Keeping your Kitchen Remodel Organized
Remodeling a home can sometimes feel chaotic. It may require months of planning, scheduling, and attention to detail if you’re doing major renovations. You can keep your renovation as organized and low-stress as possible by approaching your planning in four phases:
Designing and budgeting
Demolishing the old
Rebuilding and creating
Finishing touches
1. Designing and planning
Designing and planning is the most time-consuming and critical aspect of a remodel. Considering every detail before you dive into any demolition is crucial for a smooth renovation.
Design your ideal space
Creating a vision for your remodel is the first step to an organized project. Put together a style board with everything from paint colors and structural changes to room decor and furniture. Visualizing your end goal will help shape the rest of the planning process. Throughout this step, keep track of any specific pricing and note whether it will require hired labor.
Determine a budget
Establish an overall cost for the remodel and breakdown specific projects with an estimated total. Knowing your budget will help you prioritize tasks and clearly communicate your financial limits to any contractors that you hire. Decide whether you'll set aside additional funds for upgrades based on your contractor’s material or style recommendations, and then stick to the budget you establish. Remodels can become disorganized and even delayed when budget misunderstandings prevent the renovations from moving forward.
Establish a timeline
Did you know that your timeline can sometimes affect the cost of your remodel? In some cases, the quicker you need to finish your project, the more expensive it can become. Relying on quick shipping for materials and asking contractors to squeeze you in on short notice may be costly. Talk to your contractors about their availability and create a schedule that works for you, them, and your budget.
Who will do the work?
Are you going to try to do parts of the renovation yourself, or will you hire professionals for all of the work? Many homeowners can do some renovation work themselves, which can save you money. However, it’s best to hire specialists for things like HVAC installation and maintenance, structural changes to the home, electrical, and plumbing. Remember, your renovation work needs to comply with all relevant housing codes, so if you’re not totally confident that you can do it, then it’s best to hire a professional from the start.
Consult with professionals
If you decide to work with a contractor, meet with him or her one-on-one to discuss your vision, timeline, and budget. Implementing unique and non-standard renovations to your home can be exciting, but ensuring you and your contractor are on the same page is critical to the success of the project. In many cases, your contractor can help you understand housing codes relevant to their work so that you understand what permits, if any, you need to get before starting work.
Make sure that you’re clear about your budget from the start of your project, and you’ll save yourself a lot of stress. Contractors are experts in their field, and they can help you understand the cost of your desired upgrades. They’ll help you determine whether your budget is realistic for your vision so you can minimize expensive surprises along the way. Additionally, your contractor may be able to make recommendations that can help you make the most of your budget.
2. Demolishing the old
Out with the old, and in with the new! After you’ve created your design, set your budget, and hired your contractors, it’s time to remove any features that you’re replacing. Depending on the scope of the project, this step may be time and labor-intensive. You may be able to do a little bit of the demolition yourself, but make sure that you and your contractors are on the same page before you begin. You don’t want to accidentally demo structural pieces that are still necessary or can be repurposed!
3. Rebuilding and creating
The third step is often the most exciting and the messiest. During this phase, contractors will be in and out of your home to transform your space. Regular communication with your contractors will help you make sure your project is progressing as you hoped. Tour the space and inspect finished work as frequently as you feel necessary.
Be aware that it’s normal to have unexpected surprises crop up during the rebuilding and creating phase. Setting aside a portion of your budget for extra expenses ensures that these surprises don’t cause you stress or blow your budget. If there are no unexpected expenses along the way, you may be able to upgrade your decor or appliance, or you can just pocket the savings.
4. Finishing touches
Once the major renovation work is complete, the finishing touches will start to make the space feel complete. During this time, you should address any “punch list” items with your contractors to be sure that everything is how you want it before they complete their work. Then, it’s time to decorate! You’ll be amazed at how quickly the construction site begins to feel like home again.
Enjoying your remodel
By focusing on the four phases of your remodel, you’ll be able to stay organized and keep your eye on the prize when things get messy and loud. If you put in the time to plan and budget for your project upfront, the rest should be seamless and low-stress. Before you know it, you’ll be hosting holiday get-togethers with your loved ones in your chic new space.
If you’re ready to start creating the kitchen or bathroom of your dreams, schedule a design session with Alpha Surfaces.