Home renovation is a complex decision that takes months of planning and groundwork. But before the actual project starts, many pre-renovation preparations need to be done. These include everything from budgeting to storage to figuring out a place to crash for some nights (in case you have to). Besides, you may have to declutter your belongings if your home remodel involves downsizing to a smaller space.
So, planning ahead for the chaos can help the remodel go as seamlessly as possible. But, of course, Canadians, like most people in urban countries, have a busy schedule and might think planning to be time-consuming. However, your busy lives are all the more reason to invest in a proper renovation plan before starting. You wouldn’t want unexpected mishaps to disrupt your routine amid a renovation. Keep reading to find nine useful tips to include in your pre-renovation checklist to help during the remodel.
1. Declutter and Downsize
Home renovations are an ideal time for decluttering items you have been accumulating in your home for years. Before starting the actual remodel, go through all of your stuff, especially in the places you will renovate. Ask your friends and family if they want anything. You can even donate some of your belongings to an orphanage or charity organization. Additionally, you can organize a garage sale to bag some bucks from items you don’t need anymore.
2. Find a Suitable Storage Solution
After downsizing and donating unnecessary items, it’s time to take care of the important ones. These are the items that you may or may not use in the new space but cannot giveaway due to reasons like sentimental value. Consider renting a suitable self-storage unit to secure such belongings. For instance, if you are looking for storage Grande Prairie and its nearby areas offer some incredible solutions. They provide excellent security along with several storage unit sizes, so you can choose the one that suits you best.
3. Upgrade the Security System
Home security is one of the most common concerns of home renovators. Luckily, smart home tech has resolved this issue for homeowners. Nowadays, more and more people install advanced security tech into their homes. Smart home integration has become a top priority for about 28% of home renovators.
Upgrading the existing security system or installing a new one is relatively beneficial during renovations. One of the reasons is that it provides additional security while your house is swarming with strangers.
4. Audit Your Items
We have many valued assets in our houses, including insured and non-insured ones. But let’s face it, none of us remembers their exact values. So, consider the home remodel an opportunity to enlist all your treasured assets along with their exact values.
Besides auditing for insurance purposes, this list will also serve as an inventory, so you don’t misplace any of your prized possessions.
5. Have a Budget
Always be on a budget when remodeling. Most home renovation projects go over the budget due to unexpected costs or wrong estimates during the initial phases. So, it is essential to keep some unforeseen circumstances in mind before beginning the project and set aside a fund. Moreover, extensive research before finalizing the materials and contractors is crucial for staying within your set budget.
6. Get Digital
Digital bookkeeping will save you from losing valuable data. One of the worst mistakes home renovators make is keeping everything on paper and not digital. Receipts, designs, contracts, and other related stuff are essential, but there is a risk of losing all this data if it is not stored digitally. So, make permanent safekeeping a goal and keep everything scanned and stored on your digital devices.
You can invest in a cloud storage system and create PDFs of all essential documents to store on your phone and other synced devices. You may also use digital spreadsheets and calendars to disperse information among all concerned individuals.
7. Childproof the Place
Children and remodeling tools don’t belong in the same place. A construction site is like a curiosity cave for children, but almost everything in such areas is harmful. For instance, there may be electrical wires, power tools, sharp nails, hammers, saws, and other hazardous materials at the remodeling site.
Before starting the remodel, ensure the workspace is enclosed with child safety gates. The entire team should be aware of children’s presence on-site to stay careful with their tools and safety gates. But even with all these precautions, never leave your children unsupervised during construction hours.
8. Don’t Forget Your Pet
Pets are almost as curious as children, but they are usually more afraid of the noise of the construction tools. Worksites are not suitable for your furry friends. They can become skittish, aggressive, or even run away if they see an unattended open door. Moreover, they can also create a mess at the worksite or not enjoy the entire experience overall.
You can try setting up a safe room for your pet, especially if they will be alone with the construction team during the day. Moreover, you can try boarding them in a kennel. But, the best solution is to relocate your pet to a friend’s house during the renovation to keep them safe.
9. Give Your Friends and Family a Heads Up
It may not cross your mind that you could need a place to stay the night – but it is highly possible, especially during a lengthy remodel. In such situations, you may need a place to do laundry, take a shower, spend the night, or relax without the sound of drills and hammers. So, before starting a remodel, it is better to inform your closest friends, family members, and neighbors. Their places will come in handy when you are on your last pair of clean socks or on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Final Thoughts
Home renovation is no easy feat. It involves a lot of groundwork, planning, budgeting, and organization. Before giving the go-ahead to your construction company or workers, make sure you’ve got everything sorted out, from storage to security. Everything mentioned above needs to be on your pre-renovation checklist to save you from unnecessary hassles at the last minute and help the remodel run smoothly without any hiccups.