28 | HUNTSVILLE LIVING | NOVEMBER 2024
How to prepare for a long
Home renovations can increase resale value and outfit spaces to make them more accommodating to residents . Homeowners interested in remodeling projects understand that such undertakings are often a lengthy process . But the time spent waiting often is well worth it when the work is done and the finished product looks just as homeowners imagined .
Depending on the scope and scale of a project , home renovations can take anywhere from a day or two for minor cosmetic changes to nine months for a major project . The lender RenoFi says projects like remodeling a kitchen or bathroom have a lot of moving parts , including plumbing and electrical work , structural changes , flooring , and installation of appliances . Due to that complexity , such projects may take six to 12 weeks . A home addition can take months . Homeowners weary of such lengthy undertakings can implement strategies to make conditions at home more manageable .
% Get a rough estimate from contractors so that you can budget accordingly . A project will go nowhere without proper funding . Get detailed estimates that include labor and building materials . Then start saving and stash money away for the project so you ’ re not caught off-guard later on .
% Clear out clutter . Remove any extraneous items from the room or rooms that will be remodeled . Although it will be an added expense , it is a good idea to rent a storage unit or have a storage pod placed in the driveway or yard for the duration of the project . Move items that will not be needed into the unit . This will get them out of the way and protect them from damage .
% Consider starting in warm weather . Contractors will be going in and out of the home each day , and doors and windows may need to be propped open . Schedule a project during those months when temperatures are more comfortable . If the project involves limited access to the kitchen to cook , utilizing an outdoor grill or kitchen is much easier when the weather is pleasant .
% Stay with relatives . While some people have no issues living in a residence during a renovation , others may find the work simply too inconvenient or distracting to be around . Time away from the property can help manage stress , and prevent kids , pets and others from getting in the way of work .
% Safeguard sensitive items . Take inventory of items in the home and catalog them for insurance purposes . This way you ’ re covered in the case of damage or theft . Remove documents , like birth certificates , passports , insurance policies , and other private papers , and keep them in a safety deposit box or fireproof safe .
Home renovations may stretch on for weeks or months . However , with adequate preparation , homeowners can see such projects through without facing too much adversity .
28 | HUNTSVILLE LIVING | NOVEMBER 2024