Gather the Necessary Tools and Resources

Before you start working with your home improvement project, it is important to make sure that you have gathered on site the tools, materials, and other resources you will need to complete the task. If in case your current tool kit doesn’t include certain specialty tools that would be of great use, then try exploring for some stores to buy or rent them.

Here are some key materials, fixtures and appliances that should be scheduled for delivery:

• Tiles
• Windows
• Cabinets
• Plumbing fixtures

Always consider those materials before you begin remodeling your home as far too many people plunge into demolishing their old kitchen only to find out that their new cabinets have been back ordered for delivery in twelve weeks. Yes, that oftentimes happens.

Explore the Need for a Permit

Early in this article, I mentioned about the need for a building permit. Now, if you have decided to obtain one, then try to visit your city or county building department to find out whether permits are needed. This will even help you to discover any requirements for zoning or building.

However, a piece of advice is that, be sure that the adjustments you plan or think to happen are possible. Not only is the possibility worthy of notice, but also the legality of the changes. Both are important before engaging yourself too far into planning.

Another reason for asking a permit or knowing requirements is that, chances are good that any room addition will be governed by zoning and setback restrictions. So, if your intention is simply to do your own work, be sure that your town allows this. There are some cities out there that require electrical and plumbing work to be handled and accomplished by a licensed pro.

Also, there are some areas where permits are needed for work that leaves great impacts on the structure of the house, or that involves changing electrical wiring or plumbing.

There is also a great possibility that you will need a permit if your intention is to change the roofline, reposition the plumbing fixtures, or move a bearing wall. Nevertheless, you may not need one for repairing doors and windows, installing new floor coverings, or making some minor repairs. The point here is if a permit is required; don’t just proceed doing your own work without it. That’s simply it!

Consider and Make a Timeline

Another major key for proper planning is to carve out a block of time that is long enough to get the work done. Then, set certain mileposts for completing the work phase within that framework you’ve made. Just be aware that doing your own work will probably take you longer than you expect. As commonly noticed, it is likely to take you twice as long.

So, within the established timeline, try accounting for the delivery time of anything that must be special order, such as the materials, fixtures, and appliances.

Set Up Your Systems

In every home improvement project, it is typically a great idea for the homeowner to rent a dumpster and have it delivered before any major demolition starts. Perhaps it is great to coordinate delivery with start-of-work as this saves you from paying excessive rental fees. However, if certain contractors and other professionals will be involved in the remodeling project, it is best to set up a meeting to tackle any related matters, such as logistics as well as the work that needs to be completed. For some, this is also the best time to form daily schedules, including ground rules such as use of bathrooms, working hours, and so on. As a homeowner, the one primarily involved in the planning, it is necessary to make sure that you have asked the cell phone or other contact numbers for all the key players.

Now, we already have tackled the preliminary questions to ask and the basic steps to take for proper home improvement planning. So, why don’t you consider home designing now? I think that sounds good, right? Well, the next thing that you should consider is the following:

Considering Jumpstart Home Design

I am sure that all of you have seen those motivational speakers on public television, the ones who can fix all life’s troubles with few simple guidelines. Well, as you may have noticed, the things they say make absolute sense. How do you know it? Have you noticed the camera always cutting away to the audience, who either smile knowingly, have tears glistening in the corners or their eyes, or nod in rapt agreement? Those expressions are concrete evidences to support their being sensible. So, if those speakers can turn lives around with a few simple rules, so you can.

So, below are the commonly recommended steps for anyone designing a home or addition. Just read on.

Sloppiness? Start Out of It!

Some of the amateur designers these days always want to jump in and start drafting long before their home improvement plans are fully worked out. I guess, it is nice for you to know that architects don’t just sit down, think for a minute, and then start drawing up detailed plans of the remodeling. In fact, the real design work gets done in rough sketches. Yes, rough sketches! Sometimes hundreds of them. Drafting then is the final stage, and for some architects, the least important. So, start out sloppy. There’s nothing wrong with it, after all.

Tip: Don’t rely on Computer-aided drafting (CAD) programs, that are considered as particular dangers for amateurs since they make half-baked ideas look polished long before they’re ready. So, if you don’t invest enough time and effort at the outset, such program won’t help you. It will just provide you a flawless-looking set of lousy home design plans.