Building a custom home is the dream of millions of homeowners and it is a fortunate thing to be in that position. However, building a new dream home or planning a dream renovation for your current home is stressful on several levels. Careful planning that leaves room for the inevitable surprises can make the planning and building of a perfect home less fraught. Here are some steps to consider:

Find Out Why You Want to Renovate

There are probably as many reasons to remodel a home as their are homeowners. Some of the strongest reasons are:

  • The family is growing and more space is needed, but they don’t want to move.
  • The homeowner wants more space, but the market where they live is not conducive to either buying or selling at the moment.
  • The house is old, careworn and needs remodeling.
  • The house may be boring to live in.

Finding out the reasons for the redo will affect how much you are willing to spend and how much you are willing to have done.

Detail What Needs to Be Done

You will need to catalog everything that needs to be done to the house to make the renovation satisfactory. You may want to hire an architect if the job is more than changing the decor of the house or buying new appliances. Architects are experts at organizing what needs to be done during major remodels.

Who Should Do the Work

Who is actually going to do the work depends on how much work needs to be done and how complicated it is. Some very ambitious, highly skilled homeowners undertake major remodels themselves, but few are actually good at it and save themselves money. A handy DIYer may be able to complete things such as laying tile, painting, wallpapering or simple carpentry jobs. A professional contractor needs to be called in if a remodel requires new plumbing, wiring or roofing. A general contractor such as Alair Homes Chandler can handle anything from adding new tile to a shower stall to completely designing a custom home.

Hiring a contractor for a renovation is laborious, but needs to be done to protect both the homeowner and the contractor. It is too easy for a homeowner who does not check references or insist of a written contract to be scammed. On the other hand, if a worker on the project is injured and the company doesn’t have worker’s compensation, the homeowner may be liable for the worker’s medical bills.

Money

Renovating a home is not only expensive, it’s more expensive than the homeowner thinks it is. The best way to pay for it is through savings, but loans are available through government agencies, banks and through refinancing an existing mortgage. One way to save money is to renovate during the contractor’s off-season, which is usually in the winter through early spring.