Things to Think About When Carrying Out Your Home Renovations

By: John Garcia | Date Posted: November 30, 2021

Home improvements have experienced a significant surge in popularity, evident in a 12% increase in demand reported in 2020 alone. This trend can be attributed to various factors, including a flourishing housing market and heightened expectations for an improved quality of life. Consequently, more individuals are scrutinizing their homes, exploring possibilities for enhancements. Whether it involves expanding living spaces or transforming a bare structure into a cozy haven, home renovations constitute a substantial undertaking demanding considerable effort. While some prefer to enlist experts and allocate a portion of their budget to assemble a dedicated team, others, particularly those with DIY skills, may feel equipped to tackle the project independently. If you find yourself in the latter category and harbor plans of renovating your home on your own, what factors should you consider before embarking on this endeavor? Consider the following points when carrying out your home renovations.

The Project Plan

You need to thoroughly understand this before making any concrete preparations for your home renovation. Your project plan should specify the exact renovations for each room, keeping you focused on the tasks at hand and preventing distractions from projects or repairs not initially on your list. This approach will help you stay on track and within budget. Your plan should also include a reasonable timescale for completing the renovations, with a structured order for each part of the project. This way, you can adhere to a schedule and ensure that parts of your home remain livable while work is being carried out.

Your Team

Your next consideration should be if you’ll be making use of any extra pairs of hands for your renovations. If they are minimal, and amount to simple kitchen unit replacements, flooring, and decoration work, you may want to keep costs down and carry them out yourself. However, for more involved or larger-scale projects, you may want to enlist help. This could either be in the form of family and friends happy to pitch in or from licensed contractors, which represent a more significant chunk of your renovation budget.

If you’re looking to expand your team with a professional construction team, you’ll need to make sure that you are choosing the right one for you. Dedicating some of your time to researching local contractors will ensure that you end up with a team that will perform well, not eat into your budget, and help your vision come to life quickly and efficiently. A few ways you can ensure you’re working with the right firm is to check their website, read through their reviews, look through their previous work, and even sit down and have a chat with them first to get a good idea of what you can expect.

Tools and Equipment

Tools and Equipment

With a concrete idea of exactly what work you’ll be carrying out, and how many people you will need to help you carry it out, your next thoughts should be on the tools and equipment you’ll need. You may already have a collection of tools for around-the-house repairs, but for major works – such as demolition work or major alterations to floors and ceilings – you may need larger power tools. Make a list of the tools you may need, and decide whether you will rent or buy them. Either way, you will also need safety equipment to operate said tools – from N95 masks for dust filtration to eye goggles to protect you from debris and tool breakages. Always make sure that amongst your safety equipment, you’re also making sure that you’ve got a fully stocked first aid kit to hand, just so any accidents can be resolved quickly.

Another important piece of equipment you may need for your renovation is a generator – especially if your works require the shutting off of mains electricity, such as in the installation of lighting, outlets, and ground to a new extension or conversion. Investing in a generator allows you to power lights even when there is no electricity, meaning you can continue to work in darker hours and stick to your schedule as a result.

Budget and Building Supplies

Additionally, you will need to tie everything together with your budget, which could differ depending on your plans. The renovations might be in service of selling your home, in which case they would represent a return of interest greater than your initial expenditure. If you are renovating to stay in your home, you may have different motivations – either to keep the budget down and work overtime or to spare no expense for the renovation of your dreams. Whichever you choose, the materials with which you complete your renovations could be the biggest factor in influencing your budget. Give some serious thought to the materials you’ve chosen; for a lower budget, you might switch a black marble kitchen worktop for a veneered alternative, or recycle existing decking to build a new patio space.

Your Home Renovations

To work sustainably, and to save yourself some money, there are plenty of online platforms out there – like Facebook Market Place or Gumtree – that you can use to source second-hand or leftover materials.

This way, you might even discover bits and pieces that were once beyond your budget but are now extremely affordable because they’re considered leftovers from someone else’s project.

Taking the initiative to renovate your own house represents a substantial undertaking. However, when approached correctly, upon completing the work, you can look back at a job well done and possess a home that truly reflects your personality. Of course, considering both the pros and cons is essential when deciding to tackle such a significant project. By heeding our advice and carefully contemplating the details, you can comfortably enjoy the home you have brought to life.

Thank you for reading!

John
 

John is the founder and chief editor of Homienjoy. With over 15 years of experience in the home improvement industry, John is passionate about helping homeowners confidently tackle their projects. Holding a civil engineering degree and working as a contractor, project manager, and consultant, John brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Homienjoy community.

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