From Old House to New Home: The recipe for a successful home renovation
Thinking of starting a home renovation project? Whether you're planning to transform an entire house or just update a specific area, the journey from vision to reality can be both exciting and challenging. We've worked on countless renovation projects over our 15+ year history, so in this blog post, we'll share our advice for some of the key ingredients for a successful home renovation.
Before and after of a recent farm house renovation project. From 2 small bedrooms to one large master suite
1. Patience is Key: Expect It to Take Longer Than You Want
One of the first things to understand about home renovations is that they often take longer than initially anticipated. It's essential to set realistic expectations from the outset. Delays can occur for various reasons, such as unexpected discoveries or changes in the project scope. However, with proper planning and good communication with your contractor, you can keep your project on track.
2. Be Prepared for Surprises in Older Homes
If your renovation project involves an older house, brace yourself for surprises lurking beneath the surface. Older homes may conceal outdated wiring, plumbing issues, or even toxic materials like lead or asbestos. These hidden challenges can significantly impact your project's timeline and budget. Even with a thorough inspection before hand, many issues simply can't be known until the work starts. Sometimes you just need to rip down that wall/ceiling/floor before you can discover the issues. Having a contingency budget in place and good communication with your tradespeople will go a long way to smoothing out these bumps in the road.
3. Be Decisive: Timely Decision-Making Matters
One common source of delays in renovation projects is indecisiveness. What type of windows do you want? What type of flooring? Which tiles? Which doors? Where do you want your light switches? These are just some of the decisions that will need to be made. It's crucial to make these choices early in the process, and (often much earlier in the process than you may think) to avoid unnecessary delays. Delays in decision-making can lead to longer lead times for materials, and may even lead to rework, adding to both time and costs. Keep the project moving by being decisive and working closely with your contractor to make informed choices.
4. Quality Over Cost: Don't Cut Corners
While it might be tempting to cut costs during a renovation, doing so can often be a false economy. Hiring skilled and knowledgeable tradespeople is essential to achieving the high-quality finish you desire. An experienced and qualified professional will not only give you the end result you're looking for, but also advise when unexpected obstacles occur (see point 2). They can recommend different ways of doing things, when it is possible to use alternative materials to reduce costs, and when doing so will have undesirable consequences. Experienced contractors can also provide project management services, ensuring you don't have unnecessary delays between different trades' work, use the right materials for each part of the job, and ensure that the work is completed in the optimum order to avoid costly re-working.
Example: You don't want your plumbers to be fitting your new radiators after you've finished plastering your lovely new walls. The walls will need to be 'chased', creating a LOT of dust and mess, and requiring the walls to be patched in. Far better to complete the plumbing work beforehand. (This is also an example of making decisions in the right order).
By investing in the right people and materials, you'll ensure a long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing result.
Home renovations can be a rewarding journey when approached with patience, preparation, decisiveness, and a commitment to quality. With the right team by your side, you can transform your space and create a home that truly reflects your style and needs
Ready to Transform Your Home? We're Here to Help!
If you're ready to embark on a significant home renovation project, don't hesitate to contact us. We have a wealth of experience in delivering successful renovations, whether you're reviving an old home you've recently bought or creating an open plan living space to meet your changing needs. We're here to support you every step of the way, from initial planning to final execution. Contact us today to discuss your vision, and let's turn your old house into the new home of your dreams.
