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Being prepared is the key to success with any interior design or remodel project.
Here are some simple steps to consider for your Austin Remodel & Austin Interior Design project.
1. Make a Realistic Budget
Honoring your budget is essential. So getting a true understanding of pricing, both with materials and labor, so you can gauge expectations accordingly.
Unfortunately, home improvement and renovation television shows can sometimes be misleading in terms of costs, which can vary greatly based on location and timing. Therefore, be sure to have an interior designer or contractor look over your budget and confirm that it’s realistic.
2. Decide on a definitive Scope of Work
Be specific - you’ll need to clarify exactly what work can happen and when. You may also need to ask yourself some tough questions about what you really need versus what you simply want. This will help you identify the true intention of the project and lay out important ground rules. It can even help with scheduling and determining what work happens when. Try to avoid scope creep - the most expensive words can be "We might as well"
3. Determine big ticket Items & guilty spends upfront
Make a list or spreadsheet and keep track of all your budget spends. We have attached a helpful budget spreadsheet/ remodel checklist to help you keep track of everything.
4. Define your style and have a Clear vision in Mind
From the tiles that will go on the walls to the appliances that will be installed, anyone who has completed a home renovation before knows that it is better to have just about everything picked out before you begin the work. This is because you will need to make numerous decisions once the renovation starts, and the more you’ve made beforehand, the better off—and better educated—you will be. Online tools like Pinterest, showroom visits, and/or material samples can help, and don’t be afraid to start purchasing items to get the ball rolling.
5. Start an Inspiration board & budget spreadsheet
Tools like Pinterest, Houzz and Instagram are help to create vision board.
6. Know Who You’re Hiring
Do your homework. Remodeling your home is a big investment. It’s important to find the right team to complete your home renovation. While word-of-mouth recommendations from friends might be enough for some, you may also consider doing a full-blown check on your contractor—looking into their license, certificate of insurance, lien history, bond number, and certification—to ensure you’re dealing with a professional who is in good financial standing. Equally important is finding a contractor you get along with and who understands your vision, so it can be helpful to have an interview or preliminary discussion before the formal engagement of services.
7. Don't Make Assumptions Based Off TV show
We love a great home improvement show however, than can oversimplify what is entailed in a remodel, Such as throwing up a stud wall or installing a new bathroom vanity, seem extremely simple—and they might be for a professional or advanced DIY-er.
However, if you’re considering a home renovation, think practically about what you can and cannot do; painting the walls of a small bathroom may be totally feasible by yourself, but painting all of the walls of a 5,000-square-foot house is likely less so. While you may think you would be saving a lot of money by doing the work yourself, if it is something unfamiliar, it might cost even more to have a professional undo and then properly complete the project.
8. Prepare to Live in Dust & Inconvenience During the Remodel
Dust & more dust. Just be prepared to change your air filters - during and a month after the project ends. Some clients will live through the mess, while others will find alternative housing during the course of their kitchen or bath renovation.
9. Remember to Stay Positive
The most important thing to remember is that there is an end to the process...It doesn't last forever, There has yet to be a home renovation or home remodel that has been with a few Snafu's or simple error, so be prepared for days when things just aren't going right. It’s natural to want everything to go perfectly according to plan, but with so many products and people involved, it’s unlikely that everything will turn out exactly how you imagined, which can be frustrating and sometimes even costly.
Yet at the same time, keep things in perspective: just because something hasn’t been delivered on time or because you’re a bit behind schedule isn’t the end of the world, and it’s best to try and have the mentality of "how can we fix this?" rather than "whose fault is this?" Most importantly, keep your eye on the prize, and remember the revamp isn’t going to go on for eternity, although it may sometimes seem that way in the process.
Feel free to use the above remodel checklist to help organize your Austin kitchen remodel & bath remodel projects. If you need professional help our Davinci Interiors Team is happy to help guide you through the remodel or new build undertaking. Here's an overview of what it is like to work with us.
Feel free to call with any questions 512-537-3100
