Thinking about renovating? Here are some action steps from the pro’s:

1. The first step in any renovation is to identify the essentials, what’s definitively required, then make a second wish list of nice-to-haves.
2. Doing things all at once is more efficient than doing different projects piecemeal.
3. Do your research: Prices differ dramatically by market and chosen materials, which can, in turn, impact labor costs.
4. Make a list of every single item in your home that’s being changed, including little details like cabinet hinges and dimmer switches. Then plug those items into a spreadsheet and assign a guesstimate cost to each. That is your budget, not some random number pulled out of the sky….
5. Contractors typically charge 10-20% of the overall cost of the project. Architects bill 8-20% on top of the total project budget. Know what the pro’s charge and at what level. Will you need to live somewhere while renovating? Add that to your budget…
6. What could you DO YOURSELF without sacrificing quality.
7. Hire the right team/people with good references. Cheap can be expensive.
8. Evaluate the cost of the renovation versus a move or rebuilding from scratch.
   (HOUSE BEAUTIFUL)
   1/27/2025