Are you planning to renovate?

Even a small renovation can give your home a whole new look and feel. Follow these renovation tips to save time, money and effort.

• Make sure you have time to think through the renovation. Even if you're only doing a small renovation, careful planning can help you achieve the desired result. It can also save you time and effort during the renovation and help you stay on budget.
• What is the goal of the renovation? Do you want a new look, make better use of space or does the desired result require structural changes?
• Get ideas and inspiration from others. For example, you can find images on Google, Pinterest, Instagram and blogs that can give you inspiration. You can also ask various decorating groups on Facebook.
• Plan your budget and decide if you want to do it all yourself or if you need help. Also consider and plan if you might need professional help.
• Research different products and consider whether they suit your lifestyle and needs. Some surface materials look nice but require a lot of cleaning and maintenance.
• Set aside enough time to compare prices on products. Take advantage of deals, clearance sales and online flea markets.
• Prepare for the fact that delivery times may not fit with your planning. Especially during peak season, delivery times for some products will be longer than expected. If you want to ensure that the work you order professionally goes smoothly, it's often beneficial to book an appointment before you start renovating. You can store items in small storage rooms and retrieve them when they are needed.
• If you plan to do the majority of the renovation yourself, plan the work process carefully. Excel documents are a great help for this.
• If you're renovating yourself, make sure you have the right tools and be sure to search for information about the different stages of renovation. If you're not an expert renovator, you can find many educational videos on YouTube.
• Make sure you have all the permits you need. Some renovations require permits from both authorities as well as housing associations.
• If you need professional help, research different offers and book well in advance. Renovation often requires several different tasks that only professionals can and should do.
• Ask for references at your renovation company and get in touch with them. That way, you'll find out what has been done by others in the past.
• Always make a written contract for your renovation with your contractor.
• After you've found a renovation company, ask for a renovation plan so you know what needs to be done and in what order. This can help you understand what the different phases will require of you.
• Check if there is enough space in your apartment to move furniture and other items aside during the renovation. Consider whether it's better to store your belongings and furniture in a storage unit during the renovation. You can find everything you need to protect your furniture at Pelican Self Storage. Plus, you can borrow a trailer for free to move your belongings.
• If you don't have to move any furniture when renovating your apartment, the work will be easier and you won't risk breaking things or furniture.
• If the renovation doesn't seem to be progressing as planned, check the renovation plan and find out what stage of the renovation you should be at. If necessary, contact the contractor and ask if the renovation is progressing as planned.