Are you gearing up for a home renovation? We know how exciting this is and how much time you’ve likely spent refining your vision. To help ensure your project goes smoothly, we wanted to offer some helpful tips and reminders.

Some of these may seem obvious, but as projects begin to take shape, you’d be surprised how many homeowners have things fall through the cracks. That’s why our team of experts at Suburban Lumber is always available to answer questions, identify quality products, and help you navigate the process!

Identify the Goal

One of the most important parts of any project is identifying your specific goal. This may be as simple as wanting to refresh your space to make it look better. That’s great! Other types of goals might include the need to accommodate lifestyle changes, like a growing family, working from home, building a home gym, or enhancing outdoor living spaces. Some homeowners will do renovations to improve the home's resale value, too.

Identifying a specific goal is important because it provides an anchor point for you to return to when making decisions for your project.

Set a Budget

Setting a budget with a specific number in mind is important. Even if you have flexibility, it’s much easier to increase specific aspects of your budget if you go into the project with a financial framework.

A set budget also helps determine the details of your project, like contracted work, the cost and quality of supplies, and how much you spend on finishing details. It’s always a good idea to allocate some of the budget for any unexpected expenses that may arise.

It’s also wise to take indirect expenses into consideration. For example, if you are renovating your kitchen, how will this impact your dining habits? Will you be relying on takeout for a while? Will you have access to a microwave or other appliances in a different area of your home? If it’s a major renovation, will your family need to stay elsewhere for any amount of time? Will you need to board your pets?

Thinking through these things ahead of time can save you from surprise costs and prevent a lot of headaches, too.

Talk to the Experts

Homeownership is a whole new world on its own, and when you add renovations or improvements to that, it can feel intimidating. When in doubt, talk to your local experts!

The Suburban Lumber team has years of experience in new builds, remodels, and projects of all sizes. From logistics to supplies, we can talk through your vision with you, help you select products that work for you and your budget, and connect you with a trusted local contractor to help get the project done right.

Professionals will also be able to advise on any opportunities you haven’t thought of. For instance, could insulation be improved for just one additional step? Could an electrical outlet be added that will provide convenience later? It doesn’t hurt to consider ways to maximize your investment while you’re already having the work done.

Map Out the Timeline

Once your goals, budget, and plans are finalized, you can confirm the project timeline. This includes scheduling supply deliveries and identifying important dates throughout the project.

If you are working with contractors, make sure to communicate any important events ahead of time. For instance, if you need the project completely finalized by a certain date so you can host for the holidays, share that information upfront. Contractors can work backward from that deadline to identify the best timelines and can even prioritize things at your home if other job sites are more flexible.

Like the budget, plan for the possibility of surprises. Schedule wiggle room so you aren’t disappointed in the end if things take longer than you hoped. It’s also a good idea to plan for prep work that might need to be done. Will you need to pack up certain areas of your home and relocate your things for the duration of the project? Will your project require water or electricity to be shut off for any amount of time?

And finally, don’t forget to consider cleanup time each day. Doing this at the end of the day ensures that anyone working on the project the next day can get started right away. Cleaning up may seem like a small detail, but it can make a dent in project timelines if it adds up.

Ready to get started? Go where the pros go for your next project — go to Suburban Lumber. Call us today at 319-362-3115 or stop by our showroom to talk to a member of our team.