How do I plan for a major renovation to my home?

Establish realistic goals for your renovation.

It’s exciting to think about the possibilities of what a renovation can do for your home, but setting goals rooted in reality will avoid disappointment. Envisioning is critical to know what you hope to achieve. It is important to look at both the design, and as importantly the functionality of what you want in your re-designed space. Do some research to find out whether the renovations add value, and whether it will work with the structure of your existing home. Spend time speaking with a trusted and experienced designer and builder who have the experience to help guide you. 

Envisioning how a renovation will transform your home.

When defining your goals, we recommend you put together a ‘Look Book’ with images for your dream spaces. Gather images and make notes as to what you like about them as you gather visuals for each room. This process helps you to isolate what you like and provides your designer and builder with examples of what you are trying to achieve. Once you have compiled your Look Book, it is a good time to consult with an architect, designer, and builder who are experts specializing in home renovations to help you determine whether your ideas will actually be possible within the structural capacity of your home. A good architect can help with major structural re-design, and a designer can help with interior design. Both will know what is possible and be able to draw up a design plan. You also need to find out what the local laws and bylaws are, whether you’ll be allowed to make the changes you want to make, and which permits you need to obtain.

While you are planning your renovation, it is important to figure out your finances.

Making sure you have the available funds to do the renovation you are dreaming of is a critical step. If your dreams and your budget do not align then you will run into trouble. It is a good idea to find out what is actually possible within the confines of your budget and important to get the money in place for your renovation project. Renovations are unique and its best to meet with your bank for advice if you are getting a loan or financing. Your budget should include the costs for permits and building materials, labor costs and the cost of decorations and any cosmetic touches.

To build your budget:

• Decide how much you want to spend and finalize financing. 
• Set aside at least 10% of your budget for unexpected costs.
• Request cost estimates from architects, designers and builders.
• A good general contractor has the experience and knowledge to develop a budget that takes into account everything that is needed from start to finish including costs of all trades, materials, fixtures and finishing.
• Make sure you factor in the cost of relocating during your renovation.

If your cost estimates do not fit in your budget, use your renovation plan and discuss with your general contractor or builder what each part of the renovation costs. This will help to prioritize and eliminate parts of the project that are a lower priority. 

Find a builder with experience and one you can trust.  

Now is the time to hire your renovation team. You will need to interview contractors and building companies, and a good place to start is through recommendations from people you know and trust, and testimonials. Choosing a builder is more than just looking at the cost estimate – it is important to consider their experience, qualifications and guarantees. A good builder will provide you realistic estimates for costs and a detailed budget and payment schedule, including all costs from demolition stages to when you move back in. They should also provide an accurate timeline which is critical to knowing how long you will not have full use of your home. You want a builder who will give you details and then keep you up to date on each stage.

Getting ready for the construction to begin.  

Now that you’ve nailed down the plan and the budget and have your builder, it’s time to prepare the space and make plans to for your home to be under construction. Whether or not you should live in your home during construction depends on what work is being done. Major renovations are extremely difficult to live through. For you and your family, it means living in the middle of a construction zone. For your builder it means they have to work around you, which can both increase costs and slow them down considerably. And no matter how organized and tidy your builder is, there is no way to avoid the noise and dust that comes with the construction job being done.

Moving out while under construction is highly recommended.

The optimum scenario for a major renovation is to be able to move out of the house while construction takes place. Check in with your builder to find out the estimated timeline you will need to be out of the home. If it is a major renovation of your entire living area, then you will need to move all your furniture and personal items out of the home. Finding a place that is unfurnished means that you can store everything for the period of time you are renovating. Location is important to consider for a rental home so that you can maintain your connections like school and friends.

Get rid of things you no longer need or want.

No matter what you decide about living in, or moving out during your renovation, you will need to pack away your things to get them out of the way. This is the time to declutter and get rid of the things you don’t use, and don’t want. Have a garage sale or call your local charity who can pick up used items and re-purpose them. 

Storing your things so they stay safe during the construction.

After you declutter, find a place in your home that won’t be in the way to store your things. If you’ve rented an unfurnished home to live in, this can be your storage solution. If you are renting a furnished home to move into, your home’s basement or garage are great options for storage. If you don’t have a space in the home, then it works well to rent a self-storage space. Plan to pack away in the order that you will unpack back into your home. Label, label, label and pack each room into boxes that make sense for unpacking in an organized way.

The short-term pain of a major renovation is worth it for the long-term gain.

It is an exciting experience to envision your dream home, and then bring it to life through your renovation. Major renovations can make your home what you’ve always dreamed of, and careful planning and setting realistic expectations for all stages of the renovation will eliminate stress. It will be a lot of work at times, as it is a big project to undertake. However, the long-term benefits and the joy you will experience moving into your beautiful new space will definitely outweigh the short-term inconvenience.

Connect with a good builder to discuss the dreams for your home. They have the experience and knowledge and have seen things you might not have even considered. A good builder will work with you and help you through the pre-planning and each stage of the project.  Working together before construction starts will help them develop an understanding of your vision so that when you turn over your home to them you can trust they will deliver your dream home.