Home Improvement, Tips Ahead – pointers for buyers if you are investing in a fixer-upper or new home. Biggest takeaway is – research prices related to your renovation project, because programs gloss over hidden costs like labor. The city and suburbs reflect this truism.
Take TV shows with a grain of salt. One can’t flip through the TV channels without seeing a home improvement show. They’re fun to watch but don’t be taken in by oversimplified projects.
Remodeling in Big Cities – Expect High Labor Costs
Remodeling your home is far more complex and expensive than TV pundits lead you to believe. Shows price material costs but often omits or undervalues labor. Labor alone can be 50% of the total expenditures.
Reliable contractors are hard to find. Good contractors can be pricy, but you are paying for dependability.
You’ll learn much about property ownership if you purchase a fixer-upper and start a major renovation. If you’re a first-time buyer looking to renovate, be prepared. Renovation is hard work. Things go wrong, and you may experience delays before the payoff of a beautiful home.
Home Improvement, Tips Ahead
- Ignore TV shows: Labor cost make or break a project. TV shows show agreeable costs. However, entertainment does not match reality. You will spend more than that on your favorite renovation show.
- Create a budget and then some: Before remodeling a home, remember that renovations cost more than the estimates. Experts recommend setting aside 20% of the project total price.
- Quotes come in writing: It is easier to verify the renovation costs with a written estimate. Check for hidden costs. Request a project quote as a baseline to avoid disagreements.
- Expertise counts: Investing in your home is one of the best decisions you can make. Professional architects help transform any space to meet your needs while achieving beauty. Interior designers advise on color schemes, moods, and furniture for a balanced interior appeal.
- Advice vs. Opinion: Your friends have their opinions. Remember that it is up to you make the decisions.
Make it about you.
- Focus on you: You should always remodel for your lifestyle and don’t worry about fashions or trends. If you flip the property, the reverse is true: make decisions that will maximize the sale price.
- Minimize your role: Hiring a general contractor helps avoid hassle and delays. If self-contracting, each tradesperson will have their timeline. If one person is delayed because the material was not pre-positioned, all work may grind to a halt. An experienced general contractor can help smooth the process.
- Stop and shop: When buying materials, keep suppliers to a minimum. This way, organizing receipts is easier.
- Be tactful: Don’t rely solely on internet reviews for appliance decisions. Try to see the product in a store first.
- Labor: Labor costs in a major city differ from labor costs in the suburbs.
Photo Courtesy of Milivoj Kuhar on Unsplash
