'Tis the Season.....

Tis the season to start a home reno!

As we want to avoid the winter months (to make it easier for cutting materials, moving furniture outside, and being able to open windows or turn off the furnace), now is the perfect time to start your renovation projects.

1. Plan ahead—and then plan again! It’s crucial to think about the future needs and wants of your home so you’re not undoing something you’ve just completed. If you're planning multiple renovations over the years, start with an area of the home that will have the largest impact and incorporate future needs into your current work. For example, we recently gutted our main floor (pictures coming soon!), but we know we’ll be tackling the upstairs washrooms in the future. To prepare, we ran additional water lines and electrical up to those areas of the house, so we won’t have to open up the ceiling again later. I also have a sauna on my wishlist, so we ran the appropriate PVC Conduit across the main floor to the backyard.It’s also important to be realistic about timelines. Plan out how long each phase will take and factor in your personal commitments—like kids’ sports, holidays, etc.

2. Create a budget. Once you have your plan in place, look at your finances and determine what you can safely afford. A great tool for this is going on the Home Depot website and starting to price out materials. Even if you’re hiring contractors, it’s still wise to know the cost of supplies to better understand the quotes you’re receiving. And always get at least three quotes for the job! Here’s a tip: always set aside 20% of your budget for unexpected expenses. Watch for sales, and shop around for pricing. For instance, Dulux Paint often has a Buy 1, Get 1 offer! Finding the balance between staying on budget and investing in quality materials will ensure your renovation is something you love for years to come.

3. Keep records of materials purchased—and always buy a little extra. A helpful tip is to track the materials you buy for your renovation and purchase a bit more than you think you'll need. There can often be slight color differences in the same product, so having extra grout, tile, or paint can save you frustration later on. For paint, keep the paint card, and jot down which room it was used in. Or, you can label the back of light covers with the paint color to easily reference it down the road.

Val and I are always happy to discuss your project and offer a second opinion. And don’t forget—we also offer handyman services as part of our listing packages!

~Mandy