Is it time to make a change in your Vancouver home? Perhaps a facelift for your kitchen is in order, or maybe you are finally ready to make the leap and renovate an outdated bathroom. Before you sign contracts with a renovation professional, a little soul searching is in order. Take the time to research, search deep and focus on what you really want to achieve your visions of the perfect home.

Design Book

When considering a major renovation, know what you want. While some ideas might simply pop into your head, you have also likely browsed through websites, design magazines and architectural blogs to find a little inspiration for your project. Keep track of any design specifics that appeal to you most. These might include particular color selections, custom cabinets, types of flooring, the bathroom layout or a kitchen concept. Keep a binder with notes on these specifics as well as pictures from magazines and printed off websites. When you find your general contractor, this design book will provide valuable information about the look and feel you are going for in your home, and it can help your contractor to design a room that is just right for your taste and style.

Renovation Goal

Another thing to consider before tearing down walls and completing a Vancouver reno is your goal. Are you remodeling your kitchen to increase resale value? Are you updating your bathroom to modernize it? Do you want to enhance your lifestyle by adding a room or completing a major renovation like adding a second story to the house? Realizing your goal helps you to prioritize your wishlist, and it can provide you with important information that will help you to determine your budget and timeline.

Reno Budget

Once you have a basic idea about your design aesthetic and goal for the space, it is time to come up with a budget. Crunch some numbers to get an idea about how much it is going to cost to remodel your kitchen, renovate your bathroom, add a bedroom or finish your basement. Make sure your budget includes both the cost of the renovation and any costs you will incur if you have to temporarily relocate. Make your budget realistic, and be sure to include a contingency to allow for any unexpected costs. Discussing your project and budget with a professional general contractor helps to make this possible. After your budget is in place, you can move forward toward saving the funds or deciding how you will finance your dream Vancouver renovation.

Expectations

Finally, have a family meeting to discuss your renovation. Make sure you are all on the same page about the project and have realistic expectations about how the process will move forward, any inconveniences you might experience and what the end result will be. Include your renovation contractor in this conversation to help answer any questions and develop a timeline. Having an open, honest conversation that includes everyone who will be impacted by the reno will help to reduce stress and keep you grounded throughout the construction process.

When customers work with Alair Homes, these important steps are made easier through the use of our proprietary software system. With this software, homeowners experience a higher level of transparency, improved communication, a simplified selection process for materials, finishings and sub-contractors and timely information regarding inspections and the timeline. This reduces stress and improves satisfaction every step of the way. To learn more about the Alair Homes advantage, call our Vancouver general contractors to schedule your free, no obligation consultation.