8 Manageable Challenges to Expect During a Home Renovation
If you’re new to home renovation, you may be wondering what to expect. Statistics cited by Safe At Last show that around half of US homes were built before 1980, so making updates is extremely common. Whether you want to modernize your home or make some simple aesthetic changes, renovating can make your house better suit your needs. Here are seven things to expect during the process, courtesy of Los Angeles Property Management Group.
1. Clutter
If you’re updating the interior of your home, you can expect some clutter while things are moved around. If you’re doing major renovations on the whole house, you may want to stay somewhere else while the changes are completed. Try to keep one or two frequently used rooms completely clean so you have a space to relax and clear your head during the process. When clearing out extra items, consider donating to help others as well as the environment.
2. Reorganization
If you are adding new rooms or moving things around, you will likely need to reorganize furniture, documents, and other belongings. This is the perfect opportunity to get your office in order if you work from home.
3. Adding a Home Office
You may have to put off working from home until you’re able to get your new home office functional. When adding an office, consider lighting and noise when deciding where to build. If there isn’t an option with a generous amount of natural light, invest in overhead lighting to ensure your workspace is ready for business.
4. Unexpected Costs
Having flexibility in your budget is essential when renovating, as some unexpected expenses are likely to come up. Time, materials, availability, and other factors often make calculating the actual cost of changes difficult. That’s why working within a range you feel comfortable with is crucial. Working with an experienced contractor will help you get the best idea of what is realistic.
5. Appliance Upgrades
Even if you are making decor changes, you may want to look at essential household appliances like the HVAC system. Having ductwork, plumbing, and chimneys checked regularly will ensure your house is in top shape. If you plan on selling your home soon, these upgrades will also be very appealing to potential buyers.
Speaking of appliances, this might be time to get a home warranty quote. After all, the cost of having to repair major appliances can quickly escalate into the thousands of dollars, so shopping around for a home warranty is a great way to safeguard your investment and protect your family’s future. Go here to learn more about what is covered with home warranties and how much they cost.
6. Design Snags
You may dream of a giant wood-burning fireplace in the study before realizing the cost and difficulty of building a brick chimney there. Or, you may desire a grand main suite and a massive walk-in closet but realize there isn’t room to accommodate both. Working with a designer will aid you in making feasible design decisions so you can get the most out of your home while sacrificing as little as possible.
7. Mistakes
Be sure to keep a close eye on the process so that any snags can be taken care of in a timely manner. Pepper’s Home and Garden notes that unsightly paint splatter, floor scratches, and damaged furniture can usually be handled quickly when you report them close to when the job took place. It’s important to minimize stress and remember that snags along the way are typical and usually able to be fixed.
8. Noise
If you work from home or have small children, noise might be an extra concern for you. You may have to adjust your schedule during the construction or look for somewhere else to work while the upgrades are occurring. Investing in noise-canceling headphones with white noise may be enough for smaller tasks.
Protect Your Home and Investments
Once you have made it through the renovation process, take the time to install a home security system. Gone are the days where you have to go through a major security company. Now you can purchase smart cameras and video doorbells that you can monitor through your smartphone and that back up to the cloud. And if there is a problem with the video feed, you can use free online resources to troubleshoot them yourself. These systems are easy to use and definitely worth setting up to protect your newly updated home.
Be Patient Throughout the Renovation
Home renovation and adding a home office can be challenging, but by remembering the potential occurrences above, you can save time and money by getting ahead of them. Remember that many other homeowners are dealing with similar issues, so help and support is likely easy to find.
If you are renovating a home to become a rental investment property, trust the Los Angeles Property Management Group to manage it when it’s complete. Contact us at 323-255-9400 extension 4 for a quote!
