Pamela deVries
BRANT NEWS

Renovating has recently become more favourable than moving for many homeowners.

The pluses of renovating rather than moving are many. Renovating allows you to remain in the same neighbourhood while improving your much-loved home. In some cases it takes the “cookie cutter” look away from a standard builder model selection, giving it a more custom look. You get the quality you want at your own budget.

Canadian home design television show Love It or List It gives an appreciative view of what can be done to your existing home, versus moving to a new location. Either way, the end result can be fabulous.

When planning a renovation it is most important to have a realistic budget. Renovations, dependent on how extensive, can be costly, so you should always consider expected costs and factor in the unexpected costs that always seem to occur.

Prior to your renovation, decide what you desire to achieve. Venture out into the marketplace to get a rough idea of what the items you are hoping to incorporate will approximately cost. When hiring a renovation company, costs can sometimes be reduced as they are able to buy merchandise in bulk.

Be realistic when deciding whether to try doing projects yourself or hire someone else. Although DIY shows make it look easy, if you’re really not handy and don’t own any tools, the expense of purchasing tools and testing the waters can be more costly than not. One tiny mistake can cost you far more than hiring someone ever would have.

Time is also a factor. I cannot tell you how many times I have met with people who have attempted to do something themselves and, after realizing the time involved, have left projects incomplete. This does not help the value of your home and leaves you feeling even more disgruntled with the project.

If you decide to hire someone to complete your renovation, find out a few things before investing your hard-earned dollars.

If hiring a designer or decorator do they have any credentials? Have they completed any other similar projects? Do they have references?

This particular field has been flooded with untrained people who can create more trouble than triumph for your project. The same can be said for renovation specialists. It is an absolute must to see prior work.

I have come across several renovations with unskilled suggestions for the removal of load bearing walls, improperly laid tiles or shabby drywall work, just to name a few. This ends up costing you more money or leaves you with a more costly project to correct things.

If you take time pre-selecting skilled trades for your project, the end result should be outstanding.

Pamela deVries is a certified interior decorator, www.pameladevriesdesigns.com.