What to consider when planning a remodel

There are endless questions to ask yourself and your family when planning a remodel. In this article we have narrowed down to what we believe are the first few questions to be asked and once those are answered, we dive into the details of the project.

If you are remodeling for the first time and have no idea where to start, this article may help you, if you have already remodeled, these topics might be very familiar to you, or it might refresh your memory of your previous experiences.

Whether you’ve got an outdated home that needs a complete rehab or you are just thinking of giving your home a fresher look; new floors, painting and new shelves on a wall, it helps if you start from a broad view.

As a first step, we have chosen the following subjects; PURPOSE, TIME, BUDGET and STYLE. All of these topics will bring their own set of subtopics and questions, but for now let's consider the most relevant ones.

PURPOSE

What is the purpose of this remodel?

Is this going to become the dream home you have always envisioned?
Are you considering a remodel for selling purposes? If so check this article here.
Are you planning a remodel for added value and the enjoyment of your family?

Purpose will define time and budget, and of course DESIGN.

TIME

What would be the ideal timeline for the project completion?

Are you planning on living in your home during remodel? If so, depending on the project, it might require a longer timeline, in order to accommodate access, block specific areas. Additional costs might occur as well such as: extra protection and extra cleaning
If you want a new kitchen for Christmas, better act soon, Christmas always seems to be around the corner, doesn’t it?
Also, if you start your project with too many undefined aspects, you’ll face stretching your remodeling days beyond you’d like it to be.
Having a realistic timeline and honest conversation with your general contractor will make your experience much more pleasant. Your General Contractor should be able to provide you with a proper timeline for project completion.

Efficiency will define TIME and BUDGET

BUDGET

How much can I / should I spend on a remodeling project?

Familiarizing yourself with range of remodeling prices in your area and your neighborhood. A condo remodel can cost more due to the logistics involved; parking, elevator wait, delivery, permits. Usually a condo remodel requires more city building inspections than a home due its nature.
Is your home for your own and your family’s enjoyment? Depending on the exiting conditions, you will probably spend a bit more. Often, we build custom features to accommodate the family’s need, exquisite decor tile, well planned lighting, nice cabinetry and so on. Is it worth it? Absolutely, very often a little extra money on a few things makes a huge difference. Our clients have never regretted going the extra mile. On the other hand I have seen people regret not doing things, and when they decide after the fact it often costs a little more; more permits, more inspections, more cleaning, more protection, having to redo other things that were already done but are now in the way.
Are you planning on selling your home? You probably want to be very wise applying your money, wise but not frugal. We've had people asking me if we could paint kitchen cabinets, which is totally possible, as long as it’s good condition wood not composite in a bad shape. That’s a waste of money, nobody will ever do a good job and the prospect buyer won’t be fooled by that, that kitchen needs to be remodeled. You might love a particular style but, keeping neutral and leaving some open features for the future owner might be a good idea. We've had a client who remodeled her kitchen and decided not to install a backsplash, leaning a blank canvas for the new owner. We thought it was an excellent idea, it was a very small backsplash, it would be a small job and the new homeowner could do something of his own taste.
Is this your dream home? Have you envisioned for a long time? Is this an expression of your taste and style, do you want some wow features? Then start with an architect or interior designer right away, and place your time line far away enough to give you time to consider as much as you can before starting, think of it as a wedding, like if you were to live in that party for a long time...

When comes to budget, we believe it's a good idea to find a comfortable price range that is realistic and then work on the design first. Design within that budget. It's frustrating to create a stunning design with a lot of fancy features, only to find out it will cost too much money, too much time. The same goes for the opposite, remodeling costs too much too install cheap quality materials that will have to be replaced in the next few years.

STYLE

We've saved the best for last, the fun part.

What's your Style?

Traditional, Contemporary, Transitional, Eclectic, Mid Century, Modern....
If you haven't identified with any particular style yet, it's worth exploring design sites such as Houzz, Pinterest and start collecting ideas, it doesn't matter if you start mixing styles, eventually you will notice a natural preference for certain colors, mood, architectural features, and this will help you define your project. Its' a process, we think of it as art, sometimes we're not sure of what we want to look like, but working on it will refine to its best. It's also important to take into account the inherited style and location of your home. Just like dressing; we dress according to your style and occasion, it's not about rules, it's purpose, it's comfort, impression, mood.

Exploring ideas will help you define style. Sometimes we fall in love with a particular material and then design around that, sometimes we go through dozens of materials until we find the ideal, it's like searching for the ideal wedding dress. It might take some work, but we will know when we find the ONE.

It's a balance; Purpose, Time, Budget and Style.

Writen by Alexsandra on a late Friday Night...