Buying and renovating your house means that you are in full control of creating your dream home so follow these Top Tips for Buying and Renovating Your Own Home.
This is an amazing luxury and a great opportunity to take things into your own hands to design a space that will make you truly happy for years to come.
What many people don’t realize is the amount of time and hard work that a major project like this can take.
There are hundreds of things to think about during every step of the process.
We’ve rounded up a few things you might be forgetting throughout the journey, that could help you get through the process unscathed and happier than ever.
Table of Contents
Assess Before You Buy
Home renovation is already a big job to handle – dealing with a load of structural, plumbing and electrical issues on top of the main project is not something you want to be singing yourself up for.
Before you sign on the dotted line, it might be a good idea to have the home checked out by some professionals.
Hire a plumber to look out for any drain or water-related issues, an electrician to check the wiring and lighting, and even have the property assessed professionally if you’re serious about buying.
This will alert you to any potential structural or safety issues before you run into problems later down the line.
Budget Like a Boss
When embarking on a massive project like this, you know you have to have your budget pretty clearly laid out.
We all know that expenses tend to get out of hand, and things often end up costing more than we’d expect – this is why it’s important to over budget rather than under budget, and be prepared for extra, unplanned expenses so that you have a buffer of funding if and when they show up.
You’ll need to consider all the costs involved in buying a home (and don’t forget the hidden expenses) as well as in the renovation.
Think designers, contractors, landscapers, assessments, building materials and more.
You’ll of course need to factor in any extra furniture and décor that might be involved in filling your new space.
Considering each and every element of your project before you even get going will help you to assess what you can afford, and what to avoid.
It will also help prevent you from over-spending in areas where it just isn’t necessary.
Scope the Area
This might seem like a basic consideration, but it’s something that many people overlook.
Buying and renovating a home is a huge commitment, and it would be an utter disaster if you were to realize all too late that the area you purchased in, doesn’t meet your needs.
Be sure to check out everything there is to know about an area before you buy.
Consider what stores and restaurants are nearby, how close you are to good schools and parks, whether or not the area feels safe and even what the people are like.
Everybody wants to feel comfortable around their neighbors, and friendly faces are always a plus.
Know What’s Important to You
Everyone has an idea of their dream home.
When you think about your perfect space, rather than imagining the overall picture, try to consider the individual elements that make it perfect for you.
Do you love natural light?
Is a large space more important to you, or do you value an efficient space over size?
Is your ideal home cozy and peaceful, or open and bright to allow for lots of socializing and entertainment?
Do you like a modern look or do you prefer a more traditional home design?
These individual elements are what you’ll want to focus on when deciding how to remodel your home.
Incorporating the elements that mean the most to you will help you to ensure you’re really building your dream home, rather than just a copy of something you saw on Pinterest.
Have a Plan
Once your home has been purchased (congratulations!), the even more stressful part of the job will begin.
One way to bust stress when it comes to home renovation is having your game-plan set and ready right from the start.
Walk through your home and make notes on everything you’d like to add, change, remove, strip bare, etc.
Look for inspiration online and even home design TV shows to help you get an idea of the feeling you want in your home.
As soon as you have your ideas ready, get in touch with a designer who will help you to determine what is and isn’t feasible, what you can and cannot afford, and any potential structural issues you might run into.
Work through any issues until you can come up with something together that you’re happy with and that will work.
Listen to the Professionals
Even though you have a vision, and know exactly what you want, keep in mind that you’re hiring professionals for a reason.
A big part of that reason is that they know more than you do about homes and home design.
While your designers and builders might discourage some of your ideas, be aware that they’re doing so for your own good and not just to rain on your parade.
Designers will know how to make the most of the space they’re given to work with.
They will help you to achieve what you’re looking for, even if that might not be exactly in the way you want it.
They’ll also be able to tell you when an idea might fail due to the structure of the building, which implies your safety.
Take Your Time
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and nor will your new home.
Be prepared for your project to take months, and if there are delays or problems, potentially even in the region of two years.
If this happens to be the case, keep in mind that you can’t rush perfection, and it’s far better to take things slowly, than to rush through issues and end up unhappy with the final product.
