How To Plan Your Remodeling Project

You’ve made a decision to start a remodeling project, but you don’t know where to start. At the very least, you know which room or part of the house you’d like to focus on, but there is still plenty to do. The good thing is that you are not alone.

For the last couple of years, the housing market in the United States has been quite a ride for everyone involved. Construction materials have been hard to come by, making it nearly impossible for new builds to reach completion. Supply of existing homes on the market is almost non-existent, and with demand so high, they are snatched up within days, often WAY above asking price.

Since getting into a new home isn’t really a possibility anytime soon, the next best way to make one’s existing home really pop is the remodel. But a simple remodeling project can spin out of control quite quickly, especially without guidance. It’s even worse if the guidance pushes you in the wrong direction. What’s a person to do?

It’s simple — the best remodeling project starts with a really good plan. While the steps may differ between projects, the basic premise is still the same. A remodeling project needs the following:

Research Contractors — Working with the right company that is local and experienced from the beginning will make or break the entire project. Hiring a general contractor who has reliable subcontractors and vendors are key. Horror stories exist about contractors disappearing overnight without completing work or bleeding a client dry with subpar results for a reason…because they’re true. But there are great companies out there who will guide you every step of the way — you just have to look for them.

Put Together A Realistic Budget — Allocating money for a remodeling project isn’t the same as actually breaking down the dollars and cents that will go into it. Take into consideration contingency expenses in case unexpected costs come up. Also, depending on what your remodeling project entails, the family may not be able to stay in the residence, which will mean money for lodging and meals.

Know What You Want — Decisiveness is a crucial part of making a remodeling project run smoothly. Be sure of what you want from the final design. However, be open to input from an experienced contractor. Their input will be invaluable so that you can avoid trends. What may be cool and hip today may not stand the test of time years from now.

Invest Where It Counts — It can be tempting to allocate your budget toward things one sees. However, it’s the things that are unseen that tend to matter the most. Insulation, plumbing, and electrical work are worth their weight in gold.

Avoid Changes Midway or Last-Minute — You might think a little change here or there isn’t a big deal, but it can lead to more delays and more money being spent.

Finally, any remodeling project plan has to include room for two things that don’t get enough attention — thinking ahead and planning for life. This can be as simple as creating a plan for where inhabitants of the home will stay during construction. It can also mean laying the foundation for the remodeling project to factor in changes in a young, growing family.

This is where choosing the right contractor really makes a difference. T. Locke Construction knows that there are plenty of remodeling contractors to choose from in the Central Texas area. We bring years of expertise, attention to project detail and time sensitivity, and a desire to make sure we get the job done right from start to finish.

Trust your Central Texas remodeling to T. Locke Construction.