Did you know that 90% of American homeowners plan on renovating at some point?
Of course, there’s a big difference between planning something and actually doing it! A home renovation project is a big task to take on, and there’s a lot of work involved to keep it on track.
If you’re taking on a large home project, the first thing to know is that it can be done without professional management. But, some advice on how to keep your project going smoothly should always be welcome. That’s where we come in.
Take a look at our guide on how to keep your DIY home projects on track, and what to do if they go off the rails.
Table of Contents
Prioritize Your Plans
If you’re undertaking a home renovation project, you probably have a million and one different ideas for how to improve your house. But, if you want to keep your project running smoothly and your plans realistic, you probably won’t be able to do them all. That’s why you should prioritize the importance of your ideas, helping you work out what’s a must and what you can ditch if you have to.
Start by writing down a list of all of your dream home upgrades. Maybe you’re dying for a new room that you can turn into a home office or you’re looking to change your windows to triple glazed. Whatever you’re daydreaming of, write it down.
Then, highlight those that you absolutely must do. These are going to form the base of your plans. Next, highlight the things you’d really love to do but that are secondary to your must-have renovations. Finally, highlight the ones that you can easily live without or do at another time.
It’ll be much easier to scale down your project once you have this list, making it more manageable.
Remember Your Budget
If you’re looking to run your own home project management, you need to keep a tight budget. Work out how much you can spend and always leave some wriggle room for any emergencies or unexpected costs. Make sure you do some research on how much your materials and labor will cost for each section of your project so that you have a realistic idea of how much you’ll be spending!
If you have no idea how to create a renovation budget, here’s a good guide to help.
Create a Detailed Schedule
Before work starts, create an in-depth schedule of your home renovation. Write in everything from when you need to order materials for certain home upgrades to when different labourers will be needed. This might take a lot of time to sort out, but it’ll be well worth it in the long run!
Once you have your schedule, share it with any others who might find it useful. For example, if you have laborers who are going to be working alongside you on your renovation, they should get a copy so they know your aims.
Know How to Deal With Bad Contractors
When you’re working on home renovations, you won’t have time for bad contractors! But getting rid of them can be trickier than you imagined. Here are some different ways you can deal with dodgy workers to make sure you don’t lose out:
- Document all the errors of your contractor with photo evidence and keep all written communication
- Terminate your contract once the evidence is compiled
- If your client is bonded then file a claim to get compensation for any losses you’ve incurred
- If your contractor is licensed be sure to file a complaint with their state licensing board
Be tough when dealing with bad contractors. They’re going to push back when you fire them, but stay strong! Make sure you don’t pay them anything you don’t have to and always use your evidence and the terms of the contract to help you.
Keep Your Group Small
You might think that the more people you hire, the quicker your project will move. This actually isn’t the case! The more people you have the more likely miscommunications will occur, and too many different opinions from your group might end up confusing you and slowing down work.
Try and keep your group as small as you can, hiring only the necessary people and keeping them on for as many jobs as possible. This will also be cheaper, which is always a bonus!
What to Do When You Can’t Keep Your Project on Track
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t keep your project on track. When this happens, you have a number of options. The first is to hire a project manager to come in and sort the mess out for you, taking the burden off of your shoulders.
If your project is failing due to bad contractors, call a halt to the whole thing straight away. Sometimes, an overhaul of your team is just what you need to get going again.
If you’re at the end of your budget and can’t see any way to continue, it could be time to sell your home. Take a look at the pros and cons of selling your house for cash if you’re looking for quick money. You can then hand the project over to someone who can complete it and move to somewhere more suitable for you.
Don’t worry if your project doesn’t go as planned. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed or done a bad job, sometimes there are just circumstances you can’t control! Pick yourself up and move on; life is too short to dwell on a home renovation gone wrong.
Start Your Home Project Today
Taking on a home project is a big task, but with these tips, you should feel more confident going ahead! Just remember to prepare yourself for a lot of work and stay organized. Always have a spare bit of money set aside if anything goes wrong, too, and you should be fine.
If you enjoyed this article, be sure to check out more home tips on our website!
