Tips to Make Your Next Home Improvement Project Go Smoothly

Resist the urge to dive straight into your next home improvement project. Before you begin, it’s beneficial to take a little time to determine your budget, make a plan to organize everything, and create a flexible timeline to complete the project successfully.

Plan Some Flex in Your Budget

One of the most popular reasons for homeowners to take on DIY projects is to save money. The cost of labor associated with home renovation is usually the most expensive part. So, take time to plan out your budget and get organized from the start. The most straightforward way to do this is to pay a visit to your local home improvement store. Bring a notebook and take note of prices on things like plumbing fixtures, lighting, tile and flooring. Once you have an idea of their cost, you should sit down and determine a ballpark figure.

The next step is to try to determine exactly how much you will need for other components of the remodel—things like screws, nails, electrical switch plates, framing wood and drywall. It’s also important to be flexible regarding materials and quantities. To be on the safe side, a good rule of thumb is to plan on spending 10 to 20 percent over your estimated budget.

Organization Plan

Keep yourself sane by creating a plan to organize your tools and supplies. Keeping tools organized is critical to keeping things running smoothly. You don’t want to be running around looking for a tool while adhesives dry without adhering things together or eyeballing critical cuts because you can’t find your measuring tape.

For easy access, you might want to organize your tools using something like a pegboard or tool foam. This can help you to keep all your tools in a place where you can easily find them. This can also help you to be safe, as each individual tool will have a place that isn’t on the floor where you could otherwise step on them and injure yourself.

Create a Flexible Timeline

Perhaps the most frustrating part of a home renovation is when work comes to a standstill waiting for as-yet-undelivered supplies or an inspection by city or county officials. So, create a flexible timeline for your remodel. Find out what the lead time is for components of the plan that need to be ordered and proceed accordingly.

Also, be aware that city and county inspectors visit dozens of properties every week and may not be available to inspect the finished work on your property for several days or even weeks. Don’t be tempted to forego these official inspections. The inspector has to review certain aspects of the renovation before the next step can be completed.

Organizing and performing a home renovation yourself can save you money and give you satisfaction. Fortunately, there are ways like these that can help make the process a little easier. You can make it go a little more smoothly by getting organized before you start.