If you are planning on taking on a DIY home renovation project yourself make it your business to become an expert. As the old saying goes – ‘knowledge is power’ so I’ve put together 7 things to consider to make sure you set yourself up for success.
Let images do the talking
It’s a good idea to compile a little scrapbook of inspiration clippings. Sites like Instagram, Houzz and Pinterest are fantastic for this as they allow you to create pinboards and idea books, which are a great way to communicate ideas. Take these images with you when visiting showrooms to share with sales staff. You’ll find it’s a much easier way to explain what you are looking for than having to describe it.
Research builders and tradespeople
When it comes to picking a builder or tradesperson for your DIY home renovation – do your homework. Speak to friends or neighbours and go to look at previous jobs before committing. You want to make sure that they are reliable and capable of delivering on time and within budget as well as producing good quality workmanship. Picking a builder or tradesperson without references is definitely not a good idea.
Fix the price
Once you have found a builder, I would strongly advise that you fix the price for the whole home renovation job. Never agree on an hourly or a daily rate. A fixed rate means that the boundaries are clearly defined and, most importantly, means that trust is established.
Get some professional advice
There will be a lot of decisions to be made when tackling a DIY home renovation project. From layout to the location of lighting to colour scheme etc. It can be a bit overwhelming, especially if the contractor is putting you under pressure for answers. This kind of pressure can lead to hasty decisions that you will later regret.
Getting some professional home renovation advice can make all the difference and remove much of the stress that goes hand in hand with these kinds of projects.
There is a misconception that hiring an architect or designer is expensive but as long as you are upfront about what you have to spend you will find that most professionals will have services that will suit your budget. Even employing someone on an hourly basis will help you avoid potentially costly mistakes, thus saving you money in the long run.
Do as much as you can in one go
As time-consuming and expensive as some of your plans may be, it’s better to get them done while your house is under construction than it is to wait even if it means making compromises elsewhere. The thought of calling the builders back in once the work is complete, with the accompanying upheaval and mess, is not something that you will be keen to do meaning that the postponed work may never get done.
Set aside some money for retention
At the end of your home renovation project, keep a minimum of 5% retention, and always make a snagging list. This is where once the job is finished you carefully examine the work noting anything that has not been finished to a reasonable standard, for example, gaps around switch or socket plates or areas of painting that need to be redone etc. The builder must then agree to finish these items.
Once the snagging is finished, you still hold back 5% for six months. At the end of the six months, if there are further problems the builder is obliged to fix them. If they refuse, you have every right to call in another tradesperson and withhold this money.
Weigh Up the cost
When you are taking on a DIY home renovation project, or have limited funds, there is a lot to be said for doing it yourself but be wary of apparent cost savings. If you have to take a week off work to do it, how much has that cost you? Work out what your own time is worth and weigh it up against the cost of tradesmen.
Share This Post
Do you know someone who could benefit from this blog post? Why not share the link to this post with a friend who you think might enjoy our content? Or share the post on your favourite social channel with the hashtag #optimisehome. We count on you to spread the word about the blog, so thank you for helping us get the blog in front of new readers.
