Home builders in Toronto get calls every day from homeowners desperately wanting to improve an area or two of their home. Whether it’s dated in style or just doesn’t function for the family, there are tons of reasons people remodel. Building a custom home from scratch isn’t always possible, but renovating and remodeling a few key areas can greatly improve any home in the GTA. Before you start tearing everything out though, here are a few steps you should take before beginning.
Step 1: Plan It All Out
A plan is by far the most important step. Take the time to research and compile what you want the remodel to look like. Whether you draw a sketch up by hand, gather some inspiration pictures, or get a mocked up design, plan it all out first. Planning will help you visualize the end and make it easier for you to get to the end.
Step 2: Measure Everything
It’s important that you know exactly how much space you have to work with. Record the dimensions of the areas you want to change. Knowing how much space you have makes it easier to start creating a realistic design.
Step 3: Organize Finances
Money will impact almost every step of a remodel. Make sure you have all your finances in order before you begin. Set a budget, assess whether these changes will increase or decrease your home value, start saving, and begin talking to the bank if you will need a loan. Knowing how much money you have to work with will help you set realistic expectation for the project.
Step 4: Think Through
Take a moment before you start getting too far into a remodel and think about what you would like to change and why. Maybe your kitchen has an awkward layout, or your living room doesn’t have enough room, or the bathrooms aren’t working for your family. Once you know what needs to be changed, and why, you can plan a remodel that will actually address these issues.
Step 5: Compare Materials
This is by far the most fun part of planning a remodel. This is when you get to start window shopping and looking at the various materials out there. Look online, head out to your local home improvement stores, and begin picking out what styles and materials are your favorites. It’s always a good idea to head into a remodel knowing what styles you like.
Step 6: Picks A Design
Depending on the scope of the remodel, the design can really impact the entire home. If you’re only changing one area, it’s important that the remodeled portion still flows with the rest of the home. Think about what styles you’re attracted too (modern, farmhouse, traditional etc.). Think about colors too, which colors do you like and which would you never have in your home. Having a design in mind before approaching professionals helps them understand your taste better.
Step 7: Look For Professionals
There’s been a huge DIY (do it yourself) surge lately. And while we applaud people taking a more active role in their home, sometimes it’s better to leave it to the professionals. If you’re just changing paint and furniture, you can do it on your own, but if your remodel includes tearing out walls and flooring, or moving plumbing and electrical, you need to call in the pros.
Step 8: Mentally Prepare
Remodeling will be stressful. There are lots of decisions that have to be made, many of which cost quite a bit of money. Before all the stress starts rolling in take a moment to mentally prepare for it.
Conclusion
Remodeling your home can be exciting but overwhelming. If you follow these simple steps not only with your project turn out better, but you’ll feel better knowing you took the time to properly prepare. If you have any questions about remodeling or want to use our services feel free to contact us. We’re always happy to talk to you.
