How to Mentally Prepare for a Renovation
Renovating isn't all hammer and nails. These 6 hard-won tips will help you prepare your mind for the challenge
Alice Pearson
7 July 2017
Houzz New Zealand Contributor.
Alice + Caleb Pearson, winners of The Block NZ 2013 and creators of Pearson + Projects, a renovation blog about projects, ideas and inspiration for DIY enthusiasts, home makers and renovators. www.pearsonandprojects.com
Houzz New Zealand Contributor.
Alice + Caleb Pearson, winners of The Block NZ 2013... More
As soon as you get the keys to your dream do-up it’s easy to go straight in, swinging a sledge hammer to knock down the walls and open everything up. But regardless of a strong desire to do just that, sitting down and making a detailed plan is the way we start every renovation.
We have learned (at times, the hard way) that if there isn’t a plan in place at the start of the renovation, the renovation’s budget and timeline will suffer throughout the project. So with this in mind, here are six key thoughts on how to plan your reno from the outset.
We have learned (at times, the hard way) that if there isn’t a plan in place at the start of the renovation, the renovation’s budget and timeline will suffer throughout the project. So with this in mind, here are six key thoughts on how to plan your reno from the outset.
1. Begin with the end in mind
Visualise the project you want to end up with. Start with a Houzz ideabook and collate all the images that inspire you. Ideabooks are more than just a wish list; they make it possible for you to see what your result could look like. Find examples of ideas you have or trends you would like to follow: consider how others have achieved what you want. What do you like about their designs? What would you do differently? Creativity encourages creativity; so if you’re inspired, your design will be inspiring.
Are you creating a home for entertaining? Are you after a space for a young family to play and grow? Do you want to create a retreat to get away from the world? Put some intention behind your renovation and plans will form organically.
How to create and use ideabooks
Visualise the project you want to end up with. Start with a Houzz ideabook and collate all the images that inspire you. Ideabooks are more than just a wish list; they make it possible for you to see what your result could look like. Find examples of ideas you have or trends you would like to follow: consider how others have achieved what you want. What do you like about their designs? What would you do differently? Creativity encourages creativity; so if you’re inspired, your design will be inspiring.
Are you creating a home for entertaining? Are you after a space for a young family to play and grow? Do you want to create a retreat to get away from the world? Put some intention behind your renovation and plans will form organically.
How to create and use ideabooks
2. Set your goals and milestones along the way
What determines success for you and your project?
We know how we want it to end up, but what’s going to make it a success for us? The key goals we set to determine the success of the project were to finish within our budget, meeting the timeframes we set out, and achieving the desired result.
Set targets you want to achieve throughout your project. A project can take a long time and if you are only motivated by the result, it can get hard to stay enthusiastic. Smaller goals allow you to celebrate milestones, to see the progress you’re achieving, to stay motivated, and allow you to see if you’re on track.
What determines success for you and your project?
We know how we want it to end up, but what’s going to make it a success for us? The key goals we set to determine the success of the project were to finish within our budget, meeting the timeframes we set out, and achieving the desired result.
Set targets you want to achieve throughout your project. A project can take a long time and if you are only motivated by the result, it can get hard to stay enthusiastic. Smaller goals allow you to celebrate milestones, to see the progress you’re achieving, to stay motivated, and allow you to see if you’re on track.
3. Be realistic
What you see on reality TV renovation shows is not what you should expect in everyday life. It’s easy and so common to underestimate the time involved in renovating. So when you create a schedule for your renovation, consider all aspects of time: the spare time you have, the fatigue of renovating, allowing for rest, and how slow you can be when you are doing something for the first time.
There are also a lot of hidden costs that can surprise – so don’t be naive. When a contractor asks if you would like additional elements or upgrades on products, always ask the question: how much will that cost and how much longer will it take? It is easy to assume they are offering it out of the kindness of their hearts – and that may be the case – but it is highly likely it will still be added to their invoice too.
What you see on reality TV renovation shows is not what you should expect in everyday life. It’s easy and so common to underestimate the time involved in renovating. So when you create a schedule for your renovation, consider all aspects of time: the spare time you have, the fatigue of renovating, allowing for rest, and how slow you can be when you are doing something for the first time.
There are also a lot of hidden costs that can surprise – so don’t be naive. When a contractor asks if you would like additional elements or upgrades on products, always ask the question: how much will that cost and how much longer will it take? It is easy to assume they are offering it out of the kindness of their hearts – and that may be the case – but it is highly likely it will still be added to their invoice too.
4. Establish your priorities
If you are renovating, you have to constantly make decisions: do I upgrade the kitchen countertop? Are designer lights worth the cost? Should I get a tradesperson in or do it myself… and if you’re renovating as a couple, it’s likely these decisions may cause a few animated discussions (and by that I mean arguments).
By prioritising what’s important for you at planning stage, you can make your decisions based on the priorities you have already established. It can help to write a prioritised wish list knowing that there will always be compromise in order to stick to budget or program.
If you are renovating, you have to constantly make decisions: do I upgrade the kitchen countertop? Are designer lights worth the cost? Should I get a tradesperson in or do it myself… and if you’re renovating as a couple, it’s likely these decisions may cause a few animated discussions (and by that I mean arguments).
By prioritising what’s important for you at planning stage, you can make your decisions based on the priorities you have already established. It can help to write a prioritised wish list knowing that there will always be compromise in order to stick to budget or program.
5. Know your limits
You don’t know what you don’t know. While trial and error will get you there in the end (and yes DIY does stand for do-it-yourself), getting advice will get you there quicker and cheaper. I’m not talking about paying someone to do everything, but rather simple suggestions such as talking to someone who has just gone through a renovation, searching through Houzz stories, and asking around.
Talk about everything with an outsider or expert, from running your cost estimates past them to see if you are being realistic or if you’re allocating your budget well, or asking if you need to get your electrician and plumber in before you gib that wall. If you aren’t confident, ask around and get others’ input on costs and the overall process.
Find a design or renovation professional
You don’t know what you don’t know. While trial and error will get you there in the end (and yes DIY does stand for do-it-yourself), getting advice will get you there quicker and cheaper. I’m not talking about paying someone to do everything, but rather simple suggestions such as talking to someone who has just gone through a renovation, searching through Houzz stories, and asking around.
Talk about everything with an outsider or expert, from running your cost estimates past them to see if you are being realistic or if you’re allocating your budget well, or asking if you need to get your electrician and plumber in before you gib that wall. If you aren’t confident, ask around and get others’ input on costs and the overall process.
Find a design or renovation professional
6. Identify and manage risk areas
Take some time to identify the risky areas that will affect your goals. Think through how you can minimise the impact of these, or better yet get rid of the risk altogether.
For example, with one of our renovations, I had an estimate down to replace 200 square metres of driveway. We had never replaced a driveway before therefore there was an element of risk in that estimate, and having the wrong allowance could really deplete my contingency money. So to manage that risk I called around to contractors to get a realistic price for my budget, and then got quotes to know for certain what it would cost.
Take some time to identify the risky areas that will affect your goals. Think through how you can minimise the impact of these, or better yet get rid of the risk altogether.
For example, with one of our renovations, I had an estimate down to replace 200 square metres of driveway. We had never replaced a driveway before therefore there was an element of risk in that estimate, and having the wrong allowance could really deplete my contingency money. So to manage that risk I called around to contractors to get a realistic price for my budget, and then got quotes to know for certain what it would cost.
It is understandable that people may see setting goals as excessive when they have a small-scale renovation or have plenty of time available. Regardless of the scale of the project, however, planning is a great habit to get in to. When we use these six tips in our renovations, it forces us to think through the project in detail, consider the steps and process in order to get to our predetermined end goal.
Planning challenges our thinking about every element of the renovation before us, which as a result means tradies will start when we need them, and it will ultimately lead to a more efficient and improved outcome. Start how you mean to go and you will need end with a house worthy of its own Houzz feature!
Tell us
What are your suggestions for setting your renovation right from the beginning? Tell us in the Comments section below, or simply like, share or bookmark it. Join the conversation!
More
Browse more beautiful home designs
Planning challenges our thinking about every element of the renovation before us, which as a result means tradies will start when we need them, and it will ultimately lead to a more efficient and improved outcome. Start how you mean to go and you will need end with a house worthy of its own Houzz feature!
Tell us
What are your suggestions for setting your renovation right from the beginning? Tell us in the Comments section below, or simply like, share or bookmark it. Join the conversation!
More
Browse more beautiful home designs
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TAKE YOUR TIME! It's not a race. I see so many people burned out because they constantly think they HAVE to have it finished by Christmas (family coming) or some other landmark event in their minds. A bathroom will not be renovated in a few hours, sometimes it can take weeks. A kitchen is going to do your head in so plan for that now. Whack a microwave elsewhere and get used to washing in the basin in the bathroom. It WILL take time and you will need to learn to take yours in the appropriate manner.
Thanks for a great article. My advice is to also not forget the hidden elements of a renovation. I would suggest getting a professional to look at whether there is any asbestos in your home.