How To Tell When It’s Time To Renovate

So your house is starting to look a little like that old, dusty, crumbling house straight from the corner of your least favourite horror film. And naturally, you’ve been thinking about renovating for a while now.. But even so, you’re still not quite sure whether or not now is the right time. But, if now isn’t the right time, then when is?

To help you make the right choice, we’ve put a few simple steps together on how to evaluate whether your home is ready for a renovation, or not:

Home renovations can be expensive, time-consuming and require extraordinary, superhero-like courage. But have no fear, we are here to make these steps seem like a walk in the park.

Step one: Property valuation

It’s hard to think about selling if you’re about to spend a small fortune on a place you’re already living in (unless your plan is to Hulk it out and flip the property), but you should know what your property is worth. Moreover, what it can be worth after the renovation, and what houses typically sell for in your neighbourhood.

You don’t want to spend R1 million on a house that’s already worth R2 million in an area where the biggest property sale in the last five years was R2,3 million.

Consult your real estate agent or contractor about what the housing market looks like, and, whether or not they foresee an uptick in demand. This can be six months to a year from when you wish to begin. And, while they’re at it, they can tell you which parts of your house need improvement and will yield the highest returns, in terms of raising your property’s value.

Step two: Visualise

This is an entire topic on it’s own. It’s the fun part. Envision exactly what needs to be done, down to the very last tile or piece of wallpaper. Figure out every cost, like building materials, paints, finishes, contractor’s and draftsman’s fees, and absolutely everything in between. And in your evaluation, it’s also critical to figure out how long it will take – bearing in mind that you might need a little wiggle room.

Your home will be your new canvas, and a great way to build your vision before laying down any work is to create a 3D model of your idea.

Step three: ‘Tis the season to be building

Obviously the best time of the year to do any building is in the summer, when construction won’t be halted due to bad weather conditions. Yet, this also depends on what you’re doing. For example, kitchen countertops or light fixtures can (and should) be done in winter. It’s all about supply and demand.

Furthermore, window installations in February can cost more in terms of building materials, as well as a contractor’s labour fees. They might have more work in summer, and have less during the winter. It’s not advisable, however, to actually do the work during winter, because rain will undoubtedly interfere (unless you’re in a part of the country with summer rainfall).

Opt for narrowly off-season periods, like April or May, when the busy summer period is slowing down. However, when it comes to materials, nothing is stopping you from buying them in July and simply storing them until it’s time to begin.

Every superhero requires a mapped-out plan and vision before he or she can take on the world. Successful projects are the ones which have been well-thought-out, where most of the planning and logistics are out of the way, long before the grind even begins.

Find out more about home renovations

Home Decor Interiors has over 20 years of experience and during that time we’ve renovated hundreds of homes We pride ourselves on being a premium home renovator in the Western Cape. Let us help you customise or upgrade your dream home.