Two of the biggest reasons why homeowners hesitate when remodeling their homes are time and money. People often wonder how much it will cost and if they do not know, they end up being so afraid of the cost that they never start. Others wonder how long it will take and want the project completed as quickly as possible so they can get back to their lives. To help things along, here are some things you can do to shorten the timeframe and avoid your project being derailed by delays.
Have the Design and Other Details Finalized Beforehand
A common cause of delays in home remodeling projects is not having the design and the rest of the details finalized before the contractor gets to work. When everything is not finalized and concrete decisions made before the project starts, a homeowner might be tempted to go back to tweak something about the project. This causes the contractor to readjust, which ends up wasting a lot of time.
If you want your project to be completed faster, work with your contractor to finalize everything about the project before work begins. Going back and forth with your contractor over the phone or email is tedious and time-consuming and this is why using mind mapping tools is a great alternative. You can both work on changes and additions to the mind map until you are both satisfied and then use the mind map as a guide on what exactly needs to be done without deviating from the designs and plans you have worked on together.
Have All the Materials at Hand
Before you start pulling anything down or demolishing anything, it is important that you have all materials at hand. Barring this, you should have budgeted for everything and gotten in touch with retailers and wholesalers to ensure you can get everything you need without too much fuss.
If you do not make these arrangements, you might run out of materials in the middle of the project and be forced to pause it as you source the materials or arrange for more funds.
Have All Necessary Permits
Make sure you or your contractor has applied for and gotten all the permits and all other required documentation before you start the project. This includes the general building permits to start the project as well as the approved plans for changes to electrical systems, plumbing, and heating. Having these permits beforehand helps the project stay on course and prevents you from adding more scope once the work starts.
Ask for the Schedule and Timeframe
You should always ask for schedules and projected timeframes for all the work being done as part of the project. This is the best way to tell how the project is going and can be a way to put pressure on your contractor if you start seeing them fall behind.
Hire a Reputable Contractor
Making the wrong decision when hiring a contractor could lead to the project being extended significantly as you might have to hire somebody else to fix their shoddy work. It’s always worth investing more time before beginning your project into finding a contractor you can trust to get great results, than rushing it and having to spend more time and money later.
Time it Right
Timing your project all wrong could be a considerable reason why it ends up being delayed. Before you start your project, it’s important to be fully aware of how long it can be expected to take so that you can plan around it. It’s probably a bad idea to start a big project in your home if you have a huge event coming up, like a new baby due. Although it’s possible, this can cause unnecessary stress and increase the risk of you pausing your project half-way through. Ideally, you should book contractors for a timeframe where you don’t have anything else planned, allowing you to put all your focus and efforts into getting the project completed as quickly as possible.
Consider Staying Somewhere Else
If you are living in the property at the same time that it is being renovated, this might lead to some delays as you will need to be able to use certain parts of the home. Although it might not be a possible option for everybody, moving out of the property so that the contractors can get on with the work without having to worry about whether or not you’re going to be able to use the bathroom or kitchen, for example, can help you get the job finished much faster. Stay with family or use it as an excuse to book an Airbnb and get a mini-break away from home.
Home remodeling projects are already stressful enough without thinking about potential delays. Homeowners should do everything they can to make the process as smooth as possible so the project can be completed promptly.
