A Roadmap for renovations or new builds
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hether building new or renovating an existing structure, creating a new home is a journey of discovering who you are and what is really important to you. It’s an opportunity for you to define yourself and to create a reflection of what matters to you. As with any large undertaking the most important time spent is in the planning. You need to have a vision of what you want the end result to be and what it will cost to get you there both in time and money. Taking time for these few steps will make your project more organized and should invariably lead to better results. 1. Set goals. Starting a new build or an extensive renovation can be daunting. Decide what you want, what you need, what you must have and what you can do
without. Writing down your goals helps to solidify your plan. 2. Establish a budget. When making your budget, of course you’ll begin with what you can afford, and how the cost of your build fits in with your overall life plans. Include everything that will go into the project and don’t forget to add a healthy dose of ‘just in case’ budget for times when things don’t go exactly as planned. 3. Decide on a team to complete the project. Look for professionals with strong skills in the areas that are important to you. Check with other people who have used them and do some research into their strengths. The people you chose will make a difference not only in the final outcome of your build but also in the minute details along the way. Choose wisely.
AT HOME
4. Plan, plan and then plan some more. Moving walls or rearranging space on paper is a whole lot easier that changing the real things. Dream big and re visit your ideas many times to ensure the plan will work for you. The worst feeling is to see the finished project and say “we should have done this differently.” 6. Accept the inevitable. You’ve made the plans and secured the money and hired the people, now everything should run perfectly; probably not. No matter how much you plan, stuff happens. Stay calm, keep your sense of humor and work with your team to address the issue. This is where having the right team in place can make the biggest difference and save your sanity. Making good decisions at the beginning will be the start of a great adventure. Enjoy the journey.
ReFined WEYBURN & AREA
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