Building an addition or renovating the house is a time of excitement and, if you will, a little anxiety. If the plans are ready to become a series of tasks with every detail outlined as required, then you are only in the beginning stage. There are other things you need to be aware of that will ensure your remodeling project fulfills your dreams.
Costs, Codes, And Concerns
Cost is an important factor when determining the extent of work you want to undertake during this time. In addition, for example, will surely increase the size of your house, but by how much? Do you want it to be radically different than your neighbors’? When it comes to reselling, a 3000 sq ft home in a neighborhood mostly occupied by 1200 sq ft houses will not double in value. In fact, buyers will hesitate to even look at the house if they realize the oddity. Instead, expand it to a reasonable level, and let it be merely one of the bigger houses in the community. Determine the expense to add about 500 sq ft, the cost to rewire a house, maybe replace the old deck with a new one. This will allow you to budget for the renovation or addition project accordingly. Careful plan and budgeting are all that is needed to save a lot of grief down the road.
Building codes are equally important during construction. Most projects require building permits from the city, county or any local authority. Codes also vary from one jurisdiction to another. Some communities have rules that are more stringent than the rest of the communities in the same city. Then there are planned areas governed by covenants and conditions. These are the rules that dictate everything from your front yard design to things that can occupy the backyard. And yes, they can be intrusive in some cases, but not knowing these rules can cost a lot of time, money and energy. Additionally, environmental concerns can have a significant impact on building codes, too.
Current And Future Systems
There are many excellent reasons why you would want to take an inventory of your existing home system before starting the renovation project. For one thing, the structure of your house needs to be able to accommodate the new addition or remodeling. If you take a closer look at your current home system, you will be able to make a list of items that will continue to meet the demands of the new addition and those that won’t. For example, will the water lines and drain pipes require a complete overhaul due to age-old lead pipe? This is the perfect time to replace them. Does the water heater need expansion to handle a heavier load? Can the current electrical system take care of modern electrical wiring? Make sure to check HVAC as well. Note that this is a great time to consider upgrading your current HVAC to a high-efficiency unit.
Team To Work With
As a homeowner, you are the leader of your home renovation project. This doesn’t imply that you have to perform every little task on your own. You need to create a plan but at the same time transfer that plan or goal to a team of designers, contractors, architects, and builders. These people can provide many valuable ideas and concept to shape your project. Different opinions are also the source of creativity and completed project that can meet higher expectations. Hiring the right team is a must. When hiring, make sure to do the bidding. Show the plan and explain to them in detail. Get everything in writing after zeroing in on one professional for the job. Construction materials, additional personnel, payments, the timing of payments and project deadlines – everything should be discussed during the hiring phase. A schedule will help you and your team to make regular appointments and coordinate labor, shipments and much else.