If you are considering a home remodel, the planning phase is critical. We have put together a list of some of the basic points to consider as you begin your remodeling project.
If you are considering a home remodel, the planning phase is critical. We have put together a list of some of the basic points to consider as you begin your remodeling project.
Analyze your needs
Analyze how you currently live and try to look ahead five or 10 years. Do you need more bedrooms because your young family is growing? Do you need more gathering space because your older family is multiplying? Do you need to improve your organization with better storage areas?
Thoroughly think through your motivations for remodeling so the final design doesn’t just add space, but solves problems. Remember, the goal is to change your life, not just your house.
Determine home’s style
One important thing to analyze when considering a home remodeling project is the style of the house.
Several predominant home styles have evolved over the past century in the U.S. You’ve seen them as you’ve driven the streets of Salt Lake City: the fairy-tale Tudor Revival, classic Craftsman bungalow, charming Cape Cod and California ranch. With each style comes unique renovation challenges and opportunities.
Not every home was designed in a distinct style, and often a home has elements of several different styles. But once you have determined the predominant style of your home, the next decision is whether to revive and enhance it or to change it into something else.
Understanding the history, style and architecture of your home — and the other homes in your neighborhood — is crucial in designing an addition or renovation.
Ignore this principle, and you’ll end up spending a lot of money to decrease the value of your home, not to mention those of your neighbors’.
Find your style
Knowing what you like and doing your homework will ease the process and make you a more integral part of the design process.
Renovating a house involves a team of design professionals, contractors — and you, the homeowner. To be a good team member and to have a successful project, you should educate yourself, form opinions, and learn to communicate your ideas to others.
There are several ways you can learn about design, architecture, building products and technology. The fact that you are reading this column is a great start. Also, visit a bookstore or a home-improvement store to find magazines and books with glossy photos and informative articles.
Watch television shows about home design and remodeling. Visit the public library’s architecture section. Attend the Parade of Homes. Search the Internet. Attend public lectures at the University of Utah, or attend free community seminars. Drive through neighborhoods and be an observer of homes.
As you gather information, you’ll begin to identify what appeals to you and define your personal design style.
Figure a budget
Before you knock out anything, determine what you can afford to rebuild. You can generalize the costs by multiplying the estimated new square footage by $100-$120 per square foot, which is average for this area. You’ll also need to account for expenses such as demolition, permits, engineers and architects. Make sure you have a little cushion in the budget for the unknowns, such as possibly needing to replace old wiring or plumbing.
As we all know, getting financing these days is more challenging than it was a few years ago. If you plan on borrowing money for your project, visit with a mortgage broker or lending institution to determine the amount for which you can prequalify.
Then how do you best manage the actual cost of your project?
Well, it is not just by diving in and seeing how far your money will take you. This will end in emotional frustration and architectural dissatisfaction (or disaster!).
It may seem ironic, but the best way to control the cost of a project is by spending more up front.
Once again, time and money spent with an architect to intelligently analyze your needs, explore options and produce a thorough set of drawings and specifications will save both time and money during the construction process.
Instead of designing and purchasing on the fly throughout the project, coordinating your design and finishes with your budget during the planning process will enable you to control the amount spent and give you peace of mind along the way.
Seeing the whole picture before you actually undertake any construction will allow you to distribute the funds to get the biggest “bang for your buck.”
Ann Robinson and Annie V. Schwemmer are the founding principals of Renovation Design Group, www.renovationdesigngroup.com, a local design firm specializing in home remodels.
Analyze your needs
Analyze how you currently live and try to look ahead five or 10 years. Do you need more bedrooms because your young family is growing? Do you need more gathering space because your older family is multiplying? Do you need to improve your organization with better storage areas?
Thoroughly think through your motivations for remodeling so the final design doesn’t just add space, but solves problems. Remember, the goal is to change your life, not just your house.
Determine home’s style
One important thing to analyze when considering a home remodeling project is the style of the house.
Several predominant home styles have evolved over the past century in the U.S. You’ve seen them as you’ve driven the streets of Salt Lake City: the fairy-tale Tudor Revival, classic Craftsman bungalow, charming Cape Cod and California ranch. With each style comes unique renovation challenges and opportunities.
Not every home was designed in a distinct style, and often a home has elements of several different styles. But once you have determined the predominant style of your home, the next decision is whether to revive and enhance it or to change it into something else.
Understanding the history, style and architecture of your home — and the other homes in your neighborhood — is crucial in designing an addition or renovation.
Ignore this principle, and you’ll end up spending a lot of money to decrease the value of your home, not to mention those of your neighbors’.
Find your style
Knowing what you like and doing your homework will ease the process and make you a more integral part of the design process.
Renovating a house involves a team of design professionals, contractors — and you, the homeowner. To be a good team member and to have a successful project, you should educate yourself, form opinions, and learn to communicate your ideas to others.
There are several ways you can learn about design, architecture, building products and technology. The fact that you are reading this column is a great start. Also, visit a bookstore or a home-improvement store to find magazines and books with glossy photos and informative articles.
Watch television shows about home design and remodeling. Visit the public library’s architecture section. Attend the Parade of Homes. Search the Internet. Attend public lectures at the University of Utah, or attend free community seminars. Drive through neighborhoods and be an observer of homes.
As you gather information, you’ll begin to identify what appeals to you and define your personal design style.
Figure a budget
Before you knock out anything, determine what you can afford to rebuild. You can generalize the costs by multiplying the estimated new square footage by $100-$120 per square foot, which is average for this area. You’ll also need to account for expenses such as demolition, permits, engineers and architects. Make sure you have a little cushion in the budget for the unknowns, such as possibly needing to replace old wiring or plumbing.
As we all know, getting financing these days is more challenging than it was a few years ago. If you plan on borrowing money for your project, visit with a mortgage broker or lending institution to determine the amount for which you can prequalify.
Then how do you best manage the actual cost of your project?
Well, it is not just by diving in and seeing how far your money will take you. This will end in emotional frustration and architectural dissatisfaction (or disaster!).
It may seem ironic, but the best way to control the cost of a project is by spending more up front.
Once again, time and money spent with an architect to intelligently analyze your needs, explore options and produce a thorough set of drawings and specifications will save both time and money during the construction process.
Instead of designing and purchasing on the fly throughout the project, coordinating your design and finishes with your budget during the planning process will enable you to control the amount spent and give you peace of mind along the way.
Seeing the whole picture before you actually undertake any construction will allow you to distribute the funds to get the biggest “bang for your buck.”
Ann Robinson and Annie V. Schwemmer are the founding principals of Renovation Design Group, www.renovationdesigngroup.com, a local design firm specializing in home remodels.
