Renovating your home in Portland can be exciting, but it can also bring on a lot of anxiety. You may not know where to start, exactly what you want to do, or who to trust. It can be a nerve-wracking process. However, it doesn’t have to be. You can come up with a plan you are confident with to create the home of your dreams. Here are a few steps to follow to get you started.
Formulate a plan.
Before you begin renovating your home, you need to have a plan. When formulating your plan, you need to decide what renovations you want to have done, what order they need to be completed in, a timeline for the project, and a budget. For example, if you need to have electrical work done, it is important to do that before painting, so you are not stuck getting work redone or paying for a job twice. To formulate a plan, first make a list of all of the work you plan to have done. Are going to focus on an interior remodel, an exterior remodel or will you be renovating both? If you are looking at the exterior remodel, you want to consider painting your siding, fixing gutters, roof repair, installing windows, and overall curb appeal. Indoor remodeling, on the other hand, may include having installers put in a new hardwood or vinyl floor. Second, reorder the list by priority. If you are unsure of what order tasks should be completed in, talk to a general contractor to help you through the planning process. A general contractor can also help you, the homeowner, decide on materials to use, design ideas, and estimated costs.
Narrow down the details.
Before hiring installers or a contractor for the renovation, iron out all of the details—from the flooring type to the paint color. For example, when your renovation includes new flooring, you’ll need to decide between linoleum, carpeting, tile, vinyl flooring, hardwood, vinyl tile, or a laminate type of floor. Next, you need to find a paint store near you to look at paint samples. While you can look online, going to a paint store will give you a better idea of colors and finishes. You’ll also be able to get small paint samples to put on the wall before choosing a paint color. At the store, the paint pro can help you determine the type of paint you should choose, including the best finish for the area you are painting. It will be important to let your painting professional know if you are painting the interior or exterior of your home. Exterior paint for your siding has to stand up to the elements, which makes interior paint not a great choice for an outdoor paint job.
Get estimates.
Once you plan for the work you want to be done and have worked out all of the details, you know exactly what you want, and the next step is to get estimates. Collecting estimates will allow you to work out the budget for your project. It will also let you know if you need to change your plan before getting started if your wishlist is bigger than your budget. Collecting estimates will also give you the chance to shop around a bit to get the best prices and options. For example, you may decide to hire a general contractor, who will oversee the project and hire all of the subcontractors, or you may decide to piece the project out to subcontractors you choose to maintain more control over the entire project.
Get started.
Once you have the details worked out and your budget in place, there is no reason not to get started. Exterior remodelers in Portland, Oregon have to work around the weather, so be sure to talk to your contractor about your proposed timeline in advance. This will allow you to work out a start date that works for both you and the contractors. While getting delayed by weather or other factors outside can be frustrating, you can simultaneously work on the interior remodel projects, cutting down on overall time. Based on the plan you created in step one, schedule times with your contractors to get everyone started on the remodel and not be afraid to check in on them. For example, if the electrician says they will be there on Thursday and don’t show up, call them. Don’t just hope they come on Friday. They may be very busy and even backed up with work, but you deserve the time and attention you are paying for.
Make adjustments as needed.
Once you get started and the materials are delivered, you may decide the last thing you want is ceramic tile. However, it is never too late to make adjustments. Even if the tile is in your house and you decide you really want the vinyl plank flooring, speak up and make the change. You may change your mind because vinyl will give you more peace of mind when it comes to pet accidents and durability over years of use, or just because the vinyl speaks to you more than the tile does—it doesn’t really matter. Do not let something get installed that you don’t like because you are afraid to say you changed your mind. You’re the homeowner and it should be exactly what you want. Your contractors may get frustrated, and last-minute changes may cost a little more, but it will be worth it. The last thing you want to do is disrupt your life for months and spends thousands of dollars only to be still unhappy with how your home looks and feels.
