Want to Renovate Your Home But Don’t Know Where To Start

When deciding to make changes to your home, serious considerations are involved because your home is perhaps one of the biggest financial and emotional investments you have.

It is therefore important to know what you want to achieve and why.

“Some people look for a beautiful place, others make a place beautiful” – 

• Be final about your decisions BEFORE you start planning –  changes during the renovation process will cause delays and may have financial implications.

• Decide if you are going to do the renovation yourself or hire someone to do it for you.

• Clarify local regulations and/or get council approval. This is especially true for structural changes. 

Desmond Tutu once said, “there is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time” and as such emphasising goal settings. 

Start with a plan and stick to it. Working from a plan stipulates the sequence of work to be done, overall efficiency and project flow.

Prepare and implement a filing system (cloud-based/hard copy/electronic) to keep all receipts, signed contracts and paperwork.

• Do not overcapitalize – it is important to know what alterations/renovations will add value to your property and what won’t.

• Create a detailed budget plan – do your homework on prices and stick to it. 

• If you have more that one renovation project going – budget for each one. This will avoid overcapitalising on one project and not having enough left to see the other project through.

• Set reserved funds aside to cover unexpected costs. 

• Purchase or order fittings and fixtures before you start, this will reduce delays.

• This would be a good time to get some paint samples and test them on the walls. This will avoid regretting the colour of choice later.

• Keep/file all receipt dockets. You may require more of the same items purchased or may need to exchange them. 

• Not all home improvements or renovations have to be on a large scale. Sometimes just a new coat of paint, new door handles or a little interior decorating can make a world of difference.

• Decluttering.  When renovating, areas are to be cleared out; why not declutter at the same time? 

• Interior Decorating. Rearranging rooms, adding some pop colour, changing decorative cushions, hanging new artwork all little changes that can make a huge difference.

• Replace old bathroom taps and change the showerhead.

• The possibilities are endless.

• If the job is too big contact a renovation company. Do some research and look at examples of work done by the company.

• Ask around – word of mouth is always a good reference.

• Should you enter into a contract for the renovation work to be done, read the contract and make sure all liability points are covered, understood and clarified, signed and dated by all parties concerned.

• HOUZZ is a good website with loads of images, ideas and reviews.

• Do not forget the outdoor areas when renovating. People sometimes overlook the outdoor area when doing interior renovations and regret this afterwards.

• Whatever your reason and ultimate goal to renovate your home, if you have done your homework thoroughly and spent much time in project preparation you will reach your goal with great success.