
Renovating your home might be a tough nut to crack if you’re not adequately prepared for all the things that might come up. Since there are a ton of considerations you need to make, we are providing a list of do’s and don’ts for you to be better equipped to face your exciting project with confidence.
1. Be Realistic About Your Timeline

Seeing the finished project is the most exciting part of it all. This is why you need to be clear about how long the work will take. While there isn’t a hard and fast rule for this, there is a way of estimating certain task durations. Having an idea of what needs to be completed and a rough prediction of the time that each task requires, will create for you a timeline that might help you feel more in control of the process, so that the journey would feel less daunting.
But you need to be realistic about the timeline. You can’t expect a bathroom renovation to be complete in 2 weeks. You need to take into account your workers’ schedules as well, along a whole bunch of other considerations. When estimating your timeframe, don’t forget to also take into account unexpected events that might crop up; these might further push your target date back.
2. Work With A Contingency Fund

Just like you need to leave some wiggle room for unexpected turns of events when thinking about your project’s timeline, you also need to prepare yourself for unexpected expenses. Even if your planning is on the mark, there will always be unforeseen expenses along the way. This could be anything from structural damage that you only discover during the process, to any additional materials or supplies that you’d need, or any unforeseen cost increases for labor or materials.
This is why you need to set aside at least 5% of your total budget on contingencies. This way you would have the peace of mind that if anything unexpected comes up along the way, you would have the money to cover it.
3. Use The Right Paint

Getting your paint selection right is crucial when renovating your home. Research shows that a room’s color can affect your mood, and since your home is your safe haven, you want to make sure that your rooms emit the type of energy you want to feel when you’re in them.
Hiring a professional for this task would be worth the money. You would have their expertise and years of experience to count on, which will give you enough confidence that you’re doing things the right way. Since it can be rather costly and also an unnecessary hassle to stay correcting a wrong color choice, making an informed decision in this respect is all the more important.
4. Don’t Leave Walls Bare

It’s easy to forget a room’s walls, particularly when there are so many other (seemingly) more important aspects when renovating and redecorating your property. But the fact is, choosing the right decor is what transforms a house into a home.
The last thing you want to feel is as if your home is just another run-of-the-mill place that belongs to anyone. Our suggestion? Invest some time and energy into creating fantastic wall tiles with your own photos - be they a collection of travelogs, family get-togethers or life milestones: it’s your pick! And fortunately, StoryBoards.io have these photo tiles for you. Trust us, it’s not only a fun process, but once you’ll have the end product, you’ll be glad you’ve dedicated that extra bit of time to give your house that personal touch.
5. Don’t Underestimate Safety Risks

Health and safety measures may not be the most exciting part of the process, but they’re extremely vital, to say the least. Good planning is crucial to ensure that you have the necessary safety measures in place to mitigate potential hazards that your project might pose. We know that construction accidents do happen, so make sure that you’re adequately equipped to avoid or at least be able to handle any accident that might take place. While it’s good to hope for the best, you want to make sure you’re prepared for the worst.
6. Don’t Work Without A Permit

This is a very basic piece of advice but one that some of us might need to be reminded of. While certain minor changes don’t need a permit, other major changes that alter your home’s footprint are likely to require one. So while you needn’t worry about a permit when painting your walls or installing hardwood floors, you need to make sure you have the necessary go-ahead for major changes such as cutting holes for a new window, installing new plumbing or removing existing drains. If you’re working with a contractor, they’ll likely take care of the necessary permits, but don’t be too sure of this either.
Do yourself a favor and make sure you have everything in place. This will not only prevent you from getting fined or having your works terminated, but it will also ensure that you’ll have no issues later on, especially if you’d ever need to sell your home in the future.