There’s a Lot of Work that Goes into it Before You Even Start
If you’ve already started the process, you understand what we mean. There is a long planning phase involved before a nail or screw ever takes root. This phase can vary a lot depending on how deep into the process you are, but there are still things that will happen no matter how far along you are. First, you have to pick what you want to do and how much you have to spend. This seems obvious, but you need to also understand how this will fit into your current design and living space. Sometimes going into a project with nothing other than, we want a new kitchen, can make the design phase eat up a lot of time and money.
Next, you need to lay out a time frame for yourself and the project. Remember, you will have limited use while the project is happening, so if you pick a whole house to remodel, your life will be changed for a long time. If you’re unfamiliar with the process, just be ready about the possibility that your time frame and the real one might be different. Some things can take way longer or less time than you may think.
Things to Look for in a Contractor
Then, someone actually needs to do the work! Picking a contractor is hard but there are four things to look for in a remodeling job:
A Contractor who has the ability to help you in the design and actually understand your space
A Proven quality of work and the response their previous customers have had
Someone you can actually get along with, as they will work closely with you on the project.
A contractor who has proven to meet deadlines
There are more options than this, but these are a good start to look at. If you want to have a space that works for your home, contact us today to have our design experts reach out and see if our building science approach is for you.
Picking a Time Frame & Budget That Works for You
We touched on this briefly above but this is very important not only for your project but your sanity. Knowing how much money you are spending is going to keep stress down and let you really understand what you can actually achieve with your project. You want to work out what you are willing to spend to get your dream space, sometimes that means you can do less, and sometimes more. If you have no idea of what you’re willing to spend, it will create issues down the line. Most homeowners really have no budget in mind when starting a project. If you can get a solid one, you’ll be ahead of most people and this alone will make the project run much more smoothly.
Next, when do you want your project to be completed? Why is it so important? First, you want to know when the work will be over and you’re life will go back to normal. Or, maybe you have a big event coming up, maybe you want the space to enjoy for the next season, or anything reason is valid to pick a solid timeframe. It’s not only for the completion date but also for when you want the work to actually occur. As you will have people in your house making noise during the day. Areas might not be used at night. Some homeowners even like to try and plan renovations when they have a long vacation planned. So they won’t have to deal with the construction for the entire period.
Just be aware, if you plan for a certain time, you might not get it. Scheduling does not always allow for the project to be exactly when you want. That’s why the further out you book, the better your chances. If you need something done next week, you’re probably in for some trouble.
Lastly here, you want the contractor to give you a rough time frame. That way you can understand how long a project will take. If you have a contractor refusing to give any time frames, it’s not always a bad sign, but sometimes can be for sure. At Avocet Design Build, we use our accomplished project management and Building Science to stick very close to time frames from the beginning and get your job done right.
Making the Renovation Work for Your Space
This is where Authentic Design comes in huge! Just because you want something done, doesn’t always mean it’s the right fit for your space. When you’re in the design phase, be sure the design team you’re working with understands how to not only make your space more beautiful but also enhance its functionality. Sometimes this means bigger is not always better. Instead of always thinking about square footage, think about how the project will look finished and what you actually need/want.
Our Authentic Design process does just that. We use top-of-the-line technology to give you a virtual footprint of what your space will look like and how it will fit in with your existing home and style. That way you can feel confident before a single board is put down.
You Might Need Financing
Most of us need financing when it comes to big home renovation projects. Since we have been in the Wilmington, NC building scene for so long, we know who is good to work with. This part of the process can be very stressful (as anything with money can), so try to stay calm and understand how it all works. Generally, construction loans are paid out as different parts of the work are finished. However, some can be done all at once depending on the circumstances. That’s why we recommend the Corning Credit Union as they will make the process much smoother and help explain the entire process much better than we could.
Getting Your Space & Mind Ready for a Renovation
Once you have all that ready, it’s time to start getting ready for the actual work itself. This means getting a space ready for the project. Oftentimes this can just be cleaning. More often than not though, it’s moving big furniture, lamps, decorations, etc… out of the area. You don’t necessarily have to do a deep clean but getting the space empty and clean is a must. This will help the work go faster, make the crews grateful, and most of all, protect your stuff.
The last part of getting ready, and maybe the most important, is getting your mindset ready. While renovations are awesome and we at Avocet try to make the process as smooth as possible, there are a few things to know. There will be people in your house (or outside depending on your work), extra cars will be there during the day, workstations will be set up, there will be noise, and this can all cause stress. If you go into the project understanding what will happen, it will be much easier and more enjoyable to see your home change for the better!