Whether you’re planning on improving your property in order to sell, or you just feel your home needs a major change, it’s best to know what you’re up against before you make a start. In this article, we’ll give you a few tips on how to make your renovation a success, and how to make sure you can afford it all.

Make a Plan

Once you’ve decided to give your house a makeover, it can be very tempting to take a sledgehammer to the first unwanted wall you see. However, planning is extremely important, especially if you’re going to be living in the property while renovating it. What do you need to complete first to ensure your house is still functional? We recommend focusing on updating the bathroom and kitchen first, as they contain the highest number of necessary day-to-day appliances.

If you start work on one room, it may have an effect on what you can do to other areas and when, so it may be a good idea to create a flowchart or other visual diagram to decide the order of completion. It’s also important to take into account your capabilities. Doing as much as you can yourself may save you a lot of money but mistakes can be extremely costly to rectify. Services such as gas, electric and water are best left to professionals. Perhaps you’ll decide to hire specialists for each element. Perhaps you have friends who work in relevant industries and could lend you a hand.

Budget

Try to stick to a set budget wherever possible. Get firm quotes from suppliers and tradespeople to inform it. Remember to not overspend or you won’t make your money back when selling your property, and don’t start something if you’re not sure you’ll be able to afford to finish it. A great way to stay on top of your cash flow is to take out a personal loan. This will help your project to keep moving even when you’re waiting for the next paycheck. You can get matched with loan options in less than 60 seconds.

Tools

If you’re doing some of the work yourself, you’ll need the right tools and protective equipment. You’ll also need space to store all these things. Some tools may be useful to have on hand for future DIY projects, but other larger, specialist pieces of equipment, such as STIHL saws and heavy-duty drills, may only be needed for a single job. These can be hired short-term from specialist suppliers, saving you money and space.

Schedule

It’s good to avoid a strict schedule for any stage of your project. Stress and disappointment are far more likely if you have your heart set on being finished by Christmas. Yes, it’s important to stay focused and remain on-track, but there are many variables when it comes to home renovations. A quick job can become surprisingly complicated and end up taking days. You should definitely decide on ideal time frames, but give yourself a little wiggle room for each and every job and go easy on yourself, particularly if you are learning on the job.

Materials

Try to avoid DIY stores and big names when it comes to your supplies, as they often sell very average items for a considerable markup. If you know anyone involved in construction or similar trades, see if they have any tips on where to source things without breaking the bank. It may be handy to see if any of your connections have trade accounts, as it’s possible to get discounts this way. You should also buy in bulk where possible to save on delivery costs, and look online for other renovators who have over-ordered and are selling their excess materials cheaply or for free.