Now that the weather is nice, people are dusting off their DIY equipment and getting back into home renovating. Crafting a space to match your family’s needs and your personal design style can be an exciting project. However, don’t expect to transform your kitchen or bathroom overnight…or even in a few weeks. A renovation can take upwards of six months, depending on the weather, your contractors and your level of commitment.
To help you get through those months, Storage Post has put together some tips on planning, budgeting and getting started.
~Start small by organizing and clearing space. As you consider rooms to renovate, declutter the area by donating items you don’t need and never use, and placing some items in a storage unit. Once a room is clean, uncluttered and organized, you may find structural details and natural light you hadn’t noticed before – and don’t want to change.
~After choosing a room or area to renovate, the crucial next step is setting a budget. Price points to consider include materials, labor, clean-up, professional assistance and inspections. Analyze your wish list and estimate the overall cost of your renovation – then add additional money for emergency fixes, delays in timing and other surprise elements.
~Research, research, research. Search the web for buying guides that compare materials, browse your local home décor stores to price out items and visit open houses in your area for inspiration. Collect paint wheels, floor samples and fabrics, and store everything a storage unit. Whether it’s a year from now or a decade, you will regret throwing out your design ideas and favorite paint colors when you’re ready for the next project.
~Choose materials wisely. To save money, pick economic look-alike materials or forgo delivery by picking up the materials yourself. Call around to local contractors and offer to purchase their leftover supplies from other jobs, which can be obtained at a cut rate. ReStore, Habitat for Humanity’s supply operation, also offers gently-used materials at half the cost of larger retailers. As you gather items, store everything in a storage unit until it’s needed to keep from crowding your home.
~Renovate for efficiency instead of square footage. Knocking out walls is substantially more expensive than readjusting the layout to add storage and creating better traffic flow. Consider all of the options before you commit to a complete overhaul.
In small homes, don’t forget to specifically plan out additional storage spaces – your home is meant to grow with you, whether you are a young family, an avid hobbyist or preparing for a gaggle of grandchildren. Storage Post is an affordable and convenient way to keep you home organized and your renovation supplies accessible. Visit www.storagepost.com for more information on how self storage can make your life, and your DIY projects, easier.
Storage Post provides superior self storage facilities and equally extraordinary associates. We know you’re busy, so our Storage Specialists are trained to quickly assess the storage unit size you need, and help you move forward with life’s big moves.