Questions to Ask Before You Start a Home Renovation

Renovating a home can be so fun! But it can also be a lot of work and a HUGE expense! Do you know what you’re getting into? I’m not sure anyone ever knows exactly what will happen when starting a home renovation, but there are some things you can do to prevent unpleasant surprises down the road.

Here are the top things I’d encourage you to consider BEFORE starting a home renovation project.

Why are you doing the renovation?

This is a critical question to ask. Zoom out and ask yourself why you’re doing the renovation. Are you adding value? Are you adding square footage? Are you increasing bedroom or bathroom count? Perhaps this renovation is just something for you to enjoy—will you be in the home long enough to enjoy it?

There’s nothing wrong with doing a renovation that does not add value to the home and is strictly for your enjoyment. But I do recommend that you know why you’re doing the renovation and that the reasons you’re doing it make sense. If you’re thinking about a renovation but aren’t sure if it really makes sense for you or not, please reach out! I can often provide some insight in these situations.

Can I afford the surprise inside?

Here’s the deal. No matter how much preparation you do, there will ALWAYS be an unaccounted-for surprise. Trust me. My dad always told me to add 10 to 20% to my FINAL budget for any household project. This hit home rather painfully for our family recently. We had just finished our basement, and man—it looked beautiful.

Just a few months after we finished it, my husband and I noticed that the contents of our garbage disposal were in the toilet in the basement bathroom. Uh oh. A little further investigation revealed a rotten main sewer line, which meant our beautiful new basement had to be torn up and jackhammered. If only we had thought to scope the sewer line beforehand, right?

The point is that something unexpected will always happen, and it’s much less frustrating if you plan for it from the get-go.

It is the RIGHT renovation?

There’s always something to renovate. Mechanicals, cosmetics, layout. Is this renovation a need or a want? Your roof is leaking but your bathroom is ugly. One you see every day, one you don’t. But one is key to keeping your home safe. Which will get you the biggest return on investment? This is something I get asked almost daily, and it can be tricky to answer, but I can help!

Who will complete the project?

Can you do the work yourself? If so, have you set a realistic timeline and made contingency plans if the project ends up being more complicated than you thought? Do you need to hire a pro? Do they have time in their schedule that works for your calendar and budget? What sorts of permits will you need? What about materials?

Make sure that you think through all aspects of the project before you get started. It’s easy to bite off more than you can chew, and that can get really frustrating really fast.

There are so many considerations before tackling a home renovation. If you’re considering one, let me know! I’d love to talk through it with you and perhaps connect you with some awesome local professionals! And, as always, if you’re thinking about buying or selling in Greater Lafayette, Indiana, I’d love to be your #IndianaRealtor! Give me a call today at 765-427-7000.