Quality Project Planning - Saves time and money
It is tempting to jump right into a home renovation project, but resist the urge to dig in right away. Spending extra time upfront to create a quality project planning actually saves time and money on the actual project. Here's how to maximize planning value so you can enjoy your remodeled home as soon as possible.
1) Project Planing - Meet with Designersa
Interview architects and/or interior designers to see whose experience most closely matches what you are looking for. Different professionals have different specialties. Architects might be involved in many aspects of home design, or they might concentrate on just the floor plan and permits. Make sure you have an understanding of what each person and firm can provide. Explain your budget so that the firm you choose can make sure that your remodeling project is in line with what you can afford to invest.
2) Project Planning - Review Designs and Choose a Contractor
The designers you choose will start developing schematic designs that include the layout of the floor plan, views of the home as exterior if you are planning an addition. By the time you choose a final schematic, the plans will have a dimensional floor plan as well as some preliminary selections of materials to be used. Contractors use this information to estimate your final cost; in addition to these estimates, you may also want to request references or visit job sites to vet potential contractors.
3) Shop for Materials
The sheer number of options you all have to sift through can be over whelming, so decide early on whether you need a designer to help you select materials - a category that includes everything flooring and wall coverings to faucets and drawer pulls. Keep your project costs within budget by picking out everything ahead of time so that you are not hit with any nasty surprises later. This way, the contractor can fill you in on what everything will cost ahead of time and you can make changes if something is more expensive than you expected. Mean while, the architect or designer you chose previously will finalize all of the construction drawings you all need to start the project, determine with a structural engineer how to build your project, and provide all of the details you ll need for permits.
4) Head for the Finish Line
The paperwork at the end of the planning stage may feel like a marathon, but it is crucial to have all of your legal ducks in a row before you start your project. File all necessary permits using the information the architect provided and figure out a start date based on how long the permitting process is likely to take. After you have submitted the plans for the permit, your contractor will provide you with a finished draft of the pricing and a contract for construction. If some materials or fixtures cost more than you hoped to pay, the contractor will help you choose different materials or adjust the scope of work so that the cost works for you. The contractor will also likely order any items with longer lead times, like cabinets or tile, during this step so that they all be available by the time they are needed during construction.
Resisting the temptation to start right away is tough, but itâs tougher to pay too much or run into unnecessary delays. Spend the time upfront to save time and money on the final product. You all be glad you did.