How do I renovate my house?
The first step before any home renovation project is asking yourself “why”. Are you renovating for personal reasons, are you hoping to improve your home value to sell, or maybe you are just bored and have cash burning a hole in your pocket?
If you are looking to renovate for personal reasons like you’ve always hated the original kitchen cabinets and you’ve been slowly saving up to rip those suckers out, the best place is to start is by finding a reputable contractor. A knowledgable contractor will be able to walk you through the process from picking out cabinets, tiles, flooring, etc. to what you should expect when the work is being done. Even if you’re planning to DIY these renovations, it is worth talking to a contractor first to see if the task is something you want to take on alone. An important thing to remember when renovation for yourself is what do you plan to do with your home in the future? If you plan to sell in the next 3-5 years, you may want to avoid those hot pink kitchen cabinets that caught your eye. If you plan to home this home for the foreseeable future, maybe be adventurous and follow your heart!
If you’re renovating to rent your property or increase the value in preparation to sell your home, the process should be a bit different. Start by contact a trusted real estate professional from HK Realty. We have several agents who are experienced in renovating for both rental and resale who can help guide you through the process. Agents will be able to help you assess the best areas to renovate to increase value, what you need to fix or renovate before renting, and how much renovation is even necessary for your goals. Next, you’ll need to consult a licensed contractor, and depending on the extent of the renovation, you may need a General Contractor, which tends to be more expensive than someone acting as a project manager. Your agent can help identify if your renovations will require permitting- in which case, you would need a General Contractor to pull those permits. It’s very important to avoid skipping these important steps because renovations gone wrong can leads to lawsuits, an inability to sell, and fines from the city or state government where you live.
Renovating your home can be exciting and also intimidating, so be sure to have a professional by your side during the process.