All renovation projects require some planning, but not to the same extent. Long-term projects have implications that many people only realise later on. If you don’t plan properly, you might not be able to enjoy your home as you’d like during the renovations, or you may end up with unpleasant surprises. You may also need to consider other expenses you hadn’t thought of. Let’s take a look at what you should do when preparing for a long-term renovation project.
Plan for Storage
If you’re completely overhauling a room or a large area, chances are you won’t have enough space for all the appliances and furniture that are there. This is why you should start looking at storage options if you think space is going to be an issue. You can consider using services like Stored Away, which offer reliable and safe storage options all around London. They have all sorts of plans for all sizes and budgets. They will even come to your place to pick up everything and bring it back to you when the project is done, which is extremely convenient when you’ll already be busy with other things.
Look at Alternative Living Arrangements
Know that renovations can be very disruptive, and you might have to make different living arrangements for the time being. For instance, you may not be able to enjoy your living room during the day if your kitchen is being remodelled, and you’ll have to be prepared to change your habits. If you are working from home, you may have to find another space during the day or re-arrange your schedule.
Another thing you’ll have to be ready for is dust. No matter what you do, there will be dirt and grime that will find its way inside the house. You have to make sure that you have a clear pathway for people coming in so that they don’t end up staining the floors in the house. Months and months of people coming in and out could create long-term damage to your flooring, especially if you have carpets. So, speak with the contractor to see which type of technique they’re using to protect them.
Get Everything Down on Paper
You have to make sure that every stage of the project is written down on paper. You also want to make sure that you only pay when these milestones are met. This way, you’ll only pay for work that has been done, and you’ll be able to see exactly how far you are in the project. You’ll be able to know if something is taking more time than it should and prepare for delays. You could also have to deal with additional costs, and this will allow you to foresee or have better control over them.
These are all things you’ll need to be prepared for when embarking on long-term projects. Make sure that you and the contractor are on the same page, and work together to make things easier for the both of you.
