SmartHomeOwners

Home renovation enables you to transform a room or your entire home into what you want it to be, and doing the renovation yourself can save tremendously on the cost of your project.  But if you don't plan carefully, your dream can turn into a nightmare quickly.  You might be asking yourself, "Where should I start?"  Perhaps you're wondering if you should go ahead and buy materials and tools and then design the rooms as you go?  This is a big no-no!  Use the guide below to get a wise, cost-effective start on your home improvement project.

Draw Up a Plan

Before you buy or do anything, you should plan every aspect of your home renovation project.  Draw or sketch your ideas on paper.  Measure the space you have to work with to be sure your ideas are feasible.  Consider how the changes will affect the traffic patterns in your home.  For instance, tearing down part of a wall between the kitchen and living area will provide more space for foot traffic; however, it will also expose more of the kitchen to guests who are seated in the living room.  If you want to make a space larger, consider all the different ways available to make it happen and how the change will affect other rooms. You can also use home design software to create a design layout for each room.

Also, be sure to plan what items will need to be installed and how much it will cost to do so.  This is particularly true for the bath and kitchen.  Will you need new cabinets, new appliances, new fixtures, a new toilet or vanity, etc?  Can your older cabinets be refinished to make them look new?  Can paint, wall board or paneling be used for older walls or will you need to replace the sheetrock entirely?  You'll also need to figure out where the house's support beams are located as well as electrical wiring when tearing down or replacing walls.

*NOTE:  For structural changes or additions, you might be required to obtain a building permit.  Check with your local building/zoning department for details.

Don't Forget Detail

It's the detail of a room that makes or breaks it.  Even when making a major change in a room's overall design, you can focus on detail as a finishing touch.  Determine this ahead of time so you won't have any surprises.  Detail can include crown molding, windows, doors, light fixtures and electrical outlets.

Use the Web

You can view countless home improvement journals with photos on the Web.  Many homeowners post their experiences on their website to help other homeowners that are venturing into a do-it-yourself home project.  Find a few projects that are similar to yours.  Learn from their mistakes and get ideas from their projects.  Some even provide contact information if you need to ask questions.  This is a great way to get free input on your project and to overcome obstacles!

Set a Budget

Sounds simple, but if you don't set a budget from the start you might end up being broke half way through the project.  You should determine how much you can spend at the forefront and then adjust the plans to fit your budget.  Don't ever adjust your budget to fit your plans.  You'll end up spending thousands more!

Some ways to save money:

*Compare materials at various suppliers.
*Borrow expensive tools from a friend or even rent from a store if cheaper.
*Determine what needs to be higher quality and what really does not.
*Ask carpet/flooring stores about remnants if you need flooring for a smaller room.
*Shop at home improvement thrift stores (i.e. Habitat for Humanity stores)

Share your home renovation ideas with your family and get their input. Keep an open mind and be willing to compromise.  Use this opportunity to create a dream home that every member of your family will enjoy!