You Can Never Overplan a Historic Home Renovation
A home renovation is no small undertaking, regardless of the size and scope of your remodel. This is especially true when you’re planning historic home renovations. Because of their unique charm and hard-to-replace architectural details, these projects demand an extra level of care and attention.
To be successful, a home renovation requires a little bit of prep work. Although these projects are always exciting, they can also be incredibly stressful. Without a solid plan in place, you risk delays, unexpected expenses, and results you’re not 100% in love with. By preparing for your remodel well in advance, you ensure a much smoother process, which you and the home renovation company you partner with are sure to appreciate.
Before you move full steam ahead on your historic home renovation, think through these six things first.
Come Up with Your Home Renovation Budget
Perhaps the most important part of preparing for a home renovation project is deciding on your investment goals. Of course, there are several factors that influence the cost of a remodel, like the size and scope of your project, age of your home, materials you choose, and the home renovation company you hire, but it’s in everyone’s best interest to have at least a rough number of how much you’re willing to Invest in your project.
A trusted and experienced remodeling team will take into account your investment goals and project vision to craft a design that satisfies both. Older homes often come with behind-the-walls surprises, which lead to additional expenses, so a historic home renovation expert may even leave room in the proposed plan to prevent cost overrun when construction begins.
Find Inspiration for Your Home Renovation
You don’t have to have every detail of your design figured out before you talk to a home renovation company, but you should have at least an idea of what you’re looking for. Do you have more modern or traditional style preferences? Are you wanting to develop an all-new layout, or are you just envisioning cosmetic updates?
One of the best ways to get questions like these answered is to find sources of inspiration. You can look online at home renovation blogs and sites like Pinterest, or simply draw ideas from what’s beyond your four walls. If you have friends and family who have completed home renovations, take advantage of their knowledge by discussing your vision with them and learning about their remodeling experience. This can shed additional light on what design features may or may not make sense for your space.
Of course, once you partner with a home renovation company, a designer will help flesh out your ideas and can make professional recommendations that improve the look and feel of the overall design.
Create a Home Renovation Wishlist
Prior to your historic home renovation, you’ll want to consider what you do and don’t like about your current space. Owners of older houses often love the intricate details that make a room so special, but aren’t big fans of their home’s lack of modern functionality for everyday living.
Write down your “need to haves,” “nice to haves,” and “pie-in-the-sky” wishes – and don’t be afraid to get specific. This will give your home renovation company a clearer picture of what you’re expecting and help them appropriately prioritize your requests.
Take the Opportunity to Declutter Ahead of Your Home Renovation
Whether your home renovation is large or small, you’ll need to clear the space of any items that fill it. But before you start packing everything up and storing it away, it’s a great opportunity to go through your belongings and determine what you’d like to keep and what you’d rather part with. By doing this prior to your historic home renovation, you ensure your finished space will be clutter-free and only includes items that are truly benefiting you.
Although some things may have to be tossed in the trash, there are several ways to pass on the items you no longer want. It’s easy to give your belongings a second life by donating them to local charities and thrift stores or selling them through an online marketplace or neighborhood garage sale.
Plan Alternate Living Arrangements for Your Home Renovation
If you’re planning a larger home renovation, like a whole-house remodel, you may need to stay elsewhere while your primary residence is being worked on. You’ll want to research accommodation options beforehand and nail down a solution that’s within your budget and works well for the entire family. Pick a location that’s still in close proximity to your most visited places, like work and school.
Vet Home Renovation Companies – and Hire a Team You Know You Can Trust
When it comes to a historic home renovation project, not just any remodeler will do. You need a home renovation company who cares about making your dreams a reality and respects the unique style language of your house.
Old homes are full of distinctive features that should be highlighted, not erased. General remodelers often don’t have the knowledge and expertise to properly handle these design elements and end up covering them or removing them altogether. A team who specializes in historic home renovations near you has all the necessary tools, techniques, and talent to help you achieve a period-appropriate design with livable function and style.
When it’s time to start looking for a home renovation company for your upcoming project, you’ll want to contact licensed, insured, and experienced craftsmen who are dedicated to treating your home as if it were their own and ultimately choose the one you feel most confident can realize your vision.
For more information about preparing for your remodeling project, reach out to a reputable historic home renovation company in your area.
