While it may not be possible to make your home renovation completely stress-free, there are definitely ways to help the process go more smoothly. One of the best ways to do this is to make sure you’re well prepared ahead of time. Here are several ways to prepare for your whole home remodel project, from consulting with your contractor on the timeline to deciding whether you’ll stay in your home while the work is going on.
Know Your Contractor’s Timeline
This is probably the most important thing to do when you’re preparing, since it will guide everything else. If your contractor is remodeling several rooms or your whole house, you’ll need to know which areas they’ll be working in first so you can plan your activities around theirs. Find out what’s involved in site preparation, and ask about their daily cleanup routine.
Decide if You’re Going to Stay in Your Home during the Renovation
You may be tempted to save some money by staying in your home while it’s being renovated, but depending on the scale of the work you’re having done, you could end up slowing down the project and spending more in the long run. If you and your family stay somewhere else, your contractor won’t have to worry about working around your schedule so the crew doesn’t get in your way, which gives them much more flexibility. Before you make your final decision about whether you’ll remain in your home, ask your contractor how the workflow and cost will be affected by your presence.
Plan for Security
You need to make sure your home is secure during your renovation, so you need to think about issues such as how the remodeling team will get into your home every day and whether you need to have copies of keys made for them. If you don’t like the idea of extra keys to your home floating around, you can buy a lockbox for your key that the contractor can access while the work is going on.
Take Pictures of Your Home before Demo Starts
Your home is about to undergo a full transformation, so you’ll want to take pictures of the way it looks before it’s changed forever. You’ll have fun posting the pics on social media, and it’s a good idea to have photos in case you need them later for insurance purposes. Take your photos before the demo process gets started.
Determine the Type of Storage You’ll Need
You’re probably going to need to put some of your things in storage, especially if you’re not going to be staying in your home while the work is being done. You may be able to store furniture in your basement, garage, guest room, or another area of your home that won’t be involved in the renovation, but if you don’t have room in your house, you may need to store some items in another place, such as at your parent’s home or in a storage unit. Make plans for where you’ll store your belongings, how you’re going to transport them, and how far in advance you need to pack them up before your renovation gets started
Decide What Needs to Stay & Where You’ll Put It
If you’re going to be staying in your home during the renovation, you don’t want to just throw everything into storage. Make sure to identify the items you’ll need for your daily activities, and make plans for where you’re going to keep them. For instance, you may want to keep kitchen items and coffee in a place that’s easily accessible, and each family member can have his or her own shower caddy for personal bath items. Store items that are used frequently in clear bins so they can be spotted and reached easily and quickly.
Make Room for the Crew
If the workers on your contractor’s team will need to pass through other rooms to get to the area they’re working in, clear a wide path that makes it easy for them to get around while carrying materials and tools. It’s also a good idea to put down a tarp, cardboard, or plastic they can walk on so they don’t get dirt and mud on your floor during the workday.
When you’re ready to renovate your home, make sure to hire the best contractors in the business. The experts from Forever Builders are whole home remodel contractors San Diego homeowners can trust to provide the most affordable home remodeling services and ensure their visions become reality. From design to completion, we’ll help you create the home you’ve always wanted, meeting all your expectations while keeping your costs within budget. To find out more about our outstanding remodeling services, give one of our friendly team members a call today at (833) 243-5624.