Out, Damn’d Dust! Out, I say!

When you have never done remodeling or it has been a while, you might forget just how messy and unorganized your space can get. In today’s post, I share essential tips to ensure your renovation goes as smoothly as possible. As you can see, painting the walls downstairs was a big improvement, but things are about to get worse before getting better.

Take a look at just how messy the #oceandunesfixer got when the flooring was removed downstairs. There is dust everywhere. It is a good idea to wipe it up regularly, but until the renovation is complete, dust is just a fact of life. Installing a plastic curtain at the second floor opening helped to keep that area relatively clean.

Budget

Check sites like HomeAdvisor to help you establish your goals and budget. After a 30 year career as a Financial Professional, I can suggest the following ways to pay for home renovations:

• If you plan to keep your home for longer than five years, consider refinancing with cash-out.
• Speak with your banker about a Home Equity Loan, which offers fixed or adjustable rates. If you plan to sell the home quickly, consider a Home Equity Line of Credit, which historically offers lower adjustable rates. Please remember that any adjustable rate can increase up to 18% or more.
• Hold off on renovations until you have saved the required amount.
• Consider doing it yourself, which can save you as much as 30% off the overall job costs.

Hiring Professionals

We hired Bella Casa Kitchens and Baths to help us transform all our spaces with new flooring and a new kitchen. https://bellacasakitchenbath.com

We met with four firms, but chose Fab because he promised a reasonable timeline, a fair price, and offered beautiful cabinet choices. The kitchen renovation included removing a load bearing wall, which means a beam is required to support the newly created opening. Be sure to follow these tips when hiring any professional:

• Ask friends and colleagues for recommendations for contractors, designers, and other professionals for your project.
• Ask your neighbors at Nextdoor for their contractor and vendor recommendations.
• Visit their website and search their online presence for references and other feedback.
• Check local building codes for permit requirements before starting renovation projects.
• Get cost and timeline estimates from three or more professionals before hiring any contractors, designers, landscapers, etc.
• Share your expectations- draw schedule with a 20% minimum final payment, a clean job site, regular communication, daily progress, etc.

Timeline

As I mentioned earlier, ask your potential contractors how long the project will take to complete. Right now, due to the COVID19 Pandemic and pent-up demand, many materials have gone up in price and are on back order, including tiles, cabinets, appliances, and plumbing fixtures. Contractors also have lots of work, so they may be more expensive and might not be available for 3-4 months. If you are able, consider putting off renovations until demand decreases, which should lower the cost and help the project go quicker once it is started. Remember, unexpected surprises can not only increase your timeline, but they can also bump up the costs.

Tips for Living in a Construction Zone

• If you can afford it, go on vacation or rent a place during construction.
• If you need to stay on site, consider renovating one room or section of the home at a time. This way, you will always have a place to escape the mess and relax.
• Set up a temporary kitchen, including a hot plate.
• Take your shoes off when you enter the NON-construction section of your home.
• Use plastic sheeting to block off the construction zones to reduce dust throughout your home.

Fun Elements

For the Coastal Modern design, we chose elements with a compelling style and a fun nod to the past. These include: the skinny, subtle textural finish of the Habitat bathroom tiles; the organic, warm tones of the terrazzo tiles and LVP flooring; and the expressive colors and prints featured in our blue and coral color palette.

We are considering several options for the kitchen backsplash, including continuing the counter top material up the wall. We could also use the Crema terrazzo or large format porcelain tiles. What would you choose for this Coastal Modern kitchen?

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