving into it and live far by , consider investing in a key safe-deposit box . You ’ll need to hire a contractile organ if there are significant projects on your checklist that you ca n’t do yourself . think that contractors begin betimes , so unless you want to drive in first light rush - hour dealings to let workers at heart , plan to impound a safety-deposit orinstall smart door hardwarethat allows you to provide entry to guests with a code . It can save you countless hours , gallons of fuel , and painful , early sunup rouse - up calls .

2. Spend Time in the Space

As obvious as it might seem , it is all important to hold off on some decisions like paint colouring , carpet , and light mend until you spend fourth dimension in the space you ’re renovating . For object lesson , the choices can be overpowering if you need toreplace date stamp carpet . Dense or unaffixed fibers ? Striated or no pattern ? What exact shade of gray-haired ? The answers depend on the other expression of the overhaul , like choose paint colors .

Live in the place for a few months before renovating a sign of the zodiac to empathize space functionality , identify ask improvements , and prioritize projects .

If you select paint palettes before the renovation starts , you still need to see them on walls . Your decisions about colors could change as you pass clock time in the home . Also , freshly painted walls and fresh carpet can reveal that existing light fixture do n’t clear up the space as you imagine they would .

Living room with bookshelves and large USA map

Credit: Brie Williams

If you spend a picayune more time before painting and recarpeting to consider how everything works together in the elbow room you ’re remodeling , you may save several back - to - the - drawing - board second .

3. Be Realistic About Your Timeline

Yourrenovation timelinewill take longer than gestate , so be prepared when planning a family refurbishment and make accommodation to avoid thwarting . For illustration , you might conceive thatreplacing a whirlpool tuband outdated three-fold vanity in a bathroom will be quick . remotion of the old secureness can take a few hours , but locating a new bathtub and dressing table you love can take several weeks . It can be another two calendar week before they ’re deliver . An first moment of using your newhall bathwithin a week can turn into a six - workweek waiting menstruation .

Prevent redevelopment delay by ordering material in advance and puddle sure they are on site before demolition begins .

4. Expect the Unexpected

All homes have secret — in the wall , under the floors , and elsewhere . A renovation can bring those to light .

For model , your contractor secernate you your floors are uneven due to a shifted center joist while measure for your highly anticipatednew hardwood floors . You ’ll need to deal with the household inspector who overleap it and get the flooring joist repaired before the Modern fabric can go down .

Plan for extra time in the timeline as well as an surplus cushion in the budget to allow for unanticipated consequence that hail up .

gray and white master bathroom with double vanity

Credit: Annie Schlechter

Prepare for unexpected cost by making a “ must - have ” and “ nice - to - have ” redevelopment leaning , remove non - essentials if the budget needs adapt .

5. Interview Multiple Contractors

It pays to question multiple declarer and compare bids . hypothecate you want your water system heater removed from an upstair press and a new one installed in the service department . The first plumber you ask may say he design to charge $ 6,000 and would reroute blistering water supply lines , cutting into your living room tray roof . The 2d pipe fitter may find it ’s too much workplace for his schedule . Plumber three design to wind up the line of work in a day and charge $ 3,285 with no water line rerouting needed .

see and get estimates from 3 - 4 ecumenical contractile organ to compare pricing and get a feel for their communicating fashion and vibration before opt a potential overhaul partner . Keep in mind you will be working closely renovating a house or a bath with this contractor for several month .

6. Renovate Your Kitchen First

Homeowners often want to know in what order they should be renovating a house . It ’s best tostart with the kitchenbecause these remodels total significant note value to your home . According to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s2022 remodeling impingement report , Realtors calculate that homeowners can recuperate 75 % of the price of a complete kitchen renovation if they betray their home . Plus , if you have an outdated kitchen , promote the worn - out space will let you better enjoy the space while you ’re home .

Practically speaking , you ’ll require to do the kitchen remodel first because that work will make the most dust and debris , which you wo n’t want to set down on novel paint or finish job . It ’s always a good idea to isolate any demolition mess by put plastic over door or pass - throughs . Since an extensive kitchen remodel typically take several months , you ’ll need to set up a temporary substitute kitchen in your star sign ’s dining way , syndicate elbow room , or another adjacent region .

7. Be Specific About Design Ideas

You ’ll require to narrow your design preferences before fulfill with an interior clothes designer . Get intake from browsing home decorating cartridge holder , home decorating websites , and design show . pay off a handle on adesign directionwill help you avoid being speak into a couturier ’s personal ideas , which might take issue from your visual sensation for the redevelopment .

Also , keep your designer rigorously on yourdesign budget . Do n’t give up them to purchase expensive materials and charge you for them subsequently . If you attempt to stay within a specific metre frame , your costs will remain humbled , too .

Kitchen with wooden floors and dark blue cabinets

Credit: James Nathan Schroder

blue-gray bathroom with red flowers

Credit: Anthony Masterson

remodeled modern gray, white, and wood kitchen

Credit: Nathan Kirkman

soft palette living room table

Credit: John Bessler