6 Questions to Ask Before Doing a Home Remodel
Home sweet home hasn’t been looking so sweet lately. Maybe you spend your days fantasizing about a kitchen any professional chef would dream of. Or perhaps you want to soak your worries away in a brand spanking new bathtub in your freshly tiled bathroom.
Your home is a sacred space, but it might take a little work—and money—to make your home feel that way. Whether you’re working on a fixer upper or want to give your home a mini-makeover, here are six home renovation questions to consider asking yourself before you launch into a remodel. Thinking about these questions out before you start home improvements could potentially save you a lot of time, money, and stress!
What Will the Weather Be Like?
While you can’t always plan for mother nature, you can avoid her worst days. Need exterior repairs to your home? You might want to get started before too much rain or snow becomes a risk. Weather delays can drag out home renovations. And anyone who’s ever done an exterior home remodel knows how long the process can take in the best of circumstances.
Weather can affect the cost and comfort of an interior home remodel as well. Summertime remodels may require you turn on the AC for your busy contractors. Rainy days can lead to mud on the floor even when precautions are taken.
Winter frost may prohibit you from opening up the windows when you need to air out chemical smells. Depending on the specific renovations you plan on completing, one season may make more sense than another. Sometimes, picking a more mild time of year can benefit both your workers and your own comfort.
How Long Will It Take?
Here’s a big question for you: How much time can you commit to a home remodel? A home remodel can make your home difficult to live in, affect your work schedule, and cause assorted inconveniences.
Before you start a home remodel, you should know how long you’ll be working on this project, especially if you have a hard deadline, like finishing your remodel before the holidays.
Depending on the type of renovations you have in mind, you could be feeling the impact of the changes for anywhere from a few days to four to 16 weeks . For example, undertaking a big project like a full room addition can take months. Smaller projects like bathroom upgrades could take weeks, and an outdoor deck installation could take about a week or more.
Typically, your contractor will provide you with a timeline that details the proposed construction and estimated time frame. While it is possible the remodel could end up taking a bit longer than anticipated, this estimate could help you set expectations. Keep in mind that there are a lot of variables when it comes to home renovations, so you may need to be flexible. Open communication with your contractor is key.
Where Will You Stay?
When you have an idea of the timeline for the projects you plan to undertake, do the math on how many months your home will be overrun by contractors, construction workers, and supplies.
Sure a guest bathroom remodel won’t be too big of an inconvenience. But what if you only have one bathroom? Homeowners with small children may want to avoid exposing their little ones to dust or fumes.
If it sounds like you might need a place to stay, can you afford a hotel? What if your contractor doesn’t stay on schedule? Will relocating make it harder for you to get the family to school or work on time? You may need a backup plan for where to stay in case renovations don’t go according to plan, or if you can’t take the noise and inconvenience any longer.
How Will You Cook?
Considering a kitchen can take anywhere from three to 12 weeks or more to remodel, the takeout bills may start to add up. And diverging from your normal cooking routine can potentially affect your diet. Which is why you probably want to ask yourself an important kitchen remodel question: What will you eat?
Having a plan for how you’ll cook during a home renovation is something you might need to consider, especially if you’re looking after multiple family members’ dietary needs. Usually your contractor will help you work out a plan for minimizing loss of access to your kitchen, but it’s wise to think ahead.
For example, you may be able to move your fridge, microwave, and toaster oven to the garage. That way you can set up a mini makeshift kitchen to get you through a kitchen remodel.
What Is the Cost?
HomeAdvisor found that surveyed homeowners in 2018 spent an average of $7,560 on home improvements in the past 12 months at the time they were surveyed.
Of course, costs will vary based on the project, contractor, quality of materials chosen, design features, size of home, and location.
You can use this home improvement cost calculator to help estimate how much your project will cost.
How Will You Pay for It?
Home remodels are rarely fun, especially when it comes time to pay the bills. But the cost can be so worth it when you consider the enjoyment you’ll get from the finished project.
Not to mention the value a remodel can add to your home. Knowing how you’ll finance a home remodel can help you mitigate financial stress and set a budget. Paying in cash typically saves the most money in the long run, but there are other options for funding home remodels.
One option could be a type of unsecured personal loan called a home improvement loan. SoFi offers home improvement loans that are 100% fee-free. Meaning you won’t have to worry about origination fees, prepayment fees, or late fees.
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