How to plan before you renovate

In some parts of the world, spring comes at a rather spring-like time of year. Late February or early March will bring signs of renewal, blossoms, and blue skies.

In Atlantic Canada, these treats typically come a bit later in the year, but that doesn’t mean we don’t engage in our own sort of renewal early in the year. Ours just tends to take the form of renovations. And why not? We’re often stuck indoors—this year more than ever—so why not make the best of it and get to those projects that have been staring you in the face for a while.

This leads us to my usual caution to plan, plan, and plan again. The worst thing you can do is try to renovate or refresh any space in a piecemeal fashion. Yes, take on projects in small bites, but never without a meal plan in place first. The planning allows you to not only figure what the manageable bites of a project are, but will give you a starting point for everything else—including your ever-important budget.

Let’s go over some basics of renovation planning, and then I’ll get to some specific tips for a few different spaces in the home.

 

All important budget

This is where you must start, as your budget will dictate most of your choices going forward. The first step here is to set a general budget. In other words, how much can you afford to spend? Are you using savings or borrowing? And if the sky’s somewhat the limit for you, consider the impact that spending a lot of money on your home will have on its value.

There is a point at which the money you spend may add little or no additional value to your home. This may simply be because you have overspent based on what your home, for its location and type, can fetch on the open market. If you pour $100,000 worth of renovations into a $250,000 home in a neighbourhood where the other homes are similarly priced, you may not be able to get that money back if you put your home up for sale. People are often unwilling to purchase a home that is worth far more than others in the local area.

But you may also be doing renovations that vary in value to the average home buyer. Imagine that you have problems with your foundation, and they end up being costly to fix. Prospective buyers expect a foundation that is in good condition, and the fact that you spent $10,000 fixing this one may be viewed by them as simply the cost of keeping the home in its expected condition. Compare this to $10,000 spent updating your kitchen—something prospective buyers like and value.

If resale is on your mind, and you are unsure of how much may be too much for your home and neighbourhood, give your local real estate agent a call. They can easily advise you on this issue.

Resale isn’t always the point of a renovation, however. Sometimes you simply want to make your home yours. In style and function, you want it to be what you like, without worrying so much about its market appeal. This can be especially true if you are planning to stay there for a long time.

Even in this situation, take a moment to consider the impact of your choices, should you eventually decide to move. For example, three-bedroom homes are considered much more family-friendly and valuable than two-bedroom homes. If you were to take a three-bedroom home and create a large master suite by absorbing one of the bedrooms, this can have a considerable impact down the road. But if you can’t live comfortably without that change, then it’s time to sit down and consider the pros and cons.

 

Scope and goals

Once you have a general budget, it’s time to think about the scope of your project.

What is it you want to do? What are the goals of the project? This goes back to my above point: is this for resale value or is it for your comfort. Or both? Are the changes you need for the functionality and safety of the home, or are they more about the aesthetics and curb appeal?

Once you have an overall idea of what you want to achieve, it’s time to bring in the pros. Call in a few contractors and have them discuss your proposed scope and the cost of this. And don’t forget to talk to them about how long they estimate the project will take. With current challenges in acquiring goods, and the boom in people doing renovations and projects, your timelines may be longer than you expect. If you are engaging in a big project, like a kitchen replacement, you’ll need to consider how you are going to live with and around this.

 

Outside help

Speaking of contractors, whether you are hiring a contractor who will then handle all the sub-trades, or planning to manage this on your own, you’ll want references and past clients from all of them. Don’t be afraid to ask around about anyone you are thinking of hiring. And don’t be put off if they are busy and need you to wait before a project can start. A good contractor or tradesperson would be busy.

One final person that many overlook is the decorator or designer. While some people have a knack for projects like this, many don’t—and decision paralysis can take over when you are faced with 17 shades of white paint and deciding which style of kitchen you really want. At the very least, having a decorating consultation can help focus you on what style and look you want to achieve; and if you are planning a major renovation, you may need the services of a good interior designer and even an engineer or architect for structural pieces.

Once you have chosen your people, remember to get detailed contracts from them. Managing everyone’s expectations by explicitly detailing what is to be done is just good practice and will save a lot of headaches in the long run.

 

Kitchen renos

This is a major space to renovate as it is required daily by the homeowners, so removing it from use has a huge impact. Here are some tips to help this go more smoothly.

First, set up a temporary kitchen space. Take over part or all of another space if you need to. Being able to prepare at least light meals and keep things stored will be important, as kitchen renovations can sometimes drag on. Be sure to have the kitchen emptied and packed away before the workers arrive. Holding them up will cost you money.

This is also a great space to consider where you want to splurge. Yes, we’d all like a marble waterfall countertop, but have a hard look at your budget and think about some of the more functional items. If you love to cook, you may want a gas range. The items in your kitchen that you use a lot and touch a lot may also be worth considering for a splurge. Faucets, sinks, countertop surfaces all take a lot of abuse so finding good quality ones can pay off.

And don’t forget to give lighting the consideration it is due in this functional space. You want lots of ambient lighting and good task lighting as well. Under cabinet lighting is great for countertop work, while island lighting should be bright and focused enough to allow you to see what you are doing.

 

Bathrooms

Creating a beautiful spa bathroom is a dream for many of us. But before you start, give a bit of thought not just to the aesthetics but the functionality. Walk-in showers are popular, but removing a tub if you don’t have room for a freestanding bath can affect your resale, as many people with children like having that option.

If you are considering rearranging the major components of your bathroom, you will have to consider moving the plumbing with them, and this can add to time and cost. Consulting with a plumber or contractor can give you a better idea of whether or not this is viable for your budget.

Speaking of budgets, this is another room where you see some natural areas for pushing out the boat. In-floor heat or heated towel racks are a real treat in the bathroom, but also think about tiling, countertops and even spa-showers.

If you have natural light in your bathroom, take advantage of this, but also consider the artificial light. If you are lighting a vanity for hair and makeup, consider surround lighting at the sides and top of the mirror for the
best experience.

Taking on a renovation can be daunting, but planning, realistic budgeting, and preparing for what a renovation brings will help you manage the process like a pro.