1. Research

First things first, it’s time to do some digging! Conducting research for your project isn’t just about looking at beautiful pictures on social media (although, that’s part of it!). Rather, it involves viewing projects on a host of platforms, i.e., social media (Instagram, Houzz, etc.), websites (a company’s portfolio), and even print (magazines) to get a more accurate sense of your style while also helping to determine the various layouts, functionality, and key features that matter the most to you. This process is a great way to realize the true potential of your renovation.

TIP: Having a hard time finding projects that catch your eye? Try Google! Search engines are a fantastic way to find local contractors’ websites which usually contain plenty of recently completed projects that you can peruse.

2. Identify Your Needs

Once you’ve done your research, you’ll need to identify your biggest needs. While this may sound like an obvious step if you’ve already decided to renovate, it’s still crucial in ensuring your satisfaction since everyone’s needs and reasons for renovating are different. Which is why we recommend not rushing through this stage but rather take the time to contemplate your needs and identify which ones are most important.

For example, say you really want a custom stove hood and add it to the top of your priority list. But after pondering it for a few days, you realize what you really need is more storage and countertop space, so you decide that adding an island to your kitchen should be at the top of the list instead.

The key here is to take your time during this stage. Write down your needs as they pop into your head and then mull them over before deciding which ones are worth keeping.

3. Set the Scale

Once you’ve identified and ranked your biggest needs, you’ll need to determine the scale of your project. Is it going to be a full renovation or just an update? Are you going to be replacing the floors and painting the walls as well? Do you plan on moving appliances? If so, you may need to employee the services of an electrician and/or plumber to make that possible.

4. Budget Accordingly

We arrive at the most sobering of steps…budgeting. Deciding on a budget is vital to avoid frustration and anxiety once your project gets underway. So, where’s the best place to start? We’re no financial experts, but we highly recommend meeting with your financial advisor first before planning for any renovation to ensure that you set a realistic budget. However, there is one budgeting tip that we highly recommend.

Instead of settling on a final amount, we advise setting a range instead. Doing so will provide you with the most critical advantage in any renovation project: flexibility. By setting a range, you give yourself the financial flexibility to fund unexpected reno expenses down the road. TIP: Make sure that the high end of your range isn’t simply the amount you want to spend, as the idea behind a range is to provide you with a financial cushion to cover unforeseen costs.

5. Shop + Evaluate

Once you have a clear sense of your style and unique tastes, it’s time to get out there and start meeting with potential contractors! We recommend adhering to 2 key principles here: identify your non-negotiables and keep it simple. Identifying your non-negotiables is vital as they help you determine whether a potential contractor is going to be a good fit. The second rule, keeping it simple, refers to our belief that you should never have more than 3 contractors that you’re considering at once.

TIP: How do you find and qualify contractors? Google may be a great place to start, but it doesn’t end there. Immediately begin to evaluate their reviews, website, past projects, etc. to determine if they are a good match for you first BEFORE beginning the quoting process.