Kickstarting a home renovation to create your dream house is an incredibly exciting venture. You’ll finally have the opportunity to turn your Pinterest or home décor magazine dreams into a reality in your space!
However, a home renovation project is never a quick and simple process, and there’s a lot to be planned out and carefully considered. If you’re still at the beginning of your journey (or halfway through and feeling hopeless), here are a few things to consider.
Project Scope and Goals
First of all, it’s important to be clear about what you want to achieve going into a project like this. Think about which rooms, areas, or features of your home will be involved? Or will you be rebuilding everything from the ground up?
You also need to consider what the end goal of your renovation project is. Are you looking to expand the space, improve functionality, enhance the aesthetics, or some combination of all three? Having these types of end goals in mind will help shape the rest of the planning process.
Health and Safety
You need to understand that a home reno is a massive undertaking, and there can be major construction involved. In this case, you’ll need to consider health and safety aspects for yourself and your family.
Depending on the scope of the project, you might need to find temporary accommodation for the duration of the renovation, or even just during certain phases. Additionally, ensure that when you’re on site, you use the proper safety equipment like respiration masks, earmuffs, and boots.
Permits and Regulations
Depending on the size and nature of your renovation, there’s a chance you’ll need a permit or at least to adhere to specific regulations for your state or region.
Before finalizing any designs or plans, make sure to do your research. Check in with community members and local authorities to find out how you can get approval for your project, and then make sure you take the required steps to avoid getting any fines or have your project put on hold.
Environmental Impact
Remember that just about everything you do creates waste. Try to keep your renovation sustainable and eco-friendly as far as possible.
Try to opt for more sustainable materials and practices throughout the building process, invest in more energy-efficient appliances, and make sure that you and the team you’re working with recycle and use responsible means of disposing of waste.
Future Maintenance and Upkeep
Owning a home is a huge responsibility, and staying on top of your home maintenance is essential. This is an important thing to keep in mind when planning a renovation, or any home improvement project.
Try to choose designs and materials that are long-lasting, and easier to maintain and keep clean, so that they’re not giving you headaches a few years down the line. You should also take care to keep any manuals, warranties, and records for any appliances you install – you never know when you’re going to need them!
