It’s so exciting getting to be in your new home, right? You just know for a fact that there are endless possibilities for you to live there. It’s a fresh start, a new beginning, and this is going to be a space that reflects you and your lifestyle. However, with that all said, there’s one that you most likely have to deal with. But what? Well, that’s renovations. There might be a lot of renovations in this new space.
Whether you’re looking to modernise an outdated kitchen, create an open-concept living area, or add a touch of luxury to your bathroom, a renovation can transform your new home into the dream abode you’ve always wanted. But like what was mentioned already, the process can be overwhelming, especially for first-time homeowners.
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Since this is your first time ever renovating, it might be a bad idea to try to DIY everything. Actually, that might turn more into a disaster. You need to make sure you go about this smoothly, so here’s exactly what you need to know to achieve that!
Why It’s a Good Idea to Renovate Your Newly Bought Home
Renovating a newly bought home might seem like a massive undertaking, especially after the expenses and stress of purchasing the property. But chances are high that this will be your forever home, right? The one you hope to forever live in? Well, this space needs to reflect who you are and what you enjoy. So, what better way? A house can only feel like a home if it reflects who you are and the way you live; you need to remember that. So, let’s dive in a bit more into all of this.
Adding Personal Touches
When you buy a home, it reflects the previous owners’ tastes and preferences. No one wants that! So, renovating allows you to infuse your personality and style into the space. Just think about it, from choosing the colour palette to selecting the fixtures. Every decision you make during a renovation helps tailor the home to suit your unique preferences.
Enhancing Functionality
Often, existing layouts might not suit your lifestyle. For example, you might need a home office, a bigger kitchen, or an additional bathroom. So, when you give yourself a chance to renovate, you’re basically giving yourself this opportunity to reconfigure the space to better meet your needs, ensuring your home works for you rather than against you.
Increasing Property Value
So, this is a mixed bag. If you plan to live in this house forever, then maybe this one shouldn’t matter as much. But if you see yourself realistically moving in a decade or something, then this might be a good idea. It’s all about return on investment.
Improving Energy Efficiency
So, this is one thing that so many people seem to forget! But what? Older homes often lack the energy efficiency of newer builds. Hands down, renovations are a perfect opportunity to upgrade windows, insulation, HVAC systems, and boilers, which can lead to significant savings on energy bills and create a more comfortable living environment. Besides, depending on where you live, this may actually be a requirement. Overall, in the long run, it’s far better, both for your wallet and the planet.
Addressing Repairs Early
Unless your house is brand-spanking new, or you’ve paid thousands to get a thorough inspection, you’ll definitely need to consider this. Overall, just understand that a house that has been lived in will come with unexpected issues- some that have gone under the radar for a very long time.
So, renovating early allows you to address any repairs that might not have been evident during the purchase process. This proactive approach can prevent minor problems from escalating into major issues down the line.
The Professionals You Can Hire for the Renovation
So, it was already recommended just above that you really shouldn’t bother with DIYing; there’s just a lot of risks; sure, maybe something small like painting and wallpaper can be fine, or even installing light fixtures, but that might be as far as you should actually go. Plus, there are special skills that you simply lack that they don’t, so you need to keep that in mind, too. So, with that all said, hiring the right professionals can make the process smoother and ensure high-quality results.
General Contractor
This one is the most obvious, but it still deserves recognition. So, a general contractor oversees the entire renovation project. They coordinate between various subcontractors, manage schedules, and ensure the project stays on budget and timeline. Sometimes they might be able to do it all, sometimes they’ll reach out to more specialised professionals. It all depends.
Storage Facility
All right technically, you’re not hiring anyone specifically for this, but some professionals (who work at the storage facility) are involved, so this still deserves to be mentioned. So, realistically speaking, you’re going to need low cost storage as depending on what and where in your home needs renovation, your possessions need to be put up. For example, if you’re doing a full gut renovation, everything in your house needs to go to a storage facility, but if it’s only one room, such as the bathroom, it might not be necessary.
Architect
If you have the money and if you have a massive vision, then, by all means, go for this! If you’re changing the structure of your home, you’ll need an architect for this, too. Besides, they provide design solutions that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also structurally sound.
Interior Designer
Just like the architect, interior design is considered more luxurious. But you can find plenty of affordable interior design services for your home, especially if you have no idea what you want to do.
Electrician
Needless to say, electrical work is a critical aspect of any renovation. Are you dreaming of new lighting in a room? Well, you’re going to need them? Wanting dimmable lights? They’re needed too! Never DIY your electrical work, you absolutely need to have a professional get this all done for you.
Plumber
So, this is something else that you can’t ever DIY. Renovations that involve bathrooms, kitchens, or laundry rooms will require the expertise of a plumber. They handle the installation of pipes and fixtures and ensure that your plumbing system functions efficiently. For example, if you want a new bathtub, you can’t install it yourself—don’t even think about it!
What You Need to Know for Finding and Hiring a Professional
So, how easy is it to hire all of these professionals? Well, it’s hard to say because it might be easy to find a professional, but the hard part is finding a professional that you know you can rely on. It’s not just that because they need to be able to bring your vision to life; they need to be available, nice, easy to work with, and, of course, affordable too.
Define Your Project Scope
Before you start looking for professionals, have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your renovation. You should create a detailed plan outlining the specific changes you want to make. This will help you communicate your vision to potential contractors and get accurate estimates.
Check Credentials and Experience
When hiring a professional, ensure they have the necessary licenses and certifications for the job. It’s best to check to see if their experience actually involves similar projects to what you’re wanting.
Read Reviews and Ask for References
Never just Google a professional and then just hire the first one you see. That almost always ends in a disaster! Instead, you need to look for reviews and testimonials from previous clients. This can give you insight into the contractor’s reliability, work quality, and professionalism. But on top of that, you need to ask the contractor for references and follow up with these past clients to get a firsthand account of their experience.
Get Multiple Quotes
By all means, you deserve to get the best price out there! So, just go ahead and obtain quotes from several contractors to compare prices and services. But just be wary of significantly lower quotes than others; this could be a red flag for subpar materials or rushed work (or they’re literally lying, so you will sign on). On top of that, a detailed quote should be provided, including a breakdown of costs for materials, labour, and any additional expenses.
Verify Insurance and Bonding
There needs to be insurance, and you need to make sure you can see this; you have this right! You have to ensure that the contractor has liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage. This protects you from liability in case of accidents or damages during the renovation. But on top of that, bonding also ensures that you’re financially protected if the contractor fails to complete the project.
Review Contracts Thoroughly
You need to compare multiple professionals, this is key! But why is this so important though? Well, you need to go through all of the contracts you see before singing anything. The whole point is to make sure that all agreed-upon details, such as the scope of work, payment schedule, timelines, and warranties. Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification on any terms you don’t understand.
