Deciding to renovate your house can be an enormous decision - and not one that should be taken lightly. After all, we are talking about invested funds, and in most cases, lots of it! So, don't jump into such an extensive project without first following these guidelines that'll help your renovation run as smoothly as possible, cause the least disturbance to your every day life, look as professional as they can be, and help you remain within your initial budget parameters.

(Expect the Best) BUT - Be Prepared for the Worse!

Like any marginally qualified girl guide, you'll want to "be prepared" for the myriad, personal, and financial challenges that large renovations may bring into your life. Of course, you can avoid the likelihood of too many hurdles, by being as organized as possible. Make sure you select and order all your necessary products ahead of time. Things can happen with suppliers, and it's better that they occur in advance of your renos - no one wants to be stuck without appliances for a month! So cover your bases, order all products well in advance, and you'll be that much further ahead of the game.

You'll also want to be prepared for any and all unexpected delays and inevitable inconveniences. A reputable renovator can sit down with you and give you the "full meal deal" on all the possible difficulties that could arise. You'll want to fully know what you're getting into, so you can adjust your life and your expectations appropriately.

Budget for the Present and Beyond....

Whatever the estimates are for your renovation project, try to add on a buffer of at least twenty five percent. This cushion can help you cover unforeseen difficulties, expenses, and challenges that may happen along the way. Remember that this buffer is ideally not to be spent on spontaneous and superfluous upgrades along the way - keep this amount set aside specifically for unexpected expenses, as they may very well happen.

Research Your Contractors

Choosing a good contractor is paramount. Ideally, if you can find someone through word of mouth than this is truly the best research. Perhaps a friend, or even a friend of a friend had some amazing renos just done and were very happy with their contractor. Talk to these folks about their experience and find out all you can about why they would recommend this particular contractor. If you don't have any direct referrals from people you know, ask potential contractors to offer referrals from previous clients and follow up on these referrals.

Beyond referrals, investigate that they have liability insurance, and belong to the Better Business Bureau. Another great way to know more about a contractor is to visit a job site they are currently working on. You can learn a lot just from watching them work, and by observing how they organize the site and their work.

Once you've hired someone you like, the key to a positive experience is communication. Along the way communicate if anything whatsoever is unsatisfactory so it can be dealt with immediately. With good communication you'll avoid small problems exploding into much larger ones.

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