Toronto Renovation Do’s
Toronto Renovation Do’s
I would say, firstly, before starting any Toronto renovation, always consult a professional for advice when it comes to doing anything to your home. Our homes are our single biggest investments and we don’t want to do anything to jeopardize that investment. There are a few things to keep in mind however, that can really make the difference in how you decide what to do.
Do’s
Always make sure you know the age of your home.
Too many times, people try to renovate a kitchen or bathroom in a 100-year-old home that has never had any work done on it. This is a recipe for cost overruns and surprises with your Toronto renovation. Know your home and what needs attention, and come up with a plan that will address all of its issues. You don’t have to fix everything at once, but it is a good idea to know where and what you need to do before you start anything.
Have a full house audit and create a complete home renovation plan
This is all part of knowing your home before you start your Toronto renovation. A full house audit will give you peace of mind, knowing what is wrong behind those walls. It also gives you a proper base to develop your complete home renovation plan. This is a list of all the potential renovation projects there will need to be to keep your home up to date. Along with the correct order to do them so as not to destroy something you have already paid for to fix something else.
Make sure financially you can cover whatever project you decide on doing
Our homes are a long-term entity, and we will hopefully have them for the rest of our lives and raise our families in them. It seems when it comes to renovations. However, people get into too hot water by taking on too much and overextending themselves. Always be mindful that no matter what your renovation is projected to cost, you should have at least 25% tucked away in a contingency fund. Renovations on older homes, especially in Toronto, are fraught with surprises hiding behind every wall or poorly renovated room. The best protection against those unknowns is always to have a little extra stashed away.
Do the unsexy work as much as you can
There is a reason those surprises lurk behind the walls of your home. That is, no one ever wants to deal with what’s behind the walls. Everyone likes to see what’s in front, like the nice kitchen or bathroom. However, it is behind the wall’s work that makes your investment sound. It also is work that, if done properly, will only ever need to be done once in your lifetime. Make sure each renovation project you take on addresses as much of this type of work as possible. Get the walls insulated, address worn-out structures and upgrade your plumbing, heating and electrical. Your home will thank you by making sure whatever you do end up putting in front of the walls will not need to be removed again to fix something behind them.
