General home renovation is a process that most people want to get to before it even begins, but just like in the renovation work itself, solid foundations and laying a good foundation at the beginning of the process will make it easier for you during the renovation itself.
What is the purpose of the renovation?
An important question you need to ask yourself before you get into the thickness of the beam, is what is the purpose for which you are embarking on this challenging experience.
Looking at the entire renovation will necessarily be different if the purpose is renovation for investment, or the purpose is renovation for residential purposes.
Many investors are interested in improving the property they purchased by renovating, thus selling the house at a profit or renting it out.
If you have purchased a first property for investment, and you are not yet a ‘shark’ in the real estate world, you should know that renovating an investment apartment usually amounts to a standard renovation, unless you are targeting a specific target audience.
This is also true for the apartment you are interested in selling at the end of the renovation and also for the apartment you plan to rent.
When it comes to renovating an apartment for rent, if the basic infrastructure such as plumbing and electricity is in good condition, you can be satisfied with a cosmetic renovation only.
Keep in mind that you are the one who will have to bear the expenses by law in cases of malfunctions created as a result of one or another wear and tear in the apartment.
Looking at renovating an apartment where you live or are about to move in and living in it is a completely different look.
Even if you are about to renovate the house you intend to live in for the next decades, this is not a reason to collapse mentally, and certainly not financially.
Take the goal for which you set out to renovate in the first place and build an orderly plan for fulfilling the dream.
When should you renovate?
The most convenient period for renovation is when there are no weather disturbances on the one hand and there is more flexibility to be away from home on vacation.
What is your budget?
A healthy renovation requires a clear budget framework. The well-known Israeli phenomenon of deviating from the renovation budget is not a matter of fate, and there is certainly something to be done.
The first thing to remember is that price is just a number, and you can bargain and lower prices on almost anything.
Do yourself a favor and do not repair the floors in the first place you enter.
In addition, do not be overly impressed with the designed elements of interior doors, and do not be blinded by sanitary ware just because they look great on display.
At home everything always looks completely different. Sometimes it is worth investing part of the budget in a designer, which can save us time, frustration and ultimately money.
How to build a renovation plan?
Once you understand what the purpose of the renovation is and what the budget is, the next step is to start measuring and putting the vision on the page.
There are people with special talent and a semi-professional eye that is enough for them to build a renovation plan at a reasonable level, but in the end there is no substitute for a professional who will help you make the dream a reality.
In any case, in order to plan the overall renovation in a practical way, you will need an architect or surveyor who will measure the apartment against its original plan.
Why do you need a bill of quantities?
The bill of quantities is usually made by the interior designer or architect. This is a breakdown of the renovation work in front of the types of materials and the amount of materials that will be required to carry out the work, all in an attempt to create a document that is as accurate as possible.
A bill of quantities is intended to prevent deviations from the budget and to set a standard of a reasonable price that can be compared between a contractor and a contractor.
To get the best bargaining chip with remodeling contractors, consider the remodeling plan you have built with the architect or interior designer.
Make sure you have as detailed a bill of quantities as possible, get a quote from a remodeling contractor that you think will fit the job and go with this quote to other remodeling contractors for price comparison and negotiation.
How tol purchase finishing materials
Finishing materials are the materials that the contractor uses in the renovation. The materials are divided into two and are called ‘white’ finishing materials and ‘black’ finishing materials.
The white finishing materials are all the visual materials, such as floors, parquet, lighting fixtures, sanitary ware, marble, cabinets and so on.
The black finishing materials are all the work materials that the renovation contractor uses to carry out the renovation.
While the renovation contractor is responsible for purchasing the black finishing materials, you are responsible for purchasing the white materials.
When you have a tidy bill of quantities from an architect or interior designer you can start the market survey regarding the white finishing materials, even before you decide which renovation contractor you would like to take.
The range of options when it comes to finishing materials is wide and worth a guide of its own, but there are key elements that you should emphasize while searching, especially when it comes to the most expensive materials.
Tiles – The main types of flooring are divided into ceramic tiles, terrazzo tiles, porcelain granite and marble flooring.
No matter what type of flooring you choose, know that every tile should have at least a minimum level of resistance to slipping.
The standard resistance level is level R9, while level R13 is the highest level of resistance against slipping.
The size of the tiles may affect everything regarding the price of flooring, therefore, it is advisable to gather the information about the potential types of tiles and check with the renovation contractors what price they intend to charge for the tile flooring you have chosen.
Interior doors – Interior doors are installed after the flooring phase of the renovation, so you have the time to go out and choose the right door for you.
If you have not been able to decide which doors will be installed in your home until the next renovation or transition, you can install a ‘blind’ jamb.
The blind jamb maintains a straight foundation while installing the door. It is not visible, and it is actually a R-shaped galvanized tin that keeps the corners of the opening straight.
When it comes to installing doors, the more doors you purchase from one supplier, the lower their installation cost will be.
In terms of sealing, most doors today are made with sealing rubber that insulates noise well, but in some cases where there is no such seal you can request that the door have a cardboard seal or inner cracker.
Sanitary ware for the bathroom – When you are planning a complete renovation in the bathroom as part of a complete renovation of the house, your center of attention will naturally be directed to choosing sanitary ware.
The variety is wide and the design options are endless. However, not every professional specializes in any installation of this or that sanitary ware.
Check with the remodeling contractor that he specializes in renovating bathtubs for that matter, and if he does not specialize in this, check who he intends to bring in to get the job done.
