If you’ve made the decision to renovate all or part of your home, it’s equally important to know what to do before you start remodeling. You’ve likely heard the saying “hindsight is 20/20” … while this is true for many things in life, it’s absolutely true with remodeling! Rather than waiting until your project is finished and wishing you had known more before you started, you can take advantage of the experience of those who’ve remodeled before you.

5 Key Factors to Consider Before You Start Remodeling

At Sea Pointe Design & Remodel, we have almost 40 years of experience remodeling homes in Orange County. During that time, we’ve helped countless clients turn their remodeling dreams into reality through award-winning design and high quality craftsmanship. There’s one common thread we’ve noticed through it all, however … The homeowners who are most satisfied with the finished product are the ones who did their research and took the time to be fully prepared before the work even began.

We’ve boiled our years of experience down into this handy list … 5 factors to think about before you start remodeling.

1.  Prioritize your remodeling projects.

Unless you’re planning a whole home remodel, take the time to evaluate which room should be done first. Since the kitchen is the heart of the home, we often recommend that this room take priority over others. If you’re already living in the home, you’ll need to set up a makeshift kitchen or food prep area in another room while construction is in full swing. Similarly, if a bathroom remodel is at the top of your list, you’ll want to make sure you’ll have sufficient access to other bathrooms in the home during construction.

2.  Decide on your design style.

Hopefully you’ll make the wise decision to work with a professional designer before you start remodeling. They will be able to help you better, however, if you’ve done your homework ahead of time and narrowed down your ideal designs. Take some time to go through online remodeling portfolios or Pinterest boards to get inspiration. Then, collect the designs that excite you the most, fit with your personality, and blend well with your overall home design. Your designer will then have a better idea of exactly what you like and can help you make the best decisions that fit with that style.

3.  Hire a remodeling contractor before you start remodeling.

As tempting as it may be to try to save a few bucks, doing your own remodeling rarely saves you time or money unless you’re a building professional yourself. In fact, mistakes made by do-it-yourselfers often lead to wasted time and more money spent. Instead, we recommend hiring a professional remodeling company to do the work.

With the right remodeling contractor at the helm, your project will be handled and installed by experts in the field. This will minimize mistakes, maximize time, and ultimately leave you with a better end result. To make things even easier, hire a design/build company. You’ll have access to designers, builders, engineers, and more all under one single contract. Plus, the company will handle any permits required and act as a general contractor for other trades such as plumbers and electricians.

4.  Before you start remodeling, get a realistic idea of the project timeline.

Once you’ve determined the scope of your project and hired a remodeling company, it’s time to get down to business. Before you start remodeling, it’s important to have a realistic estimate of how long the project will take. This will help you make important decisions about using the rest of your home and when you may be able to occupy the newly remodeled space.

Just remember this … remodeling projects often take longer than predicted. Factors such as supply chain issues, contractor availability, and other things beyond your control can affect the overall timeline. If your project is completed exactly on time or even ahead of schedule, great! In most cases, however, be flexible and be prepared for changes in the timeline as the project progresses.

5.  Expect additions or changes to your remodeling budget.

Before you start remodeling, having a remodeling budget is a MUST. After all, if you don’t know how much you have available to spend, how can you accurately decide what work can be completed and what materials can be purchased? In this budget, though, it’s wise to have an additional 10-20% reserved for contingencies. In other words, prepare for the unexpected.

Your remodeling company will give you an estimate for how much your project will cost based on what they know and see. It’s what is unseen that can often cause hiccups with remodeling. For example, perhaps your bathroom remodel requires moving electrical or plumbing. If mold is found behind the wall during the construction process, additional time, money and resources may be required to get rid of it before the project can continue. When you plan for these scenarios up front, you won’t be caught without the funds to pay for them. And, if you’re lucky and don’t have any surprises at all, you might just have some extra money in your budget at the end.

Home Remodeling in Orange County

If you’re looking for the best remodeling company in Orange County, we think you’re in the right place! At Sea Pointe Design & Remodel, we have an expert design/build team full of building professionals who are committed to your satisfaction. We take great pride in being ranked among the top remodelers in the country and we take pride in every remodeling project we complete.

Before you start remodeling, we recommend taking a look at our online portfolio that showcases some of our completed projects. Or, if you need additional inspiration, register for one of our upcoming remodeling webinars. Our design/build experts will teach you about the benefits and complexities of home renovations so you avoid major mistakes and end up with a space you truly love.

When you’re ready to start planning your remodel, simply give us a call at (949) 861-3400 or fill out the form below to schedule your complimentary design consultation.