Whether you’ve just booked a home renovation or are thinking about embarking on one, what should you expect while working with a contractor? To help you navigate the process we’ve compiled a list of 8 things to keep in mind during a home renovation. 

1. You’ll Be the Talk of the Neighbourhood

Renovations draw a lot of attention. Talk to your neighbours about the extent of the renovation and the planned timeline. Remember to give them a heads up if there’s something major happening, you don’t want them to be surprised if an excavator shows up at 8 AM. Keeping everyone in the loop, and the occasional coffee and donuts, will ensure your BBQ party invitation for years to come!

2. Remember That It’s a Process

The renovation process is just that, a process. There will be times when you can’t contain your excitement like on demo day or when your dream bathtub is installed. But there may also be boring days when progress appears slow. Ever watch wiring being installed? It’s kind of like watching paint dry! Just try to relax and enjoy the journey. 

3. Rethink Your Daily Routine 

If you will be at home during the renovation, we can guarantee that your day-to-day routine is going to change. There’ll be sections of the house you may have restricted access to, people coming and going during the day, often very early, and lots of extra noise. 

You’ll need to be flexible with your routines (don’t forget to stretch first!). Think about what may need to shift so that family and work lives can carry on as normally as possible. And give a little extra thought to the littlest members of the family…kids and pets! They’ll be lots of new experiences for them to enjoy (we make sure to offer opportunities to see how we work!) but you’ll want to make sure that for the most part they are kept safely out of the way. 

4. You’ll Want to Take Photos

Before. During. After! You don’t need fancy equipment, all you need is a mobile phone with a camera on it. Don’t forget to take it out of your pocket to capture the entire process. 

In progress photos are great for keeping family and friends up-to-date and to track how far you’ve come. While the before and after photos are essential for comparisons. You’d be surprised how quickly you forget the old pink bathtub or green shag carpet!  

5. Find a Way to Stay Organized

While a great contractor will take as much off your plate as possible, you will still have a lot of decisions to make. To prevent anything from falling through the cracks we suggest keeping organized with a project journal. It can be the old fashioned paper and pen variety or you can go digital (there’s probably an app for that). 

It’ll be handy to have one spot for note taking, to-do lists, and for writing down the questions that inevitably pop into your head while you’re brushing your teeth.

6. Yes, There Will Be Mess!

Your house will be a construction site. No matter the preventative measures, like dust barriers and floor covers, dirt will escape to other parts of your house (it’s sneaky like that!). 

With the extra foot traffic and vehicles your yard may also be subject to a bit of wear and tear, so be prepared to show your home a little extra love during the reno, inside and out. We always talk through how to minimize the effects of a reno with clients, but are honest about what they need to budget for yard clean up etc., especially for additions!

7. What You Should Expect From Your Contractor

Your contractor is going to be your new best friend over the course of your renovation so it’s important to choose wisely!

A great contactor (& crew) will be:

• in constant communication (i.e. they will never ghost you)
• respectful to you, your family and your home
• professional (i.e. be on their best behavior at all times)
• punctuation and show up on the agreed upon times

Hey, that sounds just like us! Don’t take our word for it, read what our happy clients say.

8. What Your Contractor Should Expect From You

To help your renovation run smoothly, there are a few things that you can do to support your contractor as well.

As a great client you should be:

• in constant communication (we’d love to be able to read minds but that’s not our superpower!)
• patient, especially now that some things may take longer 
• decisive, which will help keep things moving along
• welcoming (i.e. make the team feel that you’re happy to see them). A team that feels appreciated will often go the extra mile. Plus, you’ll be happier too!

With all these tips in mind, are you ready to start a home renovation? 

Check out our featured projects for inspiration or view our handy Renovation Guide to get started. To speak with one of our Project Managers call 519-664-2245.