Ravi Chandran
Is it time to get on with a good renovation project to give your home some more ‘breathing space’? An open-plan renovation will free up space – providing more light and giving your house a brand new feel. Maybe you want to enlarge your living spaces, or open up a kitchen and dining area for better flow. Or perhaps you have a small or awkward space that could be better utilised?
If you have an older home, chances are it has less useable space than a modern house (even if they have the same total floor space). This is because older houses had more rooms, so floor space was taken up by the extra walls.
Whether you already know exactly what you want to do – or you simply want to achieve a ‘better space’ – interior designers can give you some clever open-plan renovation ideas. Bring us your ideas, or your wish-list, and they will work out the best solution together. And when it comes to building, they will make sure everything rolls out smoothly – and that your renovation is completed on time and on budget.
Renovating, remodeling, and improving your home can be great ways to give it a makeover, gain extra space, or otherwise make it possible for you to stay in one place longer. But will they increase your selling price? The day may come when you want or need to sell. In preparation for that possibility, realize that not all home improvements are created equal. Some will increase the value of your home, and some will actually make selling more difficult. Here’s how to tell the difference.
But the first thing you need to do when thinking of a good renovation project your home needs is, budget for it.
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Anticipate Your Budget Going Over- 9 times out of 10, your renovation project is going to go over budget because of unexpected expenses. Especially when you are working on your kitchen, you will typically find your ultimate cost to be about 25 per cent higher than your original estimate. The same 25 per cent figure also applies to the amount of time it will take to complete the project.
For example, if you have decided to spend $10,000 to remodel your kitchen and give yourself five weeks to finish the job, you can generally expect to end up spending about $12,500 and seven weeks on the project. There are no hard-and-fast rules, but one thing experienced renovation professionals have learned – always expect the unexpected.
Most Importantly, Research Everything– Do lots of research concerning the materials you will be using and the specifications of each product. Go to your home improvement store to get test paint color samples.
They should be knowledgeable about current trends and the latest products on the market. Don’t assume that the big box stores are going to have the best prices. Even though they have the buying power, you can find the same extra products online for a lot less because they don’t have the overhead of the retail stores.
Don’t Put Off The Small Items– Once you’ve decided on your main components, don’t forget to spend time on the small things, as well. It’s easy to get caught up focusing on the big ticket items, but it’s often the interior design details, like trim, accent colors, and hardware that really make a remodeling project come to life.
Anticipate Problems and Delays– Inevitably with every project you are going to run into scheduling problems and design flaws.
Keep in mind that no two renovation projects are going to be the same, so even experienced renovators are going to make mistakes. Odds are you’re going to change your mind and do things somewhat differently than you had originally planned, you’re most likely going to run into things that you hadn’t anticipated.
Higher Price Doesn’t Always Mean Higher Quality- This is where the research comes in. For some materials you are only paying for the brand name. Kitchen Cabinets is the perfect example. By researching different cabinet manufacturers and distributors, you will often find that some of the lower priced cabinets offer the same quality at a more affordable price. Other materials, such as windows and basic supplies will generally reflect the quality in their price. Focus on quality and use the best quality of materials you can afford.
Overall, a good renovation project can be a rewarding experience, if you just follow a few simple rules and use common sense along the way. Whether it will be your first project or you have several under your belt, these 5 kitchen remodeling tips rules will apply for a good renovation project.
A good renovation project will add the highest resale value
Certain renovation projects add more resale value than others. Here are some that generally have the best financial impact.
- Kitchens. People like to see modern conveniences and styles in the kitchen. Especially in older homes, kitchen improvements tend to add value. Read the real estate ads sometime — you’re sure to notice how many mention the updated kitchen features.
- Bathrooms. Second to kitchen remodels are bathroom remodels. Again, modernizing older styles or appliances usually results in good return.
- Outdoor improvements. Your house makes a first impression quickly, so sprucing up its outdoor appearance is a smart investment. This includes siding and landscaping, particularly in the front yard.
- Roofs and windows. Roofs and windows are expensive to replace, and buyers expect these to be in good condition. Unfortunately, that means that while replacing them won’t dramatically increase resale value, not replacing them could significantly decrease it.
