Many people underestimate how big of an undertaking performing major renovations are, and are often unprepared for the challenges they experience. If you are going to be renovating your home, there are a few things to do to make the experience as seamless and less stressful as possible.
By the end of this article you will know some of the most important things to consider before performing a major renovation, such as getting roofer insurance and what to consider when creating a budget. Continue reading to find out what you need to know before performing renovations.
Roofer Insurance
Almost every major renovation entails some change to the roofing. Over time the roof of your house will get damaged (broken tiles, rotten boards, natural disasters, etc). If you are going to be doing anything to your roof, you should ensure your contractors have roofer general liability insurance.
Roofer insurance, as BusinessInsuranceUSA.com explains, covers property damage, auto insurance, and more. If your property gets damaged accidentally by the contractor, their insurance will pay out. If a contractor gets injured on the job, the insurance will pay so you don’t have to. This gives you the peace of mind knowing that you won’t accrue additional expenses for your renovation.
Objectives and Goals
Beginning a renovation without a clear plan about how to proceed is a recipe for disaster. There are many things to establish before beginning major renovations, such as:
- Are you adding rooms?
- Are you trying to increase the value of the home?
- Are you going for a complete remodel?
- Are you trying to make the home more energy efficient?
- Is this your forever home?
These questions help to establish a plan for what needs to be done, and will also affect your budget, the permits you need, and the contractors you will use.
Budget
Simply saying “I have $100,000 to spend on a major renovation” isn’t enough. There are many aspects of the project you will need to consider, and break down the budget to account for each. For example, you will need to budget for:
- The contractors
- The materials
- The permits
- Temporary living space
- Rental storage space
- Unexpected costs
This will provide structure to the renovation and also determine what you can and can’t do. If you want very expensive materials, you’ll likely have to cut costs on something, like labor or temporary living space.
Permits
Before beginning your renovation you should check with the local municipality to determine if you need a permit. With major renovations, the need for a permit is very high since there are many situations that will require it. For example, if you:
- Have a roll-off dumpster parked in the street
- Raise your fence over 6 feet
- Adding a new room
- Add a garage
- Installing electrical wiring
- Changing the roofline of your house
- Demolishing a wall that supports weight
- Working with sewer line
- Cutting down a large tree
To avoid paying any fine or having serious legal action taken against you, be on the safe side and inquire if a permit is needed.
Choose the Team Wisely
Choosing who will be performing the renovations is always a tricky thing, and is largely determined by your budget. It’s vital to remember that the contractors you choose will influence the success of the renovations.
Many people try to cut costs by hiring the cheapest labor, but this is often costly in the long run. Cheap labor typically results in mistakes being made, of which some you’d only notice long after the project is completed.
To ensure a smooth renovation, try to hire as many professionals as you can that are right for the job.
Temporary Living Arrangements
Finally, when performing major renovations on your home, your personal space is going to get invaded. Major renovations are noisy and there will be a constant stream of people in your home. Most importantly, the space might not be safe to live in until the renovations are complete.
This means you’ll need to make plans for temporary living arrangements. Some people have family they stay with until renovations are complete. If this is not possible for you and you need to stay at a hotel or motel, ensure that you have set aside a budget for this.
