7 Home Remodeling Tips From The Pros
Remodeling your home can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right planning, resources, and tips from professionals in the industry, you can transform your living space into your dream home. Whether you’re looking to update your kitchen, revamp your bathroom, or give your living room a fresh new look, there’s a lot to consider. That’s why in this blog post, I’ve gathered expert tips and advice to help you get started. From budgeting and planning tips to window installation and door frames, you’ll find everything you need to know to tackle your home renovation project with confidence. So, let’s dive in and start creating the home of your dreams!
Start with a plan:
Before you start your remodel, have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and the budget you have to work with. You can draw out plans, have rendered photos made up, create boards and visuals where you can see all pieces of your design come together before all the work begins so that you can see how it will all look together. This will help ensure a smooth and successful project.
Pay attention to the details:
Small details can make a big impact on the overall look and feel of a space. Pay attention to things like lighting and hardware. Many people will plan the paint color, flooring choices, cabinets or vanity, and other obvious big pieces in a space and make it close to the end of their project and either neglect to update lighting, or rush out and grab something at the last minute and same goes for hardware. But they are so important and can make a huge statement! Be sure to include the little things when you are making your plan.
Select Quality Materials:
When selecting materials, choose options that are durable and high quality. This will save you time and money in the long run. You do not have to buy the most expensive options, but if you choose the cheapest option, you will be repairing or replacing soon. This goes for nearly everything on your supply list, but two really good examples of this are paint and flooring.
We lived in an apartment for the first few months that we lived in the Springfield area, and it had the cheapest paint option on its walls. It felt like paper and I couldn’t clean anything off of it. If you spend a little bit more on paint, it will stand up to all the things life can throws at it and you’ll be able to clean your walls when it’s necessary!
With flooring, you can get some pretty low cost vinyl, laminate and carpet but like the paint, it just doesn’t hold up. Especially if you ever have kids or animals on it. It just deteriorates and damages very quickly and you will spend more replacing it sooner than if you invest in slightly higher quality flooring from the get go. Caleb recommends your starting price for flooring to be between $3 and $4 per square foot. Obviously, you can spend far more if you have it in your budget and you will love it, but $3-4 is a good starting price for flooring that will be nice for a long time for you.
This one is going to be short but important:
(and believe me- I’m the stay at home housewife of Caleb’s who hears about it when he comes home from correcting this mistake for other people) and it’s this: When framing windows or doors leave a 1/2 inch gap on all sides of the window or door for expansion and contraction. If you just read that, have plans to install a door or a window soon, and like me had no idea what it meant, look it up or call Caleb. If you knew exactly what it meant, hats off to you and Caleb will be happy to not be at your house in a few months uninstalling and fixing that door and window!
Consider energy efficiency:
Invest in energy-efficient products, such as windows, insulation, and appliances, to reduce your energy bills. I’m going to be making a post in the future about energy efficient windows at different price points, so stay tuned for that! Until that post is up, if you’re in the market for these things and you aren’t sure where to start, feel free to reach out to Caleb to get good advice- he knows a lot about these options.
You may decide to hire a professional contractor:
Hiring a professional contractor with experience and a good reputation can help ensure that your project is completed on time, within budget, and to a high standard of quality. You may be able to do all your work for far cheaper than it will cost you to hire someone, but we’ve been the remodeler who’s come in and supported homeowners with portions of their project they just don’t feel comfortable or equipped to complete and we’ve also been asked to come take over entire projects because the homeowner just didn’t realize the toll it would take on their family to have the house under construction for months while dad is only able to work on it around his already busy work schedule. When you can have a company come in, who does this kind of work all day everyday, they’ve got tons of experience, and they’re working 8 hours a day in your home while you’re out at your own job, the remodel moves so much faster and you can get to enjoying that new fresh space far sooner than if you took it all on yourself.
Bonus tip: if you haven’t done tile before and you’re thinking about installing your own tile, Caleb says “Go for it!” on the floor and kitchen backsplashes. And he says “Save yourself and call a professional.” on tile showers. If you DIY the entire rest of your bathroom, we highly recommend hiring someone if you plan to do a tile shower. You can make some little mistakes and save it and correct things with your floors and kitchen backsplashes. With your shower, you want to know that it is done right. So not only should you hire someone, you should hire someone who has experience and knows what they’re doing. You 1- do not want to have any part of your shower less than 100% waterproof and 2- cutting tiles and getting measurements and design just right in showers can be very difficult and Caleb has already learned all the expensive lessons that take experience to learn and you don’t want your shower to turn into a expensive lesson for yourself.
7. Keep resale value in mind:
While you may love bold, unique design elements, keep in mind that not all buyers will share your tastes. If you are in a home you plan on being in for a long time, I say go for it! You should absolutely have everything you want in your home and it should be your favorite place! However, if you are remodeling to increase the appeal your house could have on potential buyers in any near future, you may want to opt for timeless, neutral designs that will appeal to a wider range of buyers.
In conclusion, remodeling your home can be a thrilling and rewarding experience if done right. With the right tips, resources, and guidance, you can transform your living space into your dream home. By following the expert advice and tips shared in this blog post, you’ll be well on your way to making your home renovation project a success!
Call Caleb for a free estimate, email Jess with blog post questions and ideas!
Caleb - (417)-844-5011
Jess - jess@shipleyremodel.com
