How to Remodel Your House Like a Real Professional

Remodeling a house is often a costly, time-consuming venture that requires proper planning to ensure the success of the project, especially for a full-house remodel.

Here is a quick guide on how to remodel the house with before and after pictures.

How to remodel a house

1. Determine the scope of your project

As stated above, the cost of remodeling a house depends on the scope of the project. Minor projects such as painting a kitchen can be undertaken on impulse.

However, major upgrades such as full-house remodelling usually require you to consider the scale of the project and make adequate planning for the same.

2. Decide how to finance your project

A home remodeling project is usually a costly affair that often requires external funding hence the need to come up with a range of viable finance options.

For most people, taking a bank loan for a remodelled house project is often the funding option of choice. However, it is also possible to fund your project through sweat equity or borrowing from your family and friends.

Sweat equity refers to personally taking up tasks such as demolition of structures or removal of old laminate floors instead of hiring someone else to do the work.

3. Create a cost-saving plan

Although house remodel projects can be costly, there are tried and tested ways to lower your remodeling costs on everything from the living room to the kitchen.

These include taking up some aspects of the remodelling project – such as painting or placing the laminate floor – instead of leaving everything to the contractor.

You can also make significant savings by purchasing materials from retailers offering annual sales or by acquiring leftover materials from your contractor.

4. Consider permit and zoning issues

Obtaining a building permit for large-scale projects usually takes time and you should think ahead to avoid delays that may result in cost overruns.

One advantage of working with a contractor is that they can handle all the issues related to permits although this could subsequently slow down your project.

5. Decide whether to DIY or hire experts

Depending on the scope of your project, you can opt to undertake the remodel as a do-it-yourself venture or you can hire a professional to work for you.

It is a great idea to combine the two options since you may not be able to handle some technical aspects such as electrical or plumbing.

Although contractors prefer to use sub-contractors that they have worked with, they can allow you to handle DIY tasks that do not interfere with their operations.

For example, you should plan to install wallpaper at night when the contractor is not working. You may also save your work for the very end of the project.

6. Consider the home’s resale value

When remodeling your house, it is important to consider the preferences of a future buyer. Will the upgrade stand the test of time or will you be required to replace the fittings when the time comes to dispose of the building?

7. Consider safety and cleanliness

Consider how to safely undertake a house remodel project. For example, study the health impact of lead-based paint before sanding down a 65-year-old hand railing.

You should also determine how to avoid messing around when re-painting your house to avoid undertaking tedious cleaning work at the end of the project.

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