Good Planning Makes for a Great Home Improvement Project
If you’ve been dreaming of a home improvement or remodeling project, it’s time to make it a reality. As with any project, good planning is the key to saving you stress and money and achieving the rewards that can come from a newly designed space.
Begin fulfilling your dream by clarifying why you want to do this. The majority of remodeling projects begin as a result of the need to make changes because the house no longer meets the needs and desires of the family. For example, having a baby or growing children can result in a need to expand your space. Or perhaps you have lived in your home for more than 10 years and you are getting an itch to update and modernize. Whatever the reason, it is best to make clear what you hope to accomplish from this home improvement project.
Brainstorm about everything you would like to have included in your remodel and then categorize each item as a “necessity or must have”, “amenity or nice to have” or “definitely not”. In order to organize your thoughts and ideas, create a notebook. This will allow you to keep pictures, color samples, fabric swatches, material specifications, reference phone numbers, budget information and project records in one concise area.
Now that you have answered the why and the what, it is time to take a look at the numbers. Spending time on the budget early on in the project plan, as well as reviewing it at every step of the process, is essential to its success and your sanity. Don’t forget to take into consideration the payback you hope to achieve from this home improvement. Typically a kitchen or bathroom improvement offers the highest payback when it comes to resale. Talk to a trusted real estate agent if this is a major consideration.
Being realistic with what you can afford and when you can afford it will allow you to put together a realistic timetable for the project as a whole. The schedule should be created with the help of your “construction team”, which may include an architect, interior designer, loan officer, and general contractor, to name a few. Areas that typically can cause a ripple in your timetable are the design phase, getting permits and the actual time for construction. Make sure that you have “padded” your schedule to account for these factors.
Identifying reliable competent contractors to work on your project can be as stressful as the project itself. This can also take the most time, so be sure to account for it on your project schedule. The simple answer to getting the best person for your project – research! Begin your search by asking friends and neighbors who have completed their own home improvements who they used. The county building department and Yellow Pages are also places to look. Then do your own homework by verifying their license and insurance, check references and reputation, and view previous and current jobs. Plan interviews that will allow you to assess their personality, approach to problem solving and their understanding of your dream. They may be the best at what they do, but if they don’t “see” your vision of the completed project, then helping you make it reality is going to be difficult. Plan to evaluate up to three bids before you make your final selection.
Through careful planning, the ground work should be completed which leads you to the exciting and nail biting phase of the project – construction. Pay attention to the work as it progresses without micromanaging of your construction team. Walking this fine line can make the difference between a good remodeling experience and a nightmare. Having pre-arranged work review meetings in your project plan can help. Use these to go over any issues that have come up, re-evaluate expectations, monitor progress and maintain positive communication with your contractor.
Post construction, before the celebration party, make sure that the punch list (final “to do” list) has been completed to your satisfaction and that your home owners insurance is updated to reflect your remodel.
It can’t be said enough – good planning will make for a great home improvement project. For more information you can check out the “Construction and Remodeling” section at www.sounfhome.com.
Timber Flooring – Introduction, Benefits and FAQs
Timber is a synonym of wood. It is used for flooring purpose. You can make your home and office more attractive by installing wooden flooring. Timber flooring has some difference with the normal wood flooring as it is made by recycled woods. It is an art of creating a floor with colors and textures.
It is very critical to choose which type of timber flooring will be most suitable as it has different types in terms of appearance, looks, price, and durability. It is up to you which one to choose according to your need.
Before installing and taking services from any wood floor suppliers, you should keep some points in mind which are following:-
Always ask for types of various product lines. Do comparison of some qualities like wear warranties. What is the thickness of timber? What is the type of construction? What is the type of coating or polishing? What is the number of finished coats?
The benefits of timber flooring as follows:-
Superior strength, durable and good appearance It is easy to install. Re-sanding is required but not as compared to other flooring These are stylish and modern. Maintenance of this flooring is easy with some precautions. Timber floors would cool in summer and warm in winter so it will give your feet good feeling in any weather. It has large number of designs according to color and textures. It is beneficial for Asthma and Hay fever patients as it is non-allergic. It is environment and Eco friendly product.
All and all, the beauty of timber is timeless. It is one of the popular and best ways to make your home stylish and modern in look, as it has many benefits along with it as well. It suits the need and budget of the people that makes this type of flooring more suitable and attractive too.
How to Create the Right Home floor plans that Suit Your Unique Lifestyle
Whether a person is doing new construction or gutting an existing apartment, the most important part of the design phase will be deciding on the home floor plans.
Home floor plans must take into consideration all the different factors involved in the project: how much space is available, the budget for the project, and the homeowners personal style.
While the first two factors have definitive answers, the last factor is the area where most homeowners struggle. Many people have a fantasy of their ideal home however they struggle when they try to translate that vision into actual home floor plans.
There are so many different styles and variations for home floor plan design that people find it difficult to make a choice. To avoid this confusion and overload, the best way to approach designing home floor plans if to first define the homeowner’s needs and then let form follow function.
If a couple tends to entertain a lot, they should consider that the living spaces should be larger than the normal space allotted. The living spaces should also be towards the front of the house to create a natural flow, and they may also consider putting in a foyer.
If natural light and greenery is very important to the couple, the home floor plans should include openings for sliding doors and floor to wall windows. They may also want to put the kitchen and living room facing the garden for the view. Other couples may require more privacy and would prefer to include a master suite in the home floor plans that is segregated from the house.
A homeowner should make a list of the aspects of the home floor plans that are important to them such as a large kitchen or good work space. Once the homeowner has a good idea of the elements that he is looking for in home floor plans, he should consult an architect.
A good architect will also ask the owner leading questions when designing the home floor plans to get a sense of how the homeowner lives and what style suits his/her lifestyle. Together the architect and homeowner can create the ideal home floor plans.
Get more information about designing home floor plans