Whole House Renovation
Are you frustrated because your house feels small or outdated? Maybe you have been searching for a new house but can’t find anything you truly love? Are you ready to sell your house but need to give it a makeover first? Whatever the reason, there are lots of options for updating and modifying a current home to make it fit your lifestyle and personal vision for how a home should look and feel.
Many home remodeling projects begin because people simply need more space for a changing family or the current layout of the house doesn’t fit their needs. While some of these projects start as a renovation to one room, they can very easily spill into other parts of the house and eventually become a whole-house remodel. Older homes with small, closed-off rooms are opened up into large flowing spaces. Cabinets, appliances, and fixtures are updated to fit a customized design aesthetic.
A whole-home remodeling project or renovation can be an extremely large and overwhelming venture. There are numerous decisions to make and lots of aspects to consider. Even the choice of how much of the home to remodel and the purpose for the renovation is a big decision. Despite all of these decisions, the important thing to remember is that remodeling is an investment. Any home improvements you make, no matter how extensive, should not only elevate the functionality of your house but should also increase your home’s value. And the best place to start is by making a plan.
Start with a Plan
Have a vision – You may want to start by looking through magazines or visiting home improvement stores for ideas and inspiration. Everyone has their dreams and ideal things they want in a home. Before capitalizing on those dreams consider if they’ll work in the layout of the house, add to its function or even fit into the budget. It’s a good idea to prioritize the top 5 -10 must-haves before making a definite plan.
Size – How much of the home are you willing to remodel? Are you going to renovate every room or just the kitchen and dining area? Are you willing to work with the square footage you already have or do you need to add on a room or a second story? If adding on is an option, you’ll need to check if permits are needed or if there are neighborhood covenants to consider. Of course all of these questions will depend on your budget. And there’s no reason you can’t have an extended plan to just do a portion of the house at a time.
Style and Design – Everyone has a personal style and design they want in a home. Not only should you agree with the other decision makers in the family about this style, but you should also pick something that will stand the test of time. Don’t pick a style that is so trendy that you will need to update again in 3 years or get so customized with your lighting or built-in cabinets that it’s impossible to resell later. There are lots of styles to choose from including rustic, industrial, or modern to name a few and once you make a plan to use this style you’ll want to stick with it as it will influence the structure and materials you will choose as well.
Budget – When it comes to a whole-house remodeling project the sky really is the limit. From the size to the design, the amount of demolition and rebuilding that will need to be done, the customization and luxuries that you want to add – all of this will influence your bottom line. So the big decision to make during your planning process is how much are you willing to spend? Once you set a budget and discover your dreams might be bigger than your pocket book you can always scale back or put off part of the project until another time. Many experts will tell you that you should also plan for a contingency of 10 to 20 percent of your budget to cover any unforeseen discoveries that are made during the renovations.
Contractor – Hiring a contractor might be one of the best ideas you can make when doing a whole house renovation. Contractors like Brama Trading Trust in Queensland can help make the whole process simple and stress-free. Not only will they be able to tell you what will work or not work with your current home, they’ll provide suggestions for design, style, and the most current technologies in home improvement that you may not have considered. They are also invaluable when it comes to hiring sub-contractors such as plumbers, electricians, and carpenters who specialize in different areas of the home.
Look to the future – Even if you are not planning to remodel the whole house at once it is important to plan ahead to future phases. This is especially relevant if these future phases will need duct work, plumbing, or electrical changes. Even something as small as a misplace light or electrical outlet could cause problems for later renovations.
