[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”0|0px|20.8438px|0px|false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”3.0.74″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]
5 Top Tips For Renovating Your Space
Courtesy of www.alure.com & www.repairlikenew.com
HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP YOU DECIDE WHAT & WHEN WILL WORK FOR YOU.
When is the best time to remodel your space? Many people feel that summer time is the best time to embark on a major renovation.
Here are some pro’s and con’s to help you decide what will work for you.
1. Weather
PRO: Although it’s hot outside in the summer months, the weather is usually co-operative when doing a kitchen remodel. There’s no worry of a storm bringing the job to a screeching halt! It’s also nice to be able to hang out in the yard if you are staying at home during the renovation. Without a kitchen, grilling is a favorable option as well. (But we all know you can do that all year round!)
CON: With installers and trades people constantly in and out, it is difficult to keep the house cool; however, a bonus pro is that it is worse to have to keep a house warm in the winter.
2. School’s Out:
PRO: Nothing will disrupt a routine quicker than having some work done on the house! During the school year there are lunches to be made, transport to catch, homework to be done and just a ton of scheduled activities. Those days are chaotic enough, now throw in a fully gutted kitchen crawling with carpenters, plumbers and electricians, you may as well keep the Paddy Wagon on speed dial! You may opt to have the work done when the kids are on break from school, just because there is no additional pressure and schedule constraints. Many teachers like to have work done in the summer because it doesn’t disturb their work schedule.
CON: The kids are on break from school! Unless you have a well-equipped backyard or plan to send the little tykes to grandma’s, these poor kids will not be happy campers. Be sure you have day trips planned if possible or play dates at friends’ houses. Little ones are a safety concern at a job site. Be sure you keep them away from the action, they will be curious! (Pet’s too) Note: You should be able to feel comfortable enough with your contractor that you can leave the premises for the day, if needed. After all, not everyone is able to take off from work for the duration of construction. If you feel like you can’t even leave the house to get a container of milk, maybe you have hired the wrong contractor.
3. Longer Daylight Hours:
PRO: In some cases, more work can be accomplished in one day because of the longer daylight hours. Most of the cutting is done outside and if it gets dark at 4:30pm, well, guess what, not much will be happening after 4pm except cleanup for the day.
CON: There is no con to longer daylight hours as far as we’re concerned! We love the long days of summer.
4. Understand Supply & Demand:
This principle of supply and demand can determine how much we pay for items. For example, December 26th is a great day to pick up Christmas decorations for next year. Why? The holiday is over and they’re on sale. The same can be said for home improvement items. For example, if you’re redoing your kitchen and you need new appliances, consider buying them in October. Large appliances like refrigerators, stoves and dishwashers are pretty cheap before the holiday season kicks in. If you need tools to do a job right, buy them after Father’s Day when they’re on sale again.
Another example is flooring. Flooring is often affected by the price of oil (for shipping and production). During the winter, the cost of crude oil is cheaper so you may want to buy the flooring then. It’s also a good time to buy in the late winter and very early spring because new flooring lines are coming out and there are deals on lines being discontinued or upgraded.
If renovating a bathroom, it might be wise to purchase after the holidays. Sure, you may not undertake the remodel until later in the year, but find a place to store the items or delay delivery. Right after the holidays, there are a lot of sales on product. The sales people are also more attentive because they are not quite so rushed and many will be flexible with the pricing if asked. Yes, you can haggle better after the holidays when demand is lower.
Therefore, you must remember the principle that you should get your supplies when the demand for them is lower. This will take some getting used to but it’s not hard to learn what to buy when. Your wallet will thank you.
5. Know When a Contractor’s Off-Season Is:
We’ve discussed that it’s often best to buy materials for your space improvement project when they are not so much in demand. The same holds true for hiring your contractor. Many contractors are in demand during August through November. This is when people are back from vacation and wanting to get the house in shape for the holidays. If you can possibly hold out for when your contractor is not so busy, you will most likely get a better deal on the labor and better customer service because he/she is not so busy with other projects that he/she can devote his/her attention to yours almost exclusively.
A great time to consider a space remodel is during the holiday season. Contractors are often not busy between Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you feel that you can put up with the stress of space remodeling during the holiday season, it may be well worth it to your pocketbook.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
