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
