Advice You Want to Hear

Contributed by Bonnie Moore Patefacio Design Inc.

Advice You Want to Hear

Renovating: you either love this process or want to run from it! I often refer to home renovations as a marriage with your Contractor. It can be a very emotional situation when you see parts of your home being removed, changed, or demolished.

Having a large renovation completed on my own home, I remember the stress when I saw a mess as the project began: dumpster in the driveway, lumber piled high, garage contents filling my front porch. It was a hive of activity, and an organized chaos for several months.

I have amassed many valuable tips that will help you have the best stress-less renovation experience possible.

One particular area that I encourage all clients to take advantage of is to purchasing products ahead of time, storing them in your basement or with the manufacturer. This can guarantee what you need will be there when you need it. This also assists in the budgeting of your project, if products are ordered and paid for, you know exactly what money you have left to work with.

Create a renovation checklist. This begins with the items you know you will need but can be edited and updated. A checklist will give you a picture of the work that needs to be tackled, as well as a potential timeline.

Example Checklist:

· Set the budget for the full renovation. · Visit bank for Line of Credit or funds transfer. · Create a file for colour concepts, ideas. Pinterest is great for gathering ideas. · Visit your town office and ask about permits and how long they will take to receive. For example, does your septic need to be improved if you are adding a bedroom or bathroom? · Designer. Ask for referrals from friends. · Floor plans/blueprints/engineered drawings? · Dumpster for delivery - ask about disposal fees. · Use recycled materials that may reduce product costs: upcycling, offcuts, stock items? · Evaluation by a Realtor. If your home is worth $400,000 and you are planning a renovation budget at $100,000 is your home in an area that will get a $500,000 value at the end of the project? · Hire a cleaner for before, during and after · Have prepared meals/ freezer foods ready.

Add a 15% contingency with your finances for items that cannot be foreseen and for change order fees. When you have a signed agreement with your Contractor and you make a change to the plan, installation or product, there will most likely be additional change order costs. Most Contractors are flexible and easy to work with and may make changes for you free of charge, but there is no guarantee. For example, once a kitchen is ordered, if changes to cabinets are made there will definitely be an up charge for additional cabinets or changes during manufacturing. Once in production, manufacturers will not make changes to the plans, colours of cabinet type or measurement.

The main cost of a renovation is usually Contractor fees. I suggest asking your Contractor to provide a list of items you may be able to do in terms of labour. For example, is there drywall, cabinets, or flooring you can remove?

If drywall is being removed, I often refer an idea that is met with curiosity, which is, to spatter a few paint splotches of colours and see how you feel about the colours! Have fun! Visit Bonnie's FaceBook - Patefaciodesign