From Concept to Construction ™

Condo Renovation Tips You Should Follow

February 8, 2025

Do you live in a condo and want your unit restored or remodeled? Perhaps you’ve been researching condo remodel ideas and viewing photos of refurbished units and want to transform your space. You should know that condo renovation is not an easy task, especially if you have a lot of remodeling ideas. Then, there’s the budget to consider and the timeline to adhere to. All of these factors can complicate condo renovations. Thankfully, even with all these, there are several tips you can follow to make the work much less daunting. In this post, we will discuss condo renovating tips that you should follow for you to have an easy time remodeling your space: Understand the condo rules in your area Can you refurbish a condominium? Yes, however, the condo’s rules must be obeyed. Plain and simple. If you keep this in mind from the start, you’ll likely have the board’s support and the day-to-day property management team. Need to reserve elevators for a last-minute load-in? If you’ve played relatively well from the beginning, the crew that keeps your condo running efficiently will most likely be on your side and willing to accommodate last-minute requests. Know who you are renovating for When starting a significant condo renovation, you must decide who you are remodeling for. Will you stay in your condo for many years of enjoyment? Or are you updating solely to increase the sale price? Once you’ve made your selection, you can pursue either strategy. If it’s for fun, you could extend your budget further. Work with a designer. A designer comes in handy when you are renovating your condominium and they can help you turn your thoughts into reality. Many condo occupants and owners frequently have a variety of concepts and designs in mind but struggle to turn them into reality. A designer will help you by guiding you through the furniture selection, color palettes, and fixture options. Remember that not every designer is right for you. You should take your time and find a reputable professional who will help you bring your ideas to life and hold your hand throughout the process. Know your limits Knowing your constraints is essential when undertaking a renovation. You must have a realistic design and remodeling plan; otherwise, you will waste a lot of money on plans that cannot be completed.     Consider that specific design options or structural designs are not viable in tiny spaces or due to a condominium association or board restriction. Thankfully, your designer or remodeling team can assist or guide you if what you want is not possible. Play around with lighting. Most people underestimate the impact of changing the lighting when it comes to house renovations. Most apartments have cement ceilings, which means there are fewer options for additional lighting fixtures. You can change this during renovation by adjusting the ceiling height and installing a lighting fixture with a six to 12-inch drop. You can also add more lighting to other regions of your unit to create greater impact. Consider building up Condominium structures have many design characteristics. Some with elaborate moldings that give […]

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Common Mistakes Homeowners Make When Remodeling Their Condos

July 27, 2024

Studies show that many homeowners make plenty of mistakes when remodeling their condos. These mistakes include: Going for the cheapest contractors The quotes you receive from several condo remodel contractors you interview will differ significantly. The majority of them most likely lie in a similar mid-range, with one perhaps being high and another relatively low. A frugal homeowner may believe they have found the solution after seeing that inexpensive estimate, but things are not as simple as they seem. Perhaps the contractor omitted something from your quote, which is why it is substantially less than the others. It’s also possible they’re giving you a quote without including the cost of permits or debris disposal, or they’re using technicians with less experience or lower-quality supplies. Regretfully, there are instances where the contractor may be purposefully deceiving you. It hurts to learn about it, but it does occur. You should avoid contractors who refuse to provide a receipt or who offer a discount in exchange for payment. This is because these are often signs of dishonest contractors. You should note that there’s usually a valid explanation if a quote is low. When you receive a quote that is much lower than the average, you shouldn’t rush to take it. Instead, you should be concerned about the caliber of the job. If you believe that hiring a professional is pricey, consider the expense of hiring a professional to correct amateur work that you attempted to save money on. This is a note to say that you should go with the highest quote to guarantee quality work. It’s probably not real if it seems too good to be true. When you receive the quote, inquire if the contractor has defined every material by brand, model, and finish. Next, find out if the quote covers every task included in the project, line by line. To be safe and ensure that you don’t hire a contractor that you later regret, you want to see a lengthy, in-depth quote. Short and superficial ones will simply not do your project any justice, so you should avoid them. Focusing too much on the aesthetics There is always the allure of a fresh, modern kitchen or bathroom, but don’t be in a rush. And don’t prioritize fixing cosmetic issues over structural ones. To be safe, take your time and hire a contractor to conduct a house inspection before beginning any new job. This ensures that you know precisely what you are getting into before renovating. Inspecting the house also helps you budget for the remodeling and devise a plan for how you will go about it. When remodeling, take care of structural problems with your home first. This calls for you to start with the foundation, windows, doors, roof, etc. After that’s finished, you can go to the house’s interior. While at it, also ensure that all the parts of the house are working as well as they should. For example, confirm if your kitchen exhaust fan is strong enough. Does it properly vent out of the house, or does it vent into the attic? Find this out and fix […]

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