While the holiday season is the perfect time to sit back and relax a little, the productive side of you may be planning a fantastic 2024. Of course, the plans you put in place can be as varied as the person making them, but ultimately, getting a head start on those tasks and discussing them with your partner or relatives can be a great idea, especially if you have a few days off of work
If you are planning to renovate your home in 2024, now can be the perfect time to plan. First and foremost, you will be able to budget certain expenses ahead of time, maybe even saving time for investments, like a rooftop replacement, to be conducted in the summertime.
It is not just budgeting that matters. Everyone who has worked on a home knows that yes, while renovations take place, the living situation is often affected. From construction dust to a general lack of functioning utilities, what matters is preparing your home adequately and doing so with consideration for your family.
So, how might you prepare your home for that new year renovation in advance?
Here are some tips for preparing your home for a new year renovation, so you can enjoy celebrating the end of 2023 and welcome the new, productive year with a bang.
Invest In Home Protections
It is good to make sure you have the materials handy for protecting your living comfort while work is taking place. For example, large dust sheets that you can place over furniture, over door arches, and between open arches can allow the general dust and debris from renovation work to be contained in those areas. You may also opt for alternatives to roofing if that’s being worked on, such as corrugated plastic or metal sheet shelter coverings from the Clear Amber Shop.
It is not just construction materials that help. If you are tearing out and replacing your kitchen, then you might invest in a few appliances like portable hot plates, air fryers, crock pots and more so you can keep cooking even without a kitchen. Some may even rent temporary shelters, like an outside large caravan or RV spaces, to spend a few days away from the dust during particularly heavy work.
This way, you can organize and negotiate your day-to-day living more comfortably as work progresses. Depending on the scope of the work being done, you may even prevent the need to move out, even temporarily!
Research & Hire Reputable Contractors
One of the benefits of preparing in advance is that you can gather many quotes from many reputed contractors in the area. That will help you determine who has the most experience in managing such a job, and how much the work will cost. Shopping around could save you hundreds if you know the price ranges, and might make you more able to negotiate.
On top of this, your curated renovation plan will enable you to plan which power tools you can rent yourself, should you or your partner have any experience in construction or renovation beforehand.
For example, electric paint sprayers, electric sanders, cordless drills, tire saws, and even pressure washers can be rented. It is important to make sure you have a distinct plan for how to use these tools, but implementing your well-organized labor can save you a great deal of cash too. Perhaps you have a friend or family member that is an electrician and can easily rewire the household while the rest of the demolishing and plumbing you leave to the professionals.
Make Some Logistical Preparations
Luckily, internal home renovations won’t require planning permission unless you’re making distinct changes to how the property operates, such as its energy usage for example. But logistical preparations are still worth making.
For example, telling the neighbors of your plans is a good place to start. You can also clear out your entrance and driveway to make certain trucks or contractor vans can come and set up appropriately.
You may need to clear out your garage to provide clean and easy access into the household without muddying up or dusting up your main corridor. These preparations are very easy to forget before you make them, and so you will save yourself a headache preparing in advance.
Pack & Store Belongings Safely
You do not have to throw everything into a self-storage container right now, but you may find value in labeling items to be stored away from the renovation area when you need it. For example, if you are knocking through your living room wall, you might place your expensive television, speaker system, art, and furniture in a self-storage container or a different area of the house or storage container.
This way, you don’t have to see your beloved possessions damaged by dust or the activity of well-meaning contractors. Now, the self-storage container is optional, but it just makes living among the other areas of the household easier to handle. If you have a spare room or can disperse those possessions throughout every room in the house, that can serve as a nice alternative, too.
Establish A Contingency Fund
Renovations can be expensive, though I don’t need to tell you that. Not all products go over-budget, but they easily can, and that doesn’t mean you’ve planned incorrectly either. For example, if it turns out that during your renovation foundational shift is identified, that may need your attention before construction continues.
Having a small contingency fund, or at least deciding to build it up over the next few months, can help give you so much leeway that you don’t have to worry about minor things going wrong. The holiday season is also expensive, which is why now is a good time to plan your budget for the new year. That can also justify a particular renovation timeline – deciding when in 2024 you are best able to launch the new renovation effort, knowing your budget remains in place.
With this advice, you are sure to prepare your home well for that new year renovation! With a little care, consideration, and preparation, you’ll breeze into the new household design you’ve been looking for.