Remodeling your home: One room at a time

It can be tempting to take out a huge loan and remodel your entire house to be exactly what you want it to be. This is especially true if you are buying a new house and just want it to feel finished before you move in. But the problem is that remodeling takes time and money you may not have to spare. However, if you do just one room at a time, you’ll be much better off. Here are some tips for remodeling one room at a time.

Pick the first room to work on

If you are moving into a new home and want to remodel one room before you get in, pick the kitchen and/or bathroom. These are the areas you will use the most when you have finally moved in to your house, so they will be the most inconvenient to lose for a few weeks at a time. If you only have one bathroom, you definitely want to do that before moving in because it is too difficult to be without a bathroom for more than a day or two. Otherwise, the kitchen might be a good first move.

However, if you are going to be living in the space while you complete the remodel, you should consider starting on the easiest room. If you have one room that needs nothing more than a paint job, do that one first. You will complete it quickly, and you’ll feel like you’ve made a lot of progress getting one room finished.

Do your planning

Planning exactly what you want in the room is another important step in remodeling. Set a budget you can stick to for the room. If you are on a tight budget, this is when you would want to make hard decisions on what you can and cannot afford to do. Ask yourself, do you really need the most expensive finishes? Or can you be happy with ones that are still as nice but not quite as expensive? If you aren’t able to plan and stick to a budget at this phase of the remodel, you may not be able to afford to do any of the other rooms in your house when you are finished.

Go with the flow

Anyone who has ever done a remodeling project in the past knows that it is a hard road. Not all remodeling is as easy as snapping a baseboard heater cover into place. Maybe you have terrible contractors or you find mold during the remodel. Whatever the case, don’t go into this expecting it will all run smoothly. The truth is, something always comes up or goes wrong. You need to be able to go with the flow, so you don’t stress out too much about what is happening. Prepare for bad things, but hope they don’t happen. Stay in close contact with your contractor (if you have one) to make sure things are getting done as you want them to. It could be a big problem if your contractor put in the wrong color paint or installed the wrong countertops. As long as you are flexible and communicating well with those who are working on your house, you are in a pretty good position.

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