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Are you planning upgrades for your current home or a home you just bought? Here are ten tips and tricks to improve the chances that you’ll be happy when you move back in.

resale. Even if you plan to stay in the house, think about the next owner. If you’re making sure your upgrades add resale value, you’ve got all your options. Think kitchen upgrades, opening up rooms, adding a patio, installing hardwood floors, and upgrading windows.

Planning. Spend a lot of time planning what you want. Head over to IKEA to look at storage options and spaces, and go online to Houzz to look at ideas. Have your planner or contractor show you exactly how the upgrades will look in 3D. You don’t want to get to the end of work and say, “Ah, I wish I had…”

Contractor. Choose carefully and collect three bids. Talk to their customers and see their work. Ask for your insurance certificate.

Contract. Get a detailed contract and go through it with a fine-toothed comb. A general idea of ​​the work and a handshake aren’t enough unless you don’t care about the end result.

Plan some surprises. Surprises are inevitable, but they should be minimal once you’ve done your planning. Set aside some extra money for them – 10% of your renovation budget. If you don’t need it, great.

Don’t buy your own materials. If you think you save money by specifying and buying your own materials, you may be sorry. Builders don’t like this practice, and they can choose and negotiate better than homeowners. Don’t worry; They will allow you to make all the decisions but let them handle the transactions and the guarantee.

Pack up as much of your stuff as possible in the areas of the house that will get the job done. Contractors hate handling piles of clothes and toys, and the work makes a terrible mess.

stay out of the way. I know it’s fun to watch and you want to keep an eye on the work too, but contractors will be a lot happier if you trust them to get the job done without you looking over their shoulder or, worse, try to help.

Minimize mid-stream changes. In the middle of the renovation, we sometimes find that something needs to be changed in the plan. If you are convinced of this, it is better to upset the contractor now than to live with it later.

Have the work checked by a professional. Even if the remodeling is small, have an independent contractor or home inspector review what has been done before writing the final review. The few hundred dollars you spend on a consultation will keep you satisfied and reduce surprises later.

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