Do It Yourself DIY Remodeling On A Budget

Guest Post

DIY Remodeling

Moving to a new place can be difficult, especially if you have a good relationship with your neighbors and love your community. A great option available to you is remodeling. You can bring new life to the house you’ve been calling home for a long time. However, there are things you have to consider before starting off.

1.      Value of re-sale

This should be on your mind when you decide to remodel. The design would depend upon how long you plan to stay. If it’s a short time, 2-4 years, then the design should be kept basic. Short-term home-owners should consider cosmetic updates that come along easily. Some of the things you can do without spending too much is refinish the floors, update the hardware,light fixtures and paint the space.

On the other hand, if you plan on living for a long time, then you can spend a good amount on bathroom renovation, which can provide a good return on your investment. You should also keep the ‘market’ in your area in mind, as you wouldn’t want the most expensive house in your neighborhood.

2. Make sure you have ample time

Make sure you’ve plenty of time before you begin. It’s not a good idea trying to remodel your bathroom a month before Christmas. You should have a proper time table made. Sit down with your contractor and make a schedule that allows for delays that can occur due to holidays, supply shortages and weather.

3. Find a contractor who is reputable

It’s important to find a contractor who is reputable. This is the only way you can protect yourself during a remodeling project. Getting a contractor with surety bonds is a wise thing, as that will assure you that the contractor is going to pay their sub-contractors and complete the work he/she agreed upon. This will compensate you in case of any unfortunate event during the course of the project.

4. Make a budget

You need to be realistic here. How much can you really afford? If your aim to stay a long time after remodeling, you can spend more. If your plan is to sell after a short-term stay, your budget should not be more than the increase in the sales price of the home due to remodeling. After you set the budget, you can ask the contractor for a proposal.

5. Get into a written contract

This should cover the timetable, description, payment schedule, required supplies etc. The contract should also list the responsibilities of the subcontractors, contractor, warranties, the way supplies need to be changed if needed and clauses related to alternative dispute settlements. As for the payments, normal contracts divide payments by decreasing percentages of the total cost. They are also tied to important work stages.

There are also a few things you can do yourself, especially if you’re low on budget.

1. Refinishing existing bathroom items

You can refinish the current items such as shower, sink, bathtub and tiles. With refinishing, you’ll cut down on the cost of replacement. Your bathroom won’t be torn up for weeks. You can also change the hardware, such as shower heads, drawer pulls etc, but make sure to use the same finishing, such as aged bronze or stainless steel.

2. Install cabinets in the kitchen

You can install upper cabinets in the kitchen.You can hang them to the wall studs. If there’s only one stud on the cabinet you choose, you can use a toggle bolt to secure it. You need to check for plump and levelness frequently. Evenness can be achieved with the help of shims. To hold cabinets together while placing on the wall, clamps would come in handy.

3. Clean glass doors and windows

There are glass stains and mineral deposits in windows, shower doors and other glass surfaces. You can easily clean them with a simple power drill and mild household abrasives.

After considering the things mentioned above and what you can do yourself, you are ready to remodel. Home remodeling can be noisy, and can disrupt your normal routine. However, if you’re patient and focused, you’ll be satisfied with the end result.