Remodeling comes in a variety of ways, shapes, and forms. You may only be remodeling a room or two, or it may be a makeover for the entire house. You might choose to do it all yourself or you might hire a contractor to do the heavy lifting for you. Remodeling can be a project all on its own or you could be doing it as a part of your relocation, a way to help sell the house or an opportunity to make the new place your own before throwing a housewarming party everyone will remember. However you choose to do it and for whatever reason, remodeling is going to be a serious undertaking. As such, it requires some preparation. You can make the project much smoother, faster and even cheaper if you prepare your home for remodeling the right way. So let’s get right on that!
When is a good time for remodeling?
If your renovations are tied to a larger project, you may not have much of a say in when they happen. If you’re getting some work done as a part of moving, for example, you don’t want it to get in the way of local movers Ontario helping with your relocation. Schedule that kind of remodeling around your move: either plan for it to be done beforehand or only start after you’ve already relocated.
And if you do have a say? Well, there’s a season for everything as cheesy as that sounds. Spring is a great time for projects on the exterior of the house like painting or changing the windows. Summer should be reserved for outdoor projects on roofing, siding, patios, and decks. Prepare for winter in the fall by repairing your chimneys and painting the outside of the house. During the winter, stay inside: flooring, redecorating and minor interior projects are perfect for this time!
How can you prepare your home for remodeling?
Before you start any actual work, you should first do all the necessary preparations for it. One thing to remember as you prepare your home for remodeling is that it’s not just about the space. Of course, a lot of the preparation work will have to do with getting your stuff out of the way, protecting your furniture and floors and working out the new design for your living room. But you and your family should also be ready to deal with changes to your routine, stress, and disruptions for the foreseeable future.
Planning and organizing
The first step to any preparation is a good plan. So take the time to sit down and sketch up a plan of how you want the remodeling process to go, especially if it’s a larger project. What do you want the renovated space to look like? When do you plan on finishing each new chapter of the project? Having a clear picture of the work will help you prepare for it better.
Set up temporary spaces
You most likely won’t be able to use the room you’re working on. Whatever you use that room for will, therefore, have to move somewhere else. Keep that in mind as you prepare your home for remodeling. If you’re working on your master bathroom, for example, move all your toiletries to the guest bathroom you’ll use instead. Fixing up your bedroom? Guest bedrooms or living rooms will become your new sleeping quarters. Make the necessary preparations in time and the temporary switch won’t be a problem!
Make a schedule
Contractors will work around your schedule – it’s a part of what they do. But you should still have a good grasp of what is happening in your house and when. A macro plan of the start, flow, and end of the project is a must. A micro plan of when workers are coming and going is also a big plus. You may have to adjust your routines a bit to accommodate the extra people in your house, so make sure you know if that is necessary in advance. And if you’re planning on DIY-ing the whole thing as a way to remodel on a budget, consider taking some time off work for that.
Have a place to stay if needed
While it is advisable you stay in the house during remodeling to keep an eye out on everything, you may want to have a backup plan just in case. Home renovations can strain a relationship. So have a friend you can stay or a local hotel where you can go overnight when the constant mess and noise becomes too much!
Preparing the house
You don’t want your possessions or property lost or damaged during the remodeling. This is where the preparations come in handy.
Declutter and pack up
One of the simplest and most effective ways to prepare your home for remodeling is to declutter. Get rid of the things you don’t need before you start renovations. Sell and donate what you can, but don’t be afraid to trash anything either. The fewer things you have lying around, the easier they will be to keep out of the way. And we’re not just talking about the small knick-knacks lying around! The room you’re working on has to be cleared out of everything that can hinder the remodeling or get damaged by it. So pack up your clothes too and move the large furniture somewhere where it won’t be in the way.
Protect fragile and valuable items
The best way to make sure you don’t lose something precious is to keep it far away from any hammers, nails, ladders, paints and other remodeling tools. If you have a safe, use it. If you don’t, put all the family heirlooms, jewelry, important documents and other valuables in a closed box which you will store in a different room. And don’t forget to keep track of all your credit cards and keys!
Prepare storage space
Perhaps the best way to keep your stuff out of the way of the renovations is to get some extra storage space. So look into storage units Ontario as you prepare your home for remodeling. Off-site storage is a great solution to everything from bulky furniture to fragile china to needless clutter.
Protect the house from damage
Protect whatever you leave in the room you’re remodeling (and the house at large). Drape old sheets and tarp to on floors and furniture to avoid scratches and paint splatter. Cover sharp corners of furniture before you move it with cardboard or sponge. That way, bumping into a wall won’t leave a mark. And whatever damage you notice, fix it right away! There’s no need to put it off for another remodeling project.