How to Prepare for a Home Remodel with New Leaf
With the market causing the price of a new house to go through the roof, remodeling your current place may be the way to go for many homeowners. By remodeling, you can tailor choices to your own personal style without the hassle of packing and moving. Remodeling, however, comes with its own stressors, like dealing with displacement, preparing your home for construction, and communicating with contractors. Remodeling is the way to go for you and your family, here are some things to do ahead of time to make the process as stress-free as possible.
Set a Goal and a Budget
It is crucial to first think about what you are trying to accomplish with your remodel. Do you want a more functional kitchen? Are you looking for an updated bathroom? Having a goal in mind serves two purposes. It helps establish what needs to be done, but it also gives you something to focus on when it feels like the project is neverending. When you know you are working towards something specific, it helps make the hard parts more manageable.
Within your goal, you need to consider a budget. How much do you have to spend on this project? Make sure this number is one you are comfortable with. It helps to set that number a little lower to allow for any unexpected cost that may arise.
Find a Contractor and Make a Plan
Partner with New Leaf to build the remodel of your dreams. New Leaf is a full-service remodeling company servicing everything from basements to bathrooms, from kitchens to additions. Call us today to request a quote on your remodeling project and we will ensure the finished product is beautiful and the process is smooth.
Mentally Prepare and Set Realistic Expectations
Physically, a remodel can be a taxing experience. The mental part of it may get lost in the shuffle. A remodel is disruptive to your life and there is no way to avoid that entirely. And however long or difficult you think it might be, it will likely be even more so. Your healthy mindset is key. Come to terms with the fact that it might be a little while before your life feels like it is in order again. Imagine how good it will feel once the project is finished and your space looks exactly as you hoped. Let go of needing the space to be clean and accept the mess. It is temporary and before long, it will be in the rearview mirror.
Consider What You Need and Downsize/Declutter
A remodel is an excellent opportunity to purge items you no longer use or need and declutter your home. Consider the things you have in your space currently. What enhances the room and what simply adds unnecessary clutter?
Make a Storage Plan/Protect What Stays
Because the space will be a construction zone, it is important to think about what to do with the items in that space. If you have a lot of large furniture, renting a storage unit to protect from dust and dirt may be best. You may also choose to simply cover the furniture with tarps and defend it that way.
Get Organized
There will likely be a lot of documents a part of the planning process and you will want to be able to access them throughout. Organize items into one place, whether that is digitally or physically. It can also be helpful to create a calendar to keep track of the project timeline.
Secure a Security Plan
With new people entering and exiting your home during a remodel, make sure you have a plan for how they will safely do that. You certainly don’t want to keep your home open for anyone to enter, so how do ill workers get into the space? Will you make them keys? Will you give them a code? What about a lockbox? There are simple and cost-effective solutions, but it is necessary to think about security beforehand.
Turn Off Power
For safety reasons, it is crucial to turn off power to the area under construction. If in the kitchen, make sure you are turning off appliances. If in the living room, shut off power to the TV. There is a reason why electricity is one of the last things added to a new home. It can be dangerous to work on things with electricity on and running.
Make a Path
Contractors will likely have to walk through your house to get to the area that is being remodeled. In order to protect the rest of your things from muddy boots, put down a plastic tarp and create a walkway for workers to access.
Plan for Inconveniences
For example, if you are remodeling your only full bathroom, consider joining a gym for a month to use their showers. If you have a pet, make sure you have a plan for their care during the length of the project. Cover small items with bed sheets to protect them from dust and close doors to consolidate debris into one spot. You won’t be able to plan for every possible inconvenience you might experience during a home remodel, but it helps to think about possibilities and make a plan so you feel prepared when they arise.