4 tips to follow before starting your home renovation 

Renovating your home is an exciting prospect, especially if it’s a project you’ve been hoping to start for years. But now that your finances are in order and you’ve got the time to start such a big commitment, you might be wondering, “where do I begin?” 

There are four main tasks you need to tick off on your ‘To Do’ list before starting your home makeover project. And take it from this property buyers agent – you won’t want to rush into a reno before taking the time to plan! 

Plan it out

Whether you’re hiring professionals to do the work for you, or rolling your sleeves up to renovate your own home, you’ll need to work from a brief that highlights your goals. 

Every renovation brief should include an expected timeframe for completion, budget, style, inclusions, exclusions, non-negotiables and any other details you need to help guide you through the process. 

Your brief should also include visual references, as this will ensure you keep your aesthetic on track when you start designing and purchasing the materials needed to begin your reno. 

Create a budget

We all know how easy it is to overspend when you’re excited about starting a new project, so I strongly advise to plan out a detailed budget that will keep you on track. It’s all too easy to get swept up in the hundreds of decisions required of you during a home makeover, so having that budget there will help to limit your spending on unnecessary items and materials. 

The best way to start is to create a spreadsheet that includes as many actual confirmed costs as possible. To do this, you’ll have to source many of the resources required before you begin, so that you can work out the best prices and locate the best deals. You might even get lucky and spot a sale that’s too good to pass up! 

But remember, just because it’s on sale, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right fit for your project, so be frugal but realistic in your budgeting you’re your purchases. 

Make a vision board

Mood boards, vision boards, inspiration boards. Whatever you call them, they’re a necessary component of the renovation process. 

It’s never a good idea to dive head first into a home renovation without sharing your clear vision with the other parties involved. Even if you’re handy with a hammer and know what you want to achieve, I encourage you to save your most inspiring renovation images for future reference. 

Whether they’re cut-outs from a lifestyle magazine or images from a Pinterest board, there are likely to be common elements throughout your visual references to refer back to should you get stuck. These boards can also be useful if you’re looking for a specific material such as tiles, cornices, bannisters and the like, and require the help of an expert to help you locate the piece. 

Visit showrooms for inspiration

While the internet is a great way to research and compare your renovation ideas, there’s no better way to get a feel for an aesthetic or style than visiting a showroom or display home in person. 

Sighting the examples in person helps you to work out more than just your ideal wall paint colour, ceiling height or entryway design. Visiting a display home or showroom can also guide you with picking your appliances, décor, furnishings, floorings and more. Depending on the display home, you should also be able to collect samples to compare and contrast at home.

You’ll also find that the experts you meet at your showroom tour will be able to share their wealth of information, further guiding you in your renovation plans.

So what do you have planned for your home renovation? Whether you live in a house or an apartment, renovating is always a great idea if you’re looking to sell. And if you’re looking to buy, why not start with a fixer-upper? Our buyers advocate agency can certainly guide you on your way! Give us a call on (02) 8916 6172 or email our team at support@kittyandmiles.com.au for more information!