Renovation Season
Tis the season to renovate! When the weather starts warming up and images of a new kitchen, poorly positioned walls moved, and basements developed fill our minds, here are some things to consider first.
1 Find the right contractor for you. Do the research, get referrals, meet with them, see their previous work, and if you have to wait for the right one it is worth it. If you have a few good ones ask for a quote.
Here's a great resource: Canadian Home Builders' Association
2 The proverbial elephant in the room: The Budget! Yes, this is the obvious one, but it is so easy to underestimate the cost of any size renovation. Again, do the research, ask people in the industry, and make sure you know where you stand. We all want more than we can afford so draw up a list of what is most important for you and what isn't, and try to live by it. Include in that a contingency for the unexpected because it happens.
3 Know your neighbourhood and the market. Not everyone can design specifically to their taste alone, so making sure you design with a broader view in mind will provide you with a larger return on the investment. For example, if you put in $15,000 worth of plumbing fixtures into your starter-home, there is only so much you can get out of the house and you might not get that money back. However, if the area you are in is being revitalized and the value of your home is on the rise, using that $15,000 in the same way would come back to you and then some. Consulting with a realtor or an appraiser is a good starting point.
4 Think and plan ahead. Our lives evolve and even though we never fully know what lies ahead, we can plan for the different phases of life. If you might have children at some point, enough space and bedrooms is very important. Try to make some rooms adaptable to a number of uses. This is part of any good design process and the time should be taken before the work starts.
Of course, there are other points to consider and steps to take, but these are the beginning steps that help lay the foundation of any good renovation.
