When it comes to renovating, having a clear and well-thought-out budget is key to ensuring a smooth and stress-free process. In our time designing renovations, there are a few key tips that we've picked up that can help you stay on track and avoid surprises along the way. In this post, we'll cover some of these important tips to consider before you dive into your renovation. Let’s take a closer look at what you need to know.
1 | Let your team know your budget
We know that it can be daunting to set a budget and it can be awkward to talk about money, but if you have limited funds to spend on your renovation, then you need to be clear on your budget and be upfront about it. Designers, cabinet makers and builders are all used to working to a budget, so sharing this with your team means they can give you better advice about how realistic your budget is and then help you make the best decisions to stay within it.
2 | Create a priority list
Sticking to your budget can sometimes mean needing to compromise in one area to prioritise another, so it’s also helpful to create a priority list to use when designing your space. You can use these to decide on what is the main priority and work down from there, to ensure that you can include what is most important. This could mean compromising on a natural stone splashback to include an appliance cupboard with pocket doors, for example.
3 | Select as much as possible ahead of the renovation
Leaving decisions until the last minute can lead to mistakes, miscommunication and having to make rushed decisions - all things that can be very costly. You also don’t want to leave things up to the builder. We recommend having your materials, fixtures and fittings locked in and documented early on. Using a spreadsheet or schedule to note them all, along with their details and cost, means that you and your builder can be more on top of the budget.
4 | Be realistic about unexpected costs
Consider unexpected costs that might arise later on and budget for this as well. This could include something found on site during demolition, or a product being out of stock leading you to purchase another that was more expensive. The last thing you want is to be completely caught off guard during these situations, so always make sure you keep some money aside to deal with any unexpected costs.
5 | Do you need to move out?
If you are needing to move out of the home in order to complete the renovation, don’t forget to include this in your budget planning! Renovations can take from 5 weeks (for a single bathroom) to a whole year for a large new home build, so you need to make sure that you budget enough to live out of home for a little longer than the builder says it will take. If you are planning to stay in the home, but you need an extra bathroom, you can also consider having a portable ensuite parked outside the house.
I hope these tips have been helpful! If you want to find out more about how we can help you with your project, get in contact with us below:
Have a wonderful week!
Nina xx
Comments