House renovations can be the culmination of a long-held dream or simply be born out of necessity. Sometimes you need more space or are updating an old home; in other cases, you’re finally getting around to treating yourself to a dream kitchen or an attic conversion. You might also be thinking about the potential increase in the sale value of your home. Whatever the scenario, here are our top house remodelling tips to help you avoid the pitfalls of rebuilding a house.
Unless you have a flair for design, one of the best things you can do before embarking on your renovation is to seek the advice of an architect. They’re qualified to delve into your plans and get your dreams down on paper. Their advice can help root your ideas in real common sense and a concrete budget. An architect can also oversee the renovation, while you perhaps decamp to a hotel or head off on holiday. This means they can spot shoddy work or unforeseen problems the second they happen, and get the project back on track for you.
Most estimates suggest you should plan to spend 20–30% more than you’d expect on a house renovation. It’s always good to have some wiggle room in your budget, but you shouldn’t be afraid to hold firm when it comes to your hard upper limit. You can help keep the budget under control by searching for cost-effective and energy-efficient materials, which can also be beneficial in the long term when it comes to bills and upkeep.
A classic mistake many first-time renovators make when rebuilding a house is missing important design details. For instance, you might have planned the layout, but not the electrics, or thought about the lighting, but not about the switches or where the furniture will sit. Fridges that stick out from work surfaces and coffee machines with no home are other common oversights. House remodelling is an art for detail lovers: it’s all about planning down to the smallest degree and getting the little things aligned. So to avoid awkward furniture placements or a light with a switch in a different room, consider and plan out how you’ll live in your space as well as how it will look.
A common motivation for house remodelling ventures is wanting to brighten up a room that’s perceived as too dark. Many people’s initial reaction is to change the window placement or style – and this is indeed sometimes a great solution. However, other times, a sunlight tunnel or tube could be the more interesting, and even straightforward, alternative and result in a space that’s just as light and airy.
When creating your dream house remodelling plan, make sure you consider the sizing of rooms, cabinetry and doorways. Either consult a professional or research which stock sizes your materials are available in. Otherwise, you may find yourself designing something 10 feet wide, only to find your desired hardwood comes in 4-foot planks. If stock sizing won’t work for your quirky space, then you may want to consider a bespoke option.
Are you ready to start renovating? Don't forget to weigh up when’s the best time to start your renovation.
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