10 Tips For Planning A Successful Home Remodel
Planning a successful home remodel is an exciting time in any homeowner’s life. With so much to consider, it can be challenging to know what you need to do before the big day arrives. However, by being proactive before your home remodel begins, you’ll go into the project relaxed and in control so you can focus on the decisions that need to be made.
I’m always looking for ways to help homeowners prepare so they will have less stress during their home remodeling project, allowing them to enjoy the process, transformation, and the finished project. If you’re ready to tackle your remodeling project like a pro, follow the exact steps I take, whether I’m remodeling my own home or remodeling for a client. In this article, we’ll cover the top ten tips for planning a successful home remodel.
Pre-Step: Get Your Supplies In Order
Before you get started with your remodel, you’ll want to pack up your home space and protect it to the best of your abilities. To do this, you’ll want to have the following items on hand:
- Boxes
- Markers
- Packing Paper
- Bubble Wrap
- Door Mats
- Ram Board or Carpet Protector
- Wide Painters Tape
- Utility Knife
- Plastic Trash Can
- Roll of Plastic
Remember, this is your house, which means that it’s your job to protect it. If you don’t want to do these things or cannot do them, talk to your contractors and see if they can add this detail to their scope of work. An alternative option is to hire a handyman, capable friend, or family member to do it for you. Regardless, be clear on who is providing the materials.
Clear Your Space
The first step is to empty EVERYTHING out of the space. This is also a great time to purge if you have a lot of stuff you don’t use or want. If you are unsure whether you should get rid of something or not, place these items in a separate box and mark it DO NOT OPEN and the date. Then, when you move back into the space, leave that box in your garage. If you go a year without opening it, you’ll know you can give away, donate, or toss the contents.
Remove Everything From The Walls
Once everything is cleared from the space, remove all of the items from the walls. This includes pictures, mirrors, hooks, and anything else that is hanging. Make sure to wrap all fragile items in bubble wrap and store them safely away until the project is complete.
Clean Your Space
Now that everything is out of your way, you can clean every nook and cranny of the space. This includes dusting, cleaning windows, sweeping, and mopping hard surface floors such as tile, hardwood, LVP, or laminate. If you have wall-to-wall carpeting, slowly and thoroughly vacuum the space as well as roll up and store any area rugs.
Put Down Carpet Protection
The next step is to place carpet protection over wall-to-wall carpeting to cover as much area as possible. This includes protecting your stairs as well with Ram Board stair or carpet protector. Before getting started, make sure to take a moment and read the manufacturer’s directions.
Pro Tip: This job is doable for one person, but it will be way more manageable and tidier with two people involved.
Cover All Hard Surface Flooring
Cover all your hard surface flooring with Ram Board, making sure to tape down the edges with Blue Painters Tape carefully. If you are lapping the Ram Board together, use the special Ram tape – but never use the Ram Tape to adhere the cardboard to the flooring!
Don’t Forget To Cover Jambs And Corners
While it’s easy to miss, you don’t want to forget to cover cased opening jambs, door jambs, and outside corners. I like to use the Ram Board to do this, but it can be tricky. I’ve found that scoring the Ram Board, instead of cutting it all the way through, helps me bend the Ram Board into corners and tape them up using blue painter’s tape.
Pro Tip: I take these down as soon as the heavy demo is complete – painter’s tape can peel paint off a wall if left on too long. However, you’ll want to keep the corners as you may need to put them back up when large items are being moved into the space.
Wrap Doorways With Plastic
You’ll want to plastic off areas that are next to the remodel site if there isn’t a door that you can physically close. If you have to close off part of a room, I recommend zip poles. If you can close the doors, put a towel across the bottom of the door.
Put Down Floor Mats
Don’t forget to put down a heavy-duty doormat inside and outside the entry door to your home. This will help prevent any dirt, mud, or debris from being tracked throughout your home. Remember to shake or vacuum the mats when they get dirty.
Set Up A Large Trash Can
One proactive way to get ready for your home remodel is to put a trash can at the entry door of your home. Encourage everyone to use it for their lunch, job site trash, debris, or any other items that don’t belong in your home.
Create Directions And Install A Lockbox
Last but not least, you’ll want to install a lockbox for easy key access and create directions on how to get in and out of your home during the construction process. I recommend creating a sign that explains where the key is located as well as your cell phone number in case someone gets locked out. This helps to set clear expectations for everyone involved in the remodeling process.
Conclusion: Preparing For Your Next Home Remodel
By taking the time to prepare for your home remodel, you can save yourself a lot of headaches down the road. By following these simple tips, you can protect your home and keep the construction process running as smoothly as possible.
For more in-depth information on this subject, join my e-mail list, located at the bottom of the page where I come to you weekly with information that is guaranteed to move your remodel project forward in an organized, fun way. If you have additional questions, feel free to contact me directly today.