Renovating the home for the very first time can be both electrifying and hard to handle. One minute you’re dreaming of an open kitchen, and the next minute you’re doubting your decisions, like paint color, tiles, or lights; suddenly it feels like a test. Builders of Northern Beaches claims that 70% of homeowners ignore considering the duration, budget, and plan for a renovation. But the bright side is that you can turn this rookie mistake into success. In this step-by-step home renovation guide, we will tell you how to renovate your first-time home and enjoy the process.
1. Have a Clear Vision
Before you give the green light to the builders on the Northern Beaches, take some time to gain clarity on what you want. A crystal-clear vision will act like a roadmap and will help you avoid making blunders. Start by asking yourself a basic question: What are my wants and needs? For example, you want to have an open kitchen, but if you are going to cook barely, extra storage and lights can be a more suitable upgrade. Needs should always be your first choice because they solve genuine problems, add comfort, and save resources in the future.
Next, find inspiration, but it should be only one or two, not many. Social media platforms are a huge source of them. Shortlist 10–15 reference images that you really like. You can also create a demo or design for the help builders. Moreover, write down your renovation goals. It can be a real renovation, or you’re doing it to boost the resale value of the home. Sometimes it can be both.
2. Get Your Budget Sorted
The second and most important step in home renovation is to plan a budget. It’s necessary to sort it right because it makes the renovation simple and predictable. However, if you planned it short anyhow, it can delay your renovation for a long time. To plan a budget, take a pen and a notepad and write down the changes you want to make in your home. Now, talk with your home builder of the Northern Beaches you’re going to hire and discuss the changes and materials required to make it happen. Pen down the ballpark figures of each step.
Further, keep in mind the minor but obvious expenses such as labor fees, permit fees, hardware fittings, plumbing corrections, debris disposal, electrician call-outs, and even a stay at a hotel for the time your home is under renovation, if your home becomes temporarily unavailable. These small things will keep you tension-free, your contractor happy, and your home renovation on schedule.
3. Hire the Right Contractor
The right contractor is the key to a successful renovation of your home. You need someone who is experienced, reliable, and straightforward. Make a list of a couple of contractors and review who has the most positive reviews, a professional website and has worked on earlier projects similar to yours. Once you have shortlisted contractors, compare their quotes. A detailed quote shows the caliber of a company. Also, check if it covers materials, labor, timelines, and cleanup costs. If a contractor’s price is pretty low, consider it a red flag, as quality work can’t be offered at a low budget. During consultations, you can ask these questions:
- How many similar projects have you finished so far?
- What’s your deadline?
- Do you offer a warranty?
Listen to or read their answers carefully so that you can understand them properly. Further, watch for warning signs like no written contract, vague timelines, extremely high/low pricing, or lump-sum upfront fees. These are typical signs of unreliable builders. Always review their past projects and verify licenses. A good custom home builder of the Northern Beaches won’t hesitate to share references.
4. Don’t Forget Permits and Paperwork
To be honest, it’s not everyone’s favorite aspect of home renovation, but it can save you from costly headaches later. Many homeowners don’t realize this at first. Every town/city/state has its own rules, so confirm these rules with the authority or talk to your contractor about this beforehand. Unapproved work can cost you heavy fines, forced demolition, or problems when you try to sell your home. Real estate agents admit that “unpermitted work” is the biggest deal-breaker for buyers.
Insurance is another crucial element for homeowners. Before you begin the renovation work, double-check whether your home insurance covers renovation-related damage. As some policies exclude accidents during construction, you don’t want to find this out in mid-project. Also, make sure that your contractor has liability insurance. It protects you if something goes wrong on-site, such as damaged pipes, broken windows, or injuries.
5. Prepare Your Home Before Renovation Begins
Preparation for home renovation can feel like a not-so-important task at first, but it will help you save your sanity later. Clear out the rooms that will be renovated. Pack the decor items, cover furniture, and store expensive items like jewelry in another room.
Next, if you’re going to live in the same to-be-renovated home, you will have to do certain things to make living easy for yourself. For instance, if your kitchen is under construction, set up a temporary cooking area with utensils.
And most importantly, a safety plan. Renovation sites are always full of tools, wires, and debris. If you have kids, don’t allow them to go in under-construction areas, and explain to them why they’re off-limits. You can ask the new home builder on the Northern Beaches to install safety gates or temporary barriers. For pets, a separate room with toys, food, and comfort items.
6. Tips to Maintain a Newly Renovated Home
Once the renovation is done, it’s your responsibility to maintain it. Consider it a type of investment, as the better you maintain it now, the longer it will last. Start with simple activities: wipe surfaces daily to prevent grime formation, vacuum or mop areas before dirt settles in, and look for humidity on walls or roofs to avoid mold or peeling paint. In addition, do annual checks to fix water leaks, electrical problems, and cracks around windows or tiles. Most of the homeowners only face issues when something breaks or stops working, but prevention is always cheaper than a cure.
And don’t ignore warranties. Those new appliances, fittings, and smart home devices often have 1–5 years of coverage, but homeowners forget to register them. First of all, register them and then create a digital folder for all bills, manuals, and warranty cards.
In a Nutshell
Today, you’ve learned the whole process of home renovation in detail with us. It will help you renovate the home as you want, save you money, eliminate unnecessary delays, and reduce pressure. When it comes to home renovation in the Northern Beaches, no one does it better than AAG Constructions. We are an award-winning builder on the Northern Beaches with over 14 years of expertise. We have the right mindset, the right team, and the right resources to fulfill your home renovation demands. If you’re interested in home renovation, don’t hesitate to contact us.