Something often over looked in do it your self home renovation is the importance of doing your home work before starting a project. Planning is the secret to a successful renovation. It makes the difference between a wow! job and a “okay, I just spent $$$ and have a new____. ”
Good design doesn’t have to cost more, in fact sometimes it can cost less. It is a known fact in the industry that 30% of the budget goes into fixing screw ups from poor planning.
Read the articles, watch someone explain how to complete the task, and research the product selection you are considering. Still nervous that you are going to make the wrong product choice or that you may end up with a mess and have to hire a contractor to finish?
Hire a designer, even if just as a consultant.
Not a decorator, who is an expert in window treatments and furniture, but a designer that has experience with renovation and remodeling. They understand the various aspects of construction and most can recommend a contractor to do the job if needed. Or do it your self with the assurance that, with the help of a professional, you have a plan for success.
A designer also can help with those finishing touches, like paint colors and flooring, proper lighting and plumbing fixtures. I am not discounting the importance of a decorator, they have turned many a dull room into a show case, but ask them if a sink can move across the room or a wall taken down and they refer to a contractor.
“Oh but they cost so much”…I have heard this so many times. But remember that 30% I mentioned, factor that in and they have more than covered their fee and you get the Wow!
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