Thinking about making a change to your house, but need a few home renovation tips? Not sure where to start before embarking on the journey ahead?
Many of our clients feel this way. A home renovation can improve functionality, create a more beautiful and serene environment, and elevate a home’s space.
But, if not properly planned for, a home renovation can be a major source of stress that can leave you short of breath and your stomach in knots.
Good Day Living is here to make your next home renovation a little tidier and seamless.
If you’ve been hoping to level up your living space, check out our top 10 home renovation tips to help ensure your next home remodel goes off without a hitch.
Our top 10 home renovation tips
| 1. Reflect on and define what you want out of your home renovation. 2. Create a budget ahead of time, and stick to it (Discipline is key!). 3. Prepare your home (and your loved ones) for your renovation. 4. Choose renovations that’ll provide a high return on investment. 5. Expect the unexpected with timelines, materials, repairs, and more. 6. Donate re-usable materials to local organizations. 7. Budget more time than you think you’ll need. 8. Budget money for the “invisibles,” such as permits, structural reinforcements, and more. 9. Hire an experienced home construction and general contractor team. 10. Communicate with your building team throughout your building journey. |
1. Define what you want with your home renovation
With any large investment, a little upfront planning and reflection goes a long way. Ensuring you have a well-thought-out plan is the first step towards a seamless home renovation.
Throughout your renovation, you’ll also need to communicate your plan with various stakeholders. So, the best way to ensure everything goes off without a hitch — and to ensure a beautiful and functional finished project that adheres to your budget and timeline — is to communicate your plan to your building team.
By having an ironclad vision of what you want, you’ll be able to keep your contractors on time and ensure you get everything you hoped for with our build.
For example, you’ll want to plan out the layout of each room, the storage spaces you need, and the general aesthetic of your home. You may even want to look into the types of upgrades you want, and note anything you want to avoid (or not change) in your home.
A great plan is thorough and detailed.
Consider the types of materials you want for each room and the overall design. What’s more, go shopping for the right furniture and appliances for your new renovation.
If you need ideas, you can also talk with a luxury construction design-build firm, your general contractor, or your building team to help you create the right project timeline for your needs.
Even if you decide to do your home renovation on your own, having a plan can help you stay on track and reduce your chances of being sidetracked.
2. Create a budget in advance, and stick to it
We’ve all had friends and family members who planned a home renovation only to find themselves spending a gazillion dollars more than they expected on their home improvement project.
We get it: it’s tough to plan for the unexpected (more on that later in this article).
Creating a budget in advance will help you avoid ballooning expenses with your home renovation project.
Before starting on your home remodel, consider creating a budget for unexpected repairs and last-minute upgrades. What’s more, we recommend doing research ahead of time, reaching out to a local construction company, and asking them to help you set a realistic budget for your project.
Once you’ve created your budget, stick to it. That piece of advice may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised to know how counterintuitive it is.
You might be tempted to buy more expensive appliances or materials, or to consider another more expensive design trim for your bathroom, for example. In these moments, stick to the budget you created.
Your budget will guide you on what you can and can’t afford to budge on throughout your home renovation.
3. Prep your home for its remodel
You’re not the only one who needs to do some prepping for your home’s big makeover. Your home needs some prepping and tender loving care as well.
One of the most important remodeling tips we can give you is that your home should be clear of clutter and ready for the renovation before your building team starts ripping up the floorboards.
Before your remodeling team dives into their work, pack up each space in your home. Consider storing everything in a separate area of your home or a storage unit near your house.
Taking the extra time a few weeks ahead of breaking ground will help your contractors move from room to room with greater ease.
Packing valuables and covering furniture will also help prevent damage during the construction process. Allocate plenty of time to pack up before renovation work begins.
4. Choose renovations that will pay dividends
A home is one of the most lucrative assets a person can own. Many of our clients think of their property as an investment, so they hope to see a sizable return on it once their home renovation is complete.
Consider choosing aspects of your home renovation that will provide a sizable return on investment. By increasing the functionality of a home, adding a new area, or upgrading outdated, stuffy areas, you can increase the value of your home and walk away with peace of mind knowing that your new renovation will pay dividends.
Upgrading appliances, opting for a kitchen remodel, or completing a bathroom renovation tend to be dependable renovations that can increase your return on investment.
If you’re thinking of selling your home on the market in the next five years, we recommend planning your renovation with design in mind. When thinking about your home’s design, keep it modern and current to increase your chance of selling your home at a higher value.
5. Expect the unexpected
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB.com, 2024) has found that the time from building permit-to-completion has steadily risen since 2015. Given longer construction times, we can’t emphasize enough being flexible and prepared.
As such, we recommend adding extra time to your schedule to help prepare for potential delays that can arise.
At Good Day Living, we do our best to minimize unexpected delays and expenses. We’ll always brief you on any “unexpecteds” with as much advance notice as possible, and we’ll work with you to stay on budget and on time.
6. Donate re-usable materials to local organizations
With all the materials being used, you can give back to your community by donating unwanted items to charity shops, hosting a garage sale, or inviting your local Habitat for Humanity chapter to your home to remove unwanted, reusable materials and fixtures.
Heck, throughout the process, you might even find innovative ways to repurpose existing elements in your home. Consider donating or reusing materials as part of your home renovation project.
7. Budget for more time than you think you’ll need
Renovating a home takes time. Before embarking on your home renovation project, consider adding more time than you think you’ll need to your overall timeline.
You can never over-budget the amount of time you’ll need. If in doubt, you can always reach out to us to talk about a project.
We’d be happy to guide you with timelines and what to expect with your next renovation.
8. Budget for the “invisibles” like permits, reinforcements, and more
Interior design, fixtures, and appliances tend to be some of the first considerations when planning a dream home. After all, these features are what you and your guests will use and see most often in your home.
But, we can’t emphasize enough planning for the “invisibles” in your home, the costs that most people tend not to think about or “see” when they first start planning their renovation.
Permits, new roofing, electric wiring, floorboard reinforcements, the cost to dispose of unwanted materials, and more: these are the invisible costs that most people don’t think about when embarking on a home renovation. If you’re wondering what other costs exist, reach out to a home construction and remodeling team.
Home construction teams are adept at pricing and informing clients of large and small costs associated with a home renovation.
9. Hire an experienced home construction team
Unless you’re embarking on a do-it-yourself (DIY) home renovation, you’ll likely hire an experienced home construction team for the job.
Most homeowners choose construction teams to complete their home renovations. Construction teams come with dedicated expertise, knowledge of local ordinances, and connections to high-quality building materials at affordable rates.
Before choosing a construction team, we always recommend researching your options, reading testimonials, and conducting informational interviews with professionals before choosing a team to hire.
What’s more, we recommend hiring someone who takes pride in their craft, a team that’s reliable, disciplined, and transparent every step of the way.
If possible, check your building team’s portfolio of builds. You’ll quickly come to understand what the team is like by the quality, aesthetic, and design of their previous builds.
Since you’ll be working with your team throughout the renovation, you want to take a great deal of time to find someone who communicates well and understands what you’re building. And, you’ll want your team to value pushing the envelope on what’s possible in home construction.
10. Stay in touch with your building team throughout the process
Once your home renovator and building team commences, you’ll want to stay in touch with them to make sure everything goes according to plan. You might be tempted to let them go to work and have a “set it and forget it” mentality with your home renovation.
But, the truth is that a successful renovation occurs when homeowners are present throughout the building process. Being present and keeping in touch with your building team will allow you to stay up to date, on time, and on budget with your build.
What’s more, by being in close contact with your building team, you’ll be able to ask clarifying questions and ensure that your new home renovation meets your expectations. As such, a quality home builder will listen, take the time to answer your questions, and adjust accordingly to meet your needs.
Good Day Living home renovation spotlight
Moody blues are making a comeback — and we’re here for it. Check out this bathroom renovation.
The deep, dramatic tile turns the shower into a total escape. This was a blast (no pun intended) to build.💙✨
Looking for more home renovation tips and tricks?
We understand that starting a home renovation can be a daunting task.
Plus, the learning curve is pretty steep. But, we hope that this list gives you some peace of mind and that you’re feeling a bit more confident about your upcoming renovation.
For more fun facts and tips about home renovations, everything from bathrooms to kitchen remodels, stop by our Instagram page or our blog. Until then, we wish you the best of luck on your new build!
