The modern-day real estate market, remodeling your home is one of the wisest decisions a homeowner can make. Even the rooms you target for remodeling can significantly increase the value of your home. Study shows that, if done correctly, home renovations can help you get a return on investment of up to 78%. In case a property requires significant remodeling, including fixing structural damages, moving to another home often becomes a cheaper option.

Although home remodeling might appear to be a daunting task, it is the best thing that will ever happen to your home! If you are doing it for the first time, the entire process can be overwhelming and confusing. The key is to get an experienced team on board. Your team will involve many service providers from contractors to interior designers and artisans. The main idea is to allocate a budget and stick to it once the process starts.

Here are some “Do’s and Don’ts” that will prepare you as you begin the process of remodeling your property.

1. Do Your Research Before Home Remodeling

The first step for any remodeling process is research. You need to start by interviewing different contractors. Make sure to interview at least three local contractors and ask for recommendations from your friends and family. 

Here are some responsibilities your contractors will be fulfilling:

• They must be willing to perform quality work. You can visit a project they have recently completed, to get an idea of their work.
• They must take time to make sure both of you are on the same page in terms of outcome. Also, make sure they fully understand the project and budget constraints.
• They must possess integrity and should be able to be completely upfront about what the project will entail.

Your home is indeed a valued possession. Therefore, choose a person who cares about their work and is willing to include you in every decision – no matter big or small.

2. Do Consider the Resale Value

As a homeowner looking to remodel their home, you must look at things from an ROI perspective. You must always be prepared for things to change. Life is uncertain, and while you might be happy and settled in your home – things can change. So, if you choose to remodel your home with unique design choices, the chances are that you might not get the desired ROI. 

Therefore, you must plan the entire remodeling project effectively. Consult with specialists and take your time to figure out things that can help you ask for more while selling. Most homeowners renovate their bathrooms, kitchen, and the front door to ask for a better price – and it works most of the time. Just make up your mind that every dollar you spend on renovation needs to offer you a return.

3. Don’t DIY!

This is where certain homeowners make a mistake. If you are spending money and energy on remolding your home, it is better to get things done by specialists. Now, you might be able to handle some tasks on your own, but leave the complicated ones to the experts.

For instance, remodeling your kitchen and bathroom is a more significant challenge, and you should never do it on your own. Why? Because remolding both of them requires knowledge of plumbing and electrical works. Secondly, you need to have a good idea about the relation between plumbing, electrical hookups with the design and surrounding areas.

At the same time, you need to know what materials and installation practices will help get the best possible outcome. Therefore, it is prudent to hand remodeling over to professionals who can do it in a much cost-efficient and timely manner.

4. Always Stick to a Theme

Although it might seem counter-intuitive, you need to make sure that all the renovations match the overall vibe and style of your home. Make sure you don’t end up personalizing things way too much. You might feel that your home isn’t modern enough, but the buyers might not feel this way. The key is to strive for a consistent outlook. For instance, don’t add steel appliances in a country kitchen or sliding glass doors in a rustic family room.

With that said, you must ensure that all the improvements you make are modern enough to be at a basic level of acceptance. So, if you have a small country bathroom, you might want to add a tasteful tile, a freestanding tub, a large shower, and some quality vanities. Thanks to modern-day appliances, you can now maintain the charm of an older home without sacrificing the luxuries of the modern style.  

5. Don’t Start Without a Design Plan

Whether your project requires an interior designer on board or not, going out of your way to consult a remodeling professional will help you establish some ground rules for the project. They can help you come up with a plan that will cater to the design aesthetics and other aspects of the remodeling project. 

For instance, every renovation plan begins with a floor plan. Several elements interact with one another in a given space. Getting all of them down on paper can help you catch problem areas before they become costly catastrophes. You might be able to design a well-functioning space on your own. But if you want functionality and aesthetics, hire a designer.

Consult a professional about the latest home remodeling trends and include innovative ways to get the most from space and storage. While renovating your home, you’ll notice that the clutter you remove and the way you organize things alone will make a huge difference. 

Bonus Tip

During the entire home remodeling process, you need to keep your budget in check. Most people try to figure out all the costs that are involved in the process. They know the moving expenses, fees, construction, and all other things beforehand. Asking your friends or family members who’ve gone through remodeling their property about estimated costs is also another way to keep your finances in check. Once the remodeling starts, you might need to stretch your budget. Be open to that, but make sure you don’t ever go beyond a specific limit.