Whether you’ve recently moved into an apartment that needs improvements to make it feel like home, or have bought an apartment to upgrade and sell at a profit, renovating any property is a big commitment that requires dedication and a lot of patience.
Whatever the motivation behind your apartment renovation, here are 6 useful tips for reducing the stress that typically comes with such a big undertaking:
- Think carefully about size and scale
Knowing exactly what aspects of your apartment you want to renovate, and to what scale, can help you prepare and budget more accurately for the project. Consider whether you want to renovate every room and space, and if so, in what order will you have the work carried out? Knowing the overall scale of the renovation will help make it go smoother and more efficiently.
2. Determine your budget
What money you have available for a renovation will greatly impact the project’s size and scale, and you’ll need to think carefully about what funds you might need, and whether you will need to borrow money to have the work carried out. Create a budget and expense list (your project coordinator can help you with this) to avoid unnecessary expenditures, and instead of undertaking several large-scale initiatives all at once, try combining them with smaller projects for a more effective result.
3. Stick to the budget!
Once you’ve created as accurate a budget as you can at this stage, it’s important that you do everything within your power to stick to it. Ensure that your general contractor and/or renovation company know exactly how far your funds will stretch so that they can create a realistic estimate for you, and once a contract has been signed, work with them to reduce costs throughout the project, wherever feasible.
4. Create a timeline
The more you can plan every stage of the renovation, the better, and once you’ve established a solid plan, timelines can be created that accurately reflect the level of work intended to be carried out. Be sure to consider factors such as weather, budget, and other variables before you even begin the project, and once a timeline has been created, try your best to stick to it with the help of your chosen general contractor.
5. Seek all necessary permits and approvals
While there may be a variety of licenses and permits that you need to acquire before you can begin any renovation work on your apartment, liaising with a professional renovation company can help reduce this burden. They will know exactly what needs to be done to ensure that the project can go ahead successfully and within the confines of the law, and you’d be strongly advised to work with them from the get go. They will also help ensure that all construction materials are disposed of correctly and safely, saving you time and stress, especially with a larger renovation project.
6. Work with the best
It may be tempting to try and carry out some of the renovation work yourself, and while this may be appropriate for some smaller, cosmetic tasks, for any larger work, it’s best to hire an experienced general contractor. With a team of professionals to help undertake every aspect of the project, from electrical work and plumbing to construction and painting, a general contractor can be worth their weight in gold when renovating apartments.
Help your apartment renovation go smoothly and remain both within budget by following all six of the tips above, and always take the time to find an experienced general contractor that you can establish a good working relationship with.