What Should You Consider When Renovating A Condo?
Do you have an old condo and wondering what you should consider when renovating it? Well, there are plenty of things to consider, with the common ones being: The rules Every location has rules, and you must play by them to avoid being on the wrong side. Before you embark on your condo remodel project, you should check the policies of your condo board. This is because the board may or may not have policies that might affect the materials you can use when you can do the renovations, the designs you can go with, the elevator you can use, and many other details. Sometimes, the board might require you to have a permit or approval to undertake the renovations. The last thing you want to do is to start your project, then you are halted in the middle. As much as you would want to complete your project fast, you should note that complying with these policies often takes time, so you should give yourself enough time so you aren’t in a hurry to complete the project when you see the deadline fast approaching. Discuss the projected timelines with an experienced board member, contractor, or designer to understand what to expect. The reasons for doing the renovations Why are you renovating the condo in the first place? You need to think about this. This is because the reasons for doing it will determine the materials you use and the designs to go for. For example, if you are redesigning to add value to sell the condominium or increase the rental costs, you shouldn’t use extremely premium products as chances are you won’t recoup your investment. You also should be cautious of your design, as sometimes you can put people off with it. To stay on the safe side, use a neutral design that gives the new owners room for customization. On the other hand, if you are doing it for your enjoyment and to make the condo more comfortable, you can use any materials you want. For the designs, you can go all out and personalize it as much as possible. After all, you are the one who will be living in the house, isn’t it? Your limits When you are coming up with a renovation project, it’s easy to be carried away by your imagination. To ensure that you don’t spend time thinking about impossible things, you should know your limits before you even devise a plan. For example, if your condo has old angled walls or intrusive columns, you should know what you can do with them. To stay on the safe side, work with experienced professionals who will guide you through. Lighting You need your condominium to be properly lit up. Of course, you can have large windows to bring in natural light, but you still need to consider lighting for the night. Most condos have cement ceilings, so you can’t drill into them to install the lighting fixtures. To have an easy time installing the lights, install dropped ceiling panels. Where to stay If you are currently living in the condominium you are looking to […]
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I Want To Renovate My House Where Do I Start
There are plenty of reasons you would want to renovate your house. Maybe you don’t like the current look, the house has become too small for your family, or any other reason. If you want to renovate your house but don’t know where to start, here is a guide given by home remodeling architects that you should follow: Have a plan This is the first thing you should do when thinking about remodeling your home. When you are coming up with a plan, you need to consider plenty of things. These things include: Who will do the project? This is important to consider, as it will directly impact the amount of money you spend on the project. If having a small project such as painting, small-scale demolitions, and baseboard installation, you can do the work yourself, but if it’s a major one such as large-scale demolition or door and window installation, it’s wise that you hire experienced professionals so that they can execute the project expertly. Your budget How much are you willing to spend on the project? The size of your project will influence this. When creating a budget, you must consider various factors such as paint, contractors, cabinets, countertops, etc. Many people try to cut costs with contractors and materials. While it’s okay to bargain, you shouldn’t go too low as you risk getting bad quality services or materials, and you don’t want this, do you? When hiring contractors, don’t hire the cheapest. The best way to go about it is to interview several contractors, settle on the one that charges you the least amount, and have proof that they provide excellent services. Regarding materials, visit several stores and see what is available. Obviously, you should stay away from the high-end stores as you usually pay premium prices for the same quality items you can get at lower prices elsewhere. Like contractors, avoid buying from extremely cheap stores as you risk buying extremely cheap products, which often don’t give you the results you are after. Think about the design and style of your home How will your home look once complete? You need to think about this. Regardless of whether you are remodeling a part or the entire house, you need to ensure that the spaces remain uniform. Most people are confused about the final look of their houses, so if you are one of these people, consult a professional to help you. Think about your budget as you come up with the house’s style. Remember that the more complex the house design, the more expensive it is, and vice versa. Get the appropriate permits. Some projects will require you to get a permit. In most cases, you will need a license when making footprint changes, structural changes, installing new windows, or undertaking plumbing and electrical modifications. You won’t need a permit when undertaking smaller projects such as painting or replacing the floor. To avoid being on the wrong side of the law, do your research beforehand and find out the permits you need so that you can add them to your budget. Another excellent way to go […]
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4 Ways You Are Sabotaging Your Home Remodeling Project
Did you know that you could be sabotaging your home remodeling project without even knowing it? Here are some of the ways you could be doing it as given by home remodeling architects: You change your mind too frequently Home remodeling is expensive, so everyone wants to ensure it turns out perfectly. Due to this, many people keep changing their minds. While nothing is wrong with this, changing your mind too frequently can become problematic. For example, when you change your mind every day. Imagine this. In the morning, when the contractors arrive, you inform them that you would love to make a few changes to the original design. Even if the changes are minor, you should note that they often lead to added costs. There are also changes in the schedules, as the contractors have to devise new ways to handle the changes. Instead of changing your mind after the project has started, the best way to go about it is to take your time and ensure that you have a bulletproof plan. This way, you start your project knowing that your plan will be perfect for your project, and you aren’t going to make any changes to it. Of course, you should get your plan from an expert architect that knows what they are doing. You are trying to apply lipstick on a pig. Here you might have an old house, but since you love it or don’t have the funds to bring it down and build a new one from scratch, you decide to renovate it. While renovating is always cheaper than building a new one, sometimes you are better off simply building a new building as the extent of damage is too extensive for any repairs to make sense or to restore it to its original condition. Don’t try to renovate a house with too many defects to save money and have peace of mind with your project. For example, don’t spend money on fancy cabinets if your home has a sagging foundation. Also, don’t install a high-efficiency furnace in a house without any insulation. If you want to buy a house for renovation, don’t buy it without consulting the experts. You should then follow the advice of the professionals—don’t try to be a smart ass and go against their advice, as chances are you will pump your hard-earned money on a project that isn’t worth it. You launch your project without permits. When you have been planning your project for a long time, it’s’ common to get excited and kick off the project as soon as you get some money. While this might work to your advantage, in most cases, it doesn’t as you start off the project without the necessary paperwork, which, as you can guess, leads to plenty of problems with the law enforcement officers. When the law catches up with you, you not only have to pause your project so that you can get the necessary permits, but you are sometimes fined an amount that you had curved out for the project. Instead of doing this, always be patient. If you are […]
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How To Update Your House With Minimal Renovations
Did you know that you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on renovations to update your home? Here are genius ways to update your home without undertaking major renovations on it: Create open space in your home According to home remodeling architects, open floor plans are exciting to live in and make your house appear open and airy. And the beauty is that you can achieve it without making major renovations. Sometimes, it’s as simple as getting rid of the bigger, bulkier furnishings or moving the furnishings around the room to see what gives your house a more open space. Do you have a large cabinet, armoire, or bulky furniture that is taking a lot of space? Get it outside to create the necessary space. If you are attached to it and would love to have it stay with you, experts recommend you paint it a warm off-white color that will help it “disappear” into the room by tricking the eye that the space is airy open. You can also give your house the illusion of open space by installing mirrors. When placed in opposite windows, mirrors reflect light into a room, making the room appear more open. To achieve excellent results, work with experts that know what they are doing and won’t botch your project. Add new lighting to your home. A properly lit house is not only bright, but also appears airy, open, and welcoming. On the other hand, a poorly lit house is small, dark, and cramped. The beauty is that there are plenty of ways to brighten up your house with lights. One of the easiest ways is to install a table lamp and floor lamp. By strategically placing a couple of tall floor lamps in the dark corners of your house, you give your house a new life. To give your house a welcoming and cozy look, layer the lighting with lamps on side tables. Do you want to be adventurous? Replace all the outdated ceiling fixtures with stunning masterpieces. Update the cabinet drawers and door handles Old, worn-out, dirty handle pulls and knobs significantly give your kitchen a dirty and unmaintained look, and you don’t want this, do you? To give your house a new look, update your cabinet and door handles. Thankfully, there are plenty of finishes to choose from. You can choose from bronze, aged copper, brushed nickel, and shiny stainless. There are no set rules that define how you should choose the cabinet pulls and knobs—it’s up to you to choose the best ones. For the best outcome, work with experienced professionals that will guide you in choosing the best handles and even help with the installation. Create an outdoor room Sometimes all you need to transform your old house is to add some outdoor space. And the beauty is you don’t need to build a new room from scratch. Even if your house doesn’t have a large front porch, there is a lot of space you can use to your advantage—you just need to be inventive. If your porch is large, place an outdoor rug there to […]
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Will Home Renovations Pay Off?
If you are asking, will home renovations pay off? You must be thinking about remodeling your house for sale, right? The good news is that renovating the house can pay off if you invest in the right projects. Some of the best projects that always pay off include: Home additions When you hire home addition companies to add some square footage to your house, you have more room for your family and significantly add the value of the house. After all, who wouldn’t want a larger house? To maximize your investment, be cautious with the materials you choose. As a rule of thumb, don’t use highly premium materials as you might fail to recoup your investment. At the same time, avoid overextending your house as you risk not getting your money back. Redo the kitchen The kitchen is said to be the heart of every home, so you can’t go wrong by taking care of the heart, can you? You will even make a better return when you remodel an older, outdated kitchen. Some of the things you should do to your kitchen include: upgrading your cabinets, refrigerator, stove, flooring, and sinks and faucets. As you remodel the kitchen, think about older buyers and ensure that the kitchen maintains functionality and accessibility. Some of the things you can do include: installing lowered light switches, cabinets, and countertops. If you have the funds, install cabinets with a hydraulic system that allows the homeowner to move them up and down quickly. Remodel the bathroom If you have tried selling a house, you must have noticed that most prospective homebuyers rush to the bathroom to check its condition. This means that if they don’t like how it looks, chances are high they won’t even give you an offer. With this information, you can use it to your advantage and wow the prospect from the word go. According to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry report, you stand to recoup up 57% of your bathroom remodeling investment, so you should do it. Besides the usual, replacing the flooring, vanity, tub, toilet, or shower, you should develop brilliant ways to renovate the bathroom. If you have one bathroom in your house, add a shower to a half bath or add a half bath to the living area. Like with kitchen remodeling, don’t go overboard and invest in high-end materials as they might be too expensive and you fail to recoup your money. Amplify the outdoor living space Every homeowner wants a relaxing space to have as much fun as possible. The beauty of renovating the outdoor space is that you can be creative and use inexpensive materials that won’t take too much money. Some wise outdoor structures you can invest in include: fence, deck, and fire pit. While a pool gives your house a high-end look, chances are high you won’t get your money back by investing in it, as many homeowners view it as additional liability. This is because they need to maintain it, which isn’t cheap. There is also the risk of the children and pets falling into the pool. Unless you […]
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