Out with the Old in With the New: Home Renovation Checklist
Do you want to expand your kitchen space or make your current basement more functional? Do you want to start over and make a whole new living space or upgrade an existing one with contemporary elements? A home renovation project can be as simple as installing new windows and changing flooring or as complex as tearing down a wall. To get started, picture your ideal beautiful, vibrant space and what it will look like. Prioritize function: What do you plan to do in your kitchen renovation or when finishing the basement? There are countless ways to maximize the functionality of space with remodeling or renovation. Improve energy efficiency: Going green in your home can help you save money on energy bills or make your home renovation options safer for your family. Hire a designer: If your project is big, it would be much more cost-effective to work with a professional contractor. The experts can help bring your ideas to life and introduce you to new ideas that you might love. Home Renovation or Remodel? Know the Differences Everyone seems to use the terms “renovate” and “remodel” interchangeably. But they don’t mean the same thing. Remodeling is changing the look: Installing new counters, new cabinets, new hardware, new appliances, new flooring, paint, new items, etc. Renovating updates, the function: This includes all things in remodeling plus the demolition of walls, overhauling the floor, window frames, plumping structures, power installations, and gas, and the rearrangement of the entire space to fit your new objectives. Renovations are significant changes to the current space. Remodeling, while still a major project, usually retains the same kitchen designs. You must decide whether what you want to do is remodeling or renovation. It is possible to handle small remodeling projects on your own, but general contracting can save you time and money for extensive renovation projects. How to Go About Home Renovations Find renovation ideas Image: Home renovation return on investment If you are thinking about where to start, prioritize the kitchen. Kitchen renovations are the most complicated, and if you get done here, the rest of the upgrades are easy. The other reason is the home value of the kitchen renovation has a greater potential to improve home value compared to anywhere else in the house. Bathrooms and basements come in second. Search online for the best renovation ideas within your budget and save the images in a ‘design ideas folder’ on your gadget. Consider home renovations that increase home resale value; including changes to flooring and walls Consider your comfort and the impression you want the home to have on your guests Take a tour of some of the local shops, showrooms, and home shows. Call a general contractor in Ottawa, or subcontractors for expert insight Do the Math Now that you have everything you need zoom in to what you can afford or is reasonable for your design objectives. Finishes & Repairs The cost difference between custom and stock cabinets can be huge. It is the same for flooring materials and other design elements. Think about your style and budget and decide whether you need custom or stock to meet your goals. Create a Budget You need a budget. Whether you earn a small income or have a substantial amount in your saving account, the budget keeps you, your designer, and your contractor on the right track. Not sure about the cost of remodeling your kitchen? Below We have listed average costs to help you get a good idea of how much your project will cost you. Average Renovation Costs If you want a ballpark figure to help create your budget, we have some startup numbers. Below are the national average costs of kitchen renovations: General Cost of Kitchen Remodeling The average cost of renovating a small kitchen is $ 21,185, and extensive renovations cost $ 55,503. However, these kitchen renovations increased the home resale value by $ 17,576 for a minor remodel and $ 43,363 for larger remodels. So, your cost will actually be $ 3,600 for small kitchen renovations and $ 12,000 for extensive renovations in these cases. Good math. Minor Kitchen Remodel Replace the front of the cabinet with new raised wooden drawers and doors, including the new hardware Replace wall-mounted ovens with new energy-saving features Replace laminate countertops; install a moderately priced sink and a tap Reset, add wallpaper and remove and lay down a solid floor Mid-Range Kitchen Remodel Renovate a 200-square-foot kitchen with a functional 30-foot conventional custom cabinet made of wood cabinets, including a 3-meter-long island Replace laminate countertops Install a stainless-steel sink standard tap for single handle Replace energy-saving wall oven, cooking area, ventilation system, built-in microwave, dishwasher, garbage disposal, and custom lighting Install a new solid floor Finish with the painted walls, ceiling, and color Major Kitchen Remodel – Upscale Upgrade a 200-square-foot kitchen with a 30-meter-high cherry cabinet top with shelves built into other interiors Replace laminate cabinets with stone countertops and ceramic or glass backsplash imported Install a built-in refrigerator, and 36-inch grade range and vent hood; built-in oven, garbage disposal, and integrated built-in microwave Install a low-rise sink faucet and add a built-in water filter Install new low voltage lamps under the cabinets Install cork flooring Bathroom Remodels A typical bathroom renovation involves updating vanities counter-tops and sinks. Re-tiling the walls, re-painting the walls, and changing the flooring Upgrading faucets and fixtures Image: https://www.greedyrates.ca/blog/how-much-do-home-renovations-really-cost/ How to Pay Your Renovation Fees Whether it’s a kitchen or bathroom renovation Ottawa, there are many ways you can pay for your project. One way is borrowing against your home’s value. There are also ways to borrow that do not rely on your credit history. Here are some of the options at your disposal. Home Equity Loans Home equity loans are secured by your home’s appreciated value. The advantage is that your interest rate mortgage amount will not be increased. Homeowner’s Loan You are borrowing against your income and not the home’s value. Your home will
Home Renovation Guide Plan Smart and Avoid Costly Mistakes
Basics You Need to Know About Home Renovation in Ottawa, Canada Are you planning to renovate your home for the first time – or the first time in a long time? If yes, this quick, handy Home Renovation Guide will give you the steps to follow so that your renovation is low-stress, on-budget, and improves both the quality of your life and the value of your home. Enjoy! How to Find an Excellent General Contractor in Ottawa Before beginning any home renovation project, your first step is to find an excellent general contractor to take care of everything for you. The general contractor you use will either make your home renovations a joy or, if you choose poorly, could make the entire project a colossal debacle. Below are the basics to follow when searching: Call several contractors and arrange an interview with all of them. (We recommend you call 3) Check online reviews on review websites like Google, HomeStars, Trusted Pros, Yelp, and others. The more positive the reviews, and the more of them you find, the better. Also check out the companies replies Surf the contractor’s Facebook page and see how they interact with customers. This can give you a great deal of insight into how they deal with the public. Look out for companies with websites or social media pages that only have 3 or 4 portfolios/pictures of their work. You don’t want to get stuck with a company that has only done 3 bathrooms….. Ask family, friends, and colleagues who have had home renovations or a home addition done in Ottawa, who they would recommend. If they can start right away, keep looking. The best general contractors are always busy and will need to schedule your renovations to fit their work schedule. Set Aside Extra Funds for Hidden Surprises During Your Home Renovation Here’s the thing; there can be a surprise or two when having a basement renovation done in your home. The same goes for kitchen, bathroom, and other renovations. No matter how much you plan, there can be unforeseen problems, changes, and repairs that need to be made, which will increase your final cost. For this reason, we recommend setting aside 10% over and above your home renovation budget. That way, when those surprises happen, you’ll be financially ready to handle them. Don’t Be Fooled by Suspiciously Low Bids One of the biggest causes of stress when renovating a home is being told that the cost will be higher than the contractor told you at the project’s onset. In some cases, the cost can be significantly higher, especially if the contractor gave you a much lower bid than the other bids you received. Two different things cause this scenario. The first, and the worst, is that the contractor purposely underbid to get the job. The second, which is still wrong, is when the person who put together the bid either was new at their job or missed something that the contractor should have included. Either of these two scenarios, a purposefully low bid or a mistakenly low bid, can cause massive headaches down the road once your renovation project is already underway. In most cases, you’ll need to pay the difference or else be left with renovations that are only partially completed. Don’t Put Down a Large Deposit on Your Renovation Project One of the warning signs to look for when hiring general contractor is one who asks for more than 10% down to get the project started. The reason some do is a bit nefarious; unfortunately, they may need the money to finish another person’s renovation project. One caveat; if you’ve asked for expensive fixtures in your home renovation project, your contractor may ask for a 50% deposit for those items. Make Sure the General Contractor you Choose Is Insured This may seem trivial but, at the end of the day, it could be huge. It’s vital you make sure your general contractor has insurance to cover any accidents that might occur during the project. If they don’t, the responsibility for any accidents and injuries could rest on your shoulders alone, which would be very bad, financially speaking. Our suggestion; ask to see their insurance policy and ask for a copy of it as well. Be Prepared for a Bit of Extra Stress One thing that many homeowners don’t plan on is the extra stress that home renovations cause. The truth is, when you have kitchen renovation done, your kitchen will be out of commission, at least for a few weeks, if not a month. The same can be said for a basement renovation or bathroom renovation (although the kitchen is usually the worst). Disruptions, dust, and strangers traipsing through your home can be a very stressful time for many folks, especially children. Planning for this extra stress can be helpful, such as a day out at the zoo or having meals sent to your home. Speaking of planning, negotiating the rules of your home with the renovation crew is vital and needs to be done on day one. For example, will the crew use your bathroom, or will they bring a porta-potty? Will they clean at the end of each day? What hours will they arrive and leave every day, and how they’ll communicate if they’re going to be early or late? Your home addition will be much less stressful if you work these things out at the start of the project. Last Words If you follow the basics above, ask questions (and get answers to those questions), it will usually go off without any significant problems or stress. We recommend staying in constant contact with the head contractor during the project and letting them know of any issues or concerns right away. Do these things, and all of your home renovation projects should come to a very satisfactory conclusion. Don’t wait to get started get in touch, give us a call today at (613) 727-9427 or use our online form.