Top Categories
- Garden / Landscaping / Patio — 237
- Kitchen / Bathrooms — 222
- Appliance / Repair — 177
- Interior Design / Decor — 174
- Real Estate / Finance — 161
- HVAC / Air Conditioning — 134
- Cleaning / Maintenance — 124
- Improvements / Remodeling — 113
- Floors / Tile / Hardwood — 107
- Doors / Garages — 105
- Plumbing / Basements — 102
- Safety / Security — 102
Latest Articles
Important Roofing Regulations to Consider
Having a home you can truly enjoy that is not only liveable, but safe, sturdy, and a delight to inhabit requires more than picking out the right...
on Feb 24, 2021
What to Consider When Choosing a Furnace Service Contractor
HVAC systems are among the costliest systems that you can install in your house. Therefore, you would probably want to do all possible things for...
on Feb 19, 2021
Choosing a Reliable Furnace System for Your Home
Either way, it would be great if you can invest in something you will benefit from for a pretty long time. If that is the case, you would know that...
on Feb 19, 2021
Lawyers vs. Real Estate Agents: Who to Hire When Buying a House
Because buying a house is already so expensive, most buyers would want to spend as little extra money as possible. Consequently, some may balk at...
on Feb 18, 2021
6 Home Repairs to Leave to an Expert
Being able to repair things around your home is a point of pride. When you can take something that isn’t working, or doesn’t look great and restore...
on Feb 17, 2021
Popular Articles
When to Use a Brush, Roller or Sponge Brush
Brushes are a good choice for painting trim and woodwork. They are also useful for cutting in the edges around the top and bottom edges and corners...
60911 Views
Three Places to Spend Money on the Exterior of Your Home
When you have the exterior of your home remodeled, you are investing, time, energy and convenience into the project and you want to make sure that...
58247 Views
Homemade Headboards-Make an Upholstered or Wooden Headboard
Homemade headboards can add a lot of personality to any bedroom. They can be coordinated with existing furniture and room decor or they can be the...
53710 Views
Creating a Cottage Kitchen with Bead Board
Kitchen decor can range from modern and bold to elegant and elaborate by using strategic kitchen pieces. One of the most popular decorating trends...
35465 Views
Gas Fireplace Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Follow these steps for diagnosing and troubleshooting Gas Fireplaces repairs. For the average DIYer, this may seem intimidating, depending on the...
23205 Views
An Expert Guide to Home Renovation
by James Cummings on Dec 19, 2019
If you are thinking of taking on a home renovation project to breathe new life into your old and tired house, there are a few things you need to know before getting all excited.
Whether you decide to do the bulk of the work yourself or you intend to hire a contractor that will handle every aspect of the project, home renovations can be rewarding and exciting, as long as you do things the right way.
This expert home renovations guide contains an essential checklist of all you need to do before and after the renovations work.
Have a plan
Before jumping into a home renovation, the first step is to have a detailed plan of what you want and what you are trying to achieve. Effective planning is the key to any project, including home renovations, whether DIY or handled by a contractor.
So first, start by asking yourself why you are renovating.
- Are you renovating because your home is looking old and worn at the edges?
- Are you renovating to improve energy efficiency?
- Are you renovating because you want to bring your home up the current standard?
- Are you renovating because you have plans to sell and want to increase the market value of your property?
All these are some of the common reasons people renovate their homes and your reason will greatly influence your budget and the renovation process.
For example, if you are renovating because you want to increase the value of your property, you can simply focus on the bathroom, kitchen, and the exterior. After all, curb appeal is one of the best ways to make your house more appealing to prospective buyers.
Determine your budget
One of the most important steps in any project, especially one that involves financial expenses is budgeting.
some optimistic people believe that if you set your mind to doing something, the necessary funds you need will magically appear. Unfortunately, this is not always the reality. There are stories of people who started a renovation project but ended up spending a lot more than they envisaged and even entering into debt. This typically happens when you fail to plan your budget ahead of time.
Once you know what you are trying to achieve with your renovations, the next step is to find out how much this is going to cost you and determine if you have enough money to start and finish. You can easily get information on cost and pricing by speaking to friends and family members who have done the same thing on their house, or you can hunt down quotes from contractors.
The rule of thumb about making a budget is that you should add at least 20% on top of whatever amount you arrive it. This extra should be enough to handle any surprise that may spring up along the way.
Find the right contractor
Now that you know what you want and the amount of money it will cost you to achieve your dream home, you are set to begin the renovation. At this point, you need to decide if it is something you want to do by yourself or if you will be hiring a contractor.
Understand that not every home renovation can be handled as a DIY project, so if you are looking at really extensive work, you will need to find the right contractor. Hopefully, at this point and with the quotes you got during your budgeting, you should be able to make an informed decision.
At the end of the renovation work, your premises and home will be filled with waste materials and debris. While a few contractors will add premises clearing as part of their contract, it is mostly the responsibility of the homeowner to do the clearing, but thankfully, this is a small matter. Simply engage the services of a demolition garbage removal who will come to your property and clear off all the broken, demolished and waste materials used during construction and renovation. Check out this article about findign the right contractor.
Don’t be afraid to seek expert advice
Before and during the renovation work, don’t be afraid to walk up to the contractor to ask questions. In fact, the truth is that very rarely do home renovations go as planned, as, along the way, the client will always have modifications to make. Hopefully, you got a contractor who will be willing to accommodate you in this regard as long as it doesn’t throw the work of design or schedule.
At the same time, you can talk to friends, colleagues, and family members who have renovated their homes in the past, getting insights on what to expect while your home is being renovated. If you feel overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to go the divide and conquer route. This means handling the essential aspects of the renovations that are within your power and leaving the rest for some other time.
Of course, this system will ultimately cost you more, but you will have the time you need for a much-needed respite.
Conclusion
Home renovation is a very exciting and rewarding project, but it can also be quite stressful and time-consuming. Hopefully, the tips contained in this article will make your own as stress-free and as easy as possible.
If you are carrying out extensive renovations, remember to make alternative accommodation arrangements as you and your family may not be able to live in the property while it is being renovated.
Most Recent Articles
- Feb 1, 2021 Which Remodels Add the Most Value to a Home? by Boris Dzhingarov
- Jan 26, 2021 6 High Value Renovations to Increase Fix and Flip ROI by Russell Barneson
- Dec 16, 2020 Advantages of Having an Outdoor Kitchen by Mildred Ray
- Dec 16, 2020 Things to Do Before Deciding to Remodel Your Bathroom by Kimberley Evans
- Dec 15, 2020 Determining Where to Begin Home Remodeling by Ariel Lampkins
Articles Archive
Featured Articles
What Type of Licensed Contractor Should You Hire?
on Feb 28, 2017
Hire Contractors / Estimates

Looking for a specialty project? There are many types of contractors available for your home improvement needs. Finding the right type of...
Contractor State Licensing Requirements
on Mar 14, 2013
Hire Contractors / Estimates

List of contractor license requirements by state in the US. How do you find out if a contractor is licensed with links to each state's licensing...
Random Articles
Become Your Own Home Inspector
Your home is a sanctuary from outside pressures and an expensive investment. Though many homebuyers will protect their purchase with a formal home...
The Five Most Important Questions to Ask Your Homebuilder
Buying a home will always be a huge decision as it is a major investment, and for many of us signifies the turning of another page as we go through...
Get Inspired in the Decision to Buy a Home and the Best Interior Design Trends to Give a Go
Buying a home can seem to be a daunting experience – it is the most expensive and emotionally charged purchase of your life. But, with a bit...
5 Ways to Reduce a Household’s Environmental Footprint
A homes environmental footprint refers to its overall impact on the environment, both in construction and when being inhabited. This includes...
Why Windows are a Crucial Part of Home Improvement
Many people ignore the importance of windows when it comes to improving the design of their home. Glass is a versatile and beautiful material that...