Custom Home Building, Remodeling and Restoration: How to Get Organized Before a Major Home Remodel

get-organized-before-home-remodel Residential remodeling is one of the most stressful home projects out there. It doesn’t just put stress on the house, it puts stress on the family.

In fact, home renovations make 12% of couples consider divorce.

But renovations don’t have to be that way, and they can be very rewarding when they’re finished. Take a look at these five tips that will help you organize before your remodel.

1. Plan Everything

The first thing you should plan is your end date. Maybe you want the renovations to be finished in time for Christmas next year or before the next school year starts. If you know when you want your home to be finished, you can plan backward and get a good starting date.

But you should always add some extra time. For example, if you know the remodel will only take three months, give yourself four months to work on it. Unexpected things have a tendency to creep up during remodels.

You should also plan out your budget. Talk to your bank about debt and cash flow management. Make a list of everything you’ll need for the remodel and how much it will cost, including things like tools, staying in a hotel, or eating out if you’re working on the kitchen.

These things will keep you from getting sidetracked.

2. Prepare Your Home

Plan on packing up anything in the way of your residential remodeling. If you’re remodeling the living room, move all your personal belongings out of the room to open up the workspace and keep them from getting damaged.

If you have a guest bedroom in your home or an empty garage, you may only have to move these to a different room. You can also rent a storage unit if you don’t have a lot of other space in the house.

3. Schedule Your Daily Routine

Set a clear start time and end time for the workers. You don’t want people coming in and out of the house when you aren’t expecting it.

Set a rule that no remodeling can begin before eight or nine in the morning. This lets your contractor get an early start to the day but it also gives you time to get out of bed without strangers running around your house.

At the end of the workday, you should also schedule some time for clean up. This may not seem very important, but if you don’t take the time to put tools away, you’ll find yourself losing them, which can slow down your next workday.

A good way to keep track of your tools is to make a designated tool location. At the end of the day, all the tools go back in their places so they are easy to find in the morning.

4. Protect Your Family

Keeping the tools in a specific location will also help you protect young children and pets.

Consider putting up gates that will keep toddlers and pets out of the remodeling area. This will keep them from straying into the wrong places and getting hurt.

5. Set Up a Relaxing Family Space

Remodels are noisy, annoying, and long. Setting up a family room that’s not touched by the remodeling will give your family a place to gather together and relax at the end of the day.

This is especially a good idea if you’re remodeling a central part of your house, like the kitchen or living room.

Start Your Residential Remodeling By Being Prepared

Remember, remodeling takes a lot of time, and you’ll need to be prepared for things like power outages, having the water shut off, and a lot of noise.

It can be a stressful project, but the best way to handle that stress is to plan. Try to keep track of what’s happening when, but always be ready for a change of plan.

Getting ready to remodel your house? Take a look at these ideas you have to include in your remodeling plans!

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