If you’re just getting started thinking about a remodel, here are some things to consider.
Priorities
Start with setting your priorities. State your goals for the project and they will become a guide to all future decision making. They help direct selecting the right team, budget and materials. Often projects start with function (repair a leaking toilet, for example) or a desire for re-invention (new cabinets in a style you like). But your home is an extension of yourself and should reflect your values and personal beliefs. Incorporate those personal beliefs for a more fulfilling outcome.
Team work
Building requires a team. Having a great team that works well together is a pathway to a successful remodel project. It is never too early in the process to establish a team and it all starts with YOU. As the client you are the main team member and be prepared to be an active member.
Other team members that you will need depend upon your priorities and the requirements of your remodel. At a minimum you will need an architect or designer and a contractor. An architect helps take a comprehensive view of the project and makes the design have a holistic sense from planning, to material selection to details. The architect can also consult on how decisions can impact and inform your priorities. The contractor will build the design and help manage budget and schedule. Other team members that you might consider to bring specialty knowledge that help refine the design. They might be structural engineer, mechanical engineer, lighting designer, or decorator.
How best to find your team? Often it starts with referrals. Ask your family, friends or co-workers about their experience. Interview your potential team. You are going to have a long and intense experience so be sure you find someone you feel comfortable with and are trustworthy. Continue your research by verifying the team member’s credentials. State of California maintains a database of current licensed professions as well as insurance coverage for contractors. In remodeling there is not a single solution for all situations. It is important to carefully select the best team that fits your needs and starts the journey on the right foot.
Budget and schedule
Being realistic about costs and schedule will lead to successful outcomes. The remodel process can be very exciting and it is easy to get swept away adding more elements or selecting fancy materials. As part of your stated goals understanding what you are willing to spend is important.
How do I know how much it will cost? Ever project is different so the bottom line will be different. But there are many commonalities so you can refer to what other people have spent for similar type of projects. Ask your network or look at what trade magazines suggest for you area. Also, your team members are in touch with current cost trends so should be able to provide guidance. An architect can provide guidance on relative cost of different design options or materials. The contractor will put together very detailed pricing based in the design. Having the contractor on board early in the process can help provide preliminary cost guidance to keep your project on track.
We recommend that you always add a contingency to both the price and schedule. The contingency is an extra amount of money or time you are willing to spend for the project that is not a part of the contractor’s cost. With remodels there are often conditions that are impossible to predict until the work starts and will possibly add to the budget and schedule. Consider including in your budget additional living costs. You might need to move out during the work and have additional rent, or will be eating out more, or need a hotel for just a few days while the electricity is out. You can’t always anticipate everything so better to provide for some wiggle room with a contingency.
Opportunities
While undertaking your remodel project look for additional opportunities to upgrade and improve your home. These come in several ways but can be grouped as opportunities of convenience, synergies and future proofing.
An opportunity of convenience is one that presents itself because of the work that you are already doing. They are low effort high impact improvements such as insulating a wall that has been stripped to the studs. Or its an opportunity for a small improvement since the professional builder is already on site (such as replacing an old non-functional light fixture).
Synergy is having one thing due multiple things. Your priority list can often highlight where to seek out synergies. A simple example is insulation which we think of for lowering heat loss but can also be effective for sound proofing.
Many of us are hoping to remain in our houses for a long time, even after we retire. We can’t always predict the future but we can provide the infrastructure to make future changes and upgrades simple. This is “Future Proofing”. It could be as simple as putting in the wiring for a future electric vehicle charger or electric cooking. It could also be the desire to age in place and would be reflected in larger design decisions such as allowances for wheel chair access.
Looking at additional opportunities will maximize the benefits or you renovation and allow you flexibility as your life changes.
Safe at home
We spend more and more time at home and it is the center of our wellbeing. While modern building codes do a lot to make our homes safe and reasonably efficient there are a lot of strategies that we can undertake to extend the safety and habitability of our homes. This is becoming more critical as extreme events are becoming more common and as we are affected by those events second hand (such as wildfires and smoke). As part of setting your goals consider the health and safety issues that are important to you. To be a resilient community we need to be able to remain safely at home during emergency and severe situations.
Above all else do not lose sight that your home should be a place of health, comfort, delight and beauty.
Our homes need to adapt with life changes and sadly they sometimes they wear out. But undertaking a remodel can be a daunting task. How do you begin such a complicated undertaking? Hopefully these simple considerations will help you along the way and lead to a successful project
Have questions about the remodel process or remodeling your home? Feel free to reach out to discuss.
RELATED: Considerations for Remodeling, Part 3: Moving Out During your Remodel