ULTIMATE HOME REMODELING CHECKLIST: S o you’re ready to turn your home remodeling ideas into reality. Whether you just bought a place that needs a lot of love or you’re finally able to do that make- over you’ve been dreaming about, this is a very big deal. what you can’t live without, you’ll have a better idea of where the wiggle room is in the budget. Don’t let that happen to you. Keep your home renova- tion ideas on a budget and on the right track by using our handy-dandy home remodeling checklist, developed with input from a pro. Construction in the greater Roanoke Valley of Virginia. If you’re unable or unwilling to finance this project, know your limit and keep a tight grip on the purse strings. Also, Gauldin recommends padding your budget with 10-25 percent to cover unexpected surprises. He says to pad for the unforeseen, like water damage found under tile, and for changes in plans, like you want a larger window than you first thought. SET A BUDGET Imagine having your roof ready for shingles and running Considering the cost to remodel a house, pre-planning is out of money. Not a good place to be when a storm brews essential. With all the details to keep straight and con- on the horizon. versations to remember, a house makeover can quickly “When I ask a prospective client their budget, about 90 go off the rails. percent have no idea,” says Jay Gauldin, president, TBS STEP 1: CAPTURE YOUR HOME REMODELING IDEAS ON PAPER CREATE A PLAN Every grand adventure begins with motivation and a map. Once you’ve considered why you want to embark on your remodeling adventure — it’s a necessary repair, to update a room, to improve accessibility, or just for fun — it’s time to plan how you’re going to get there. LIST YOUR PRIORITIES With your why nailed down, ask what your priorities are. If grandma’s coming to live with you, a zero-entry shower could be a non-negotiable. If you’re a private chef, that walk-in cooler is essential. Once you know When preparing your home for sale, you definitely want to get back what you’ve invested. Use sites like HomeAd- visor to research an average cost when planning a remod- eling project. Then check the Remodeling Impact Report published by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). Not only does it show the percentage of value normally recovered from a project, it includes a Joy Score — a number from 1 to 10 which rates how much enjoyment homeowners receive from a particular project. If you’re not planning to sell your home, the Joy Score Central Oregon Homes " PAGE 11