Our 2020 Reno: Preparation

I won’t pretend to be an expert on this, but I will share what worked and what didn’t work for Grant and me. There will always be unexpected hiccups along the way in a renovation or build, but there are definitely things you can do to prepare for the process. Here are some suggestions:

Decide on your budget – then add 20% to it.

We did this because we learned from others who also did this. It’s always good to have some flexibility for unexpected hiccups. If you don’t use all of it, then you have some wiggle room for staging, decorating, moving in, whatever the case may be.

Be emotionally and mentally prepared for your reno to take twice as long (or even three times as long) as you think.

Unexpected problems typically come up in a renovation, leading to a longer end date. Be prepared to go with the flow and expect the unexpected.

If your home is livable and circumstances allow, live in your home before the renovation.

This will give you more knowledge in the way you want your space to function, and help you decide what changes are important to you.

Before starting demo, know what projects are happening and the order they go in.

Meet with contractors, hear their thoughts, and gather as much information about your home as you possibly can before tearing down walls. The less surprises, the better.

Consider whether a general contractor is necessary for your reno or not.

We communicated with all of our contractors on our own and it saved us money. But we were doing more work than if a GC were managing the details for us. Decide what’s worth your money, energy and time vs. what’s not.

You can never be over-prepared for a project like this. Get advice from others and plan each step to save yourself time and money along the way.

CS