Renovation is like offering a new lease of life to your existing house. The life of the same house where you grew up or have so many memories of can be renovated to meet your family’s current needs and aspirations. Any major renovation job in the house requires your commitment to time, money, and effort. Considering all the important things before you call in the trades is a good idea, and we are happy to list a few things before renovation.
Renovation requirements – It starts with one job and sometimes grows into changing the entire house. It can get overwhelming so you must list down the major changes you require. List down the issues you face and the change you require and let the designers offer a solution.
Set your renovation budget – A renovation without a decided budget is a bad idea. Ask for quotes and a break-up of the cost from your designers and contractors and match them with your budget to set aside for the job. Also create a contingency fund just in case things don’t go as planned.
Get a measured survey – A measured survey can help provide detailed drawings of the property’s layout. A building survey will also highlight any major updates such as the requirement of a new roof, waterproofing and/ or any major structural change. This forms the basis for the designers to work their magic on and will be required by the authorities to approve your renovation request.
Finalize a Designer – A clever design enables you to plan the layout as per your needs and utilize the space to its maximum capacity. Design finalization is the most critical part of a renovation job. Insist on getting 3-D renderings of what your place will look like. With Room-viewer it is possible to get a preview of the changes and factor in your likes and dislikes for the changes before you drop the hammer.
Permits/ approvals – For a major renovation, you might be required to attain permits from the city or authorities. This involves going through existing plans and presenting modern designs with outlined changes.
Understand your timeline – Every job comes with a specific time duration from start to completion and might require relocation. This requires proper coordination between the homeowners, architect or design team and contractors to make necessary arrangements.
Factor in future upgrades – A good design takes care of your current requirements and leaves scope for improvements and upgrades in the future. Plan ahead and you can break down major house renovations into parts relevant to major life updates, such as retirement, kids, and more family members moving in or out in future.
Scrutinize the contract – Any renovation project needs proper planning and coordination. It involves multiple parties like the design team, the architect, the contractor, or separate tradesmen. To safeguard your interest and contain the damage from issues beyond human control, your renovation contract should be solid and should incorporate all factors like payment terms and schedule, timeframe for the job, details of the job, cost inclusions and exclusions and penalties for the parties in case the promises are not met.
Maximize spaces – Unless you have a specific reason to close the space with walls, opening up the space is more often a promising idea. Opening up the kitchen space and merging it with the living room offers more access and allows you to host a larger gathering effortlessly.
Colours and materials – Speak to your design team about the suggested colour and material patterns and list out your personal preferences. Create a picture board with actual materials and colours to finalize them before you order the material for your renovation. You can visit the Livwell Collective showroom to view the multiple samples and make your final choice.
Define your signature style – Renovation is an opportunity to determine and reflect on your choices and preferences and arrive at a signature style. Everything about your house from layout to design to materials, colours and textures reflects your personality and defines your signature style. Think about it and let the designers help you create that look and feel in your house.
Renovation can be both exhausting and overwhelming as it involves everything from a broad strategy to attention to minute details. Check out the work of existing designers and speak to homeowners to understand their experience throughout the renovation process. Renovation is also an opportunity for you to step up your existing style game and let your renovated house reflect your personality and signature style.
