5 Key Things To Do Before Remodeling, According To A Top Design Expert - Exclusive

From construction dust and the sound of sledgehammers to budgetary snafus, renovating your home can be an incredibly chaotic and difficult time. In fact, according to Sweeten, most homeowners find the planning phase of their remodeling project even more stressful than the execution of it. As tough as it may be, however, planning ahead is the key to a successful home renovation. 

We've all heard horror stories about things that can go wrong when our space is being remodeled. For instance, putting in a new bathtub can unearth a plumbing disaster waiting to happen, leading to project delays and a budget that needs to be tweaked to the tune of thousands of dollars. Or, perhaps your initial remodeling plan turns out to be too optimistic, forcing you to scale back your ambitions. 

Although no project is without its set of unique challenges, you can be prepared for almost anything home renovations throw at you by taking care of some key things before the process begins. Fortunately, Lauren Adams — Principal and Co-Owner of Letter Four, Inc., a full-service design firm in Los Angeles — provided some valuable insight in an exclusive interview with House Digest.

Of course, coming up with a budget for your home remodel project is impossible if you only have a vague understanding of what needs to be done. This may be why around 30% of renovations go over budget (per RenoFi). That's why Lauren Adams says it's important to determine the scope of your project at the outset. "Make sure that you're clear on what you want to do and why you want to do it," she shared. "You need to determine what your needs are as well as the emotional drivers. How do you want your home to feel? How do you use the space? Are you remodeling for resale or because this is your forever home?"

Naturally, a renovated living room will be much more affordable than a full facelift of an entire house. For this reason, Adams warns against creating grand plans that far outweigh a modest budget. "Your scope goes hand-in-hand with your budget," she added. "You need to make sure that you can achieve your desired scope within your budget and avoid what we call 'scope creep' to stay within your budget."

While some homeowners may consider selecting fixtures and finishes a relatively minor detail in the grand scheme of their home remodeling plans, there are several important reasons why you want to have these details determined before the sledgehammers begin to fly, says Lauren Adams. "There can be hundreds of items that you need to select," she said. "This includes appliances, plumbing fixtures, decorative lighting, cabinets, hardware, tile, flooring, cabinets, countertops, medicine cabinets, and more."

Selecting these items in advance will help ensure that your team can provide you with expert insight in the event that certain fixtures or appliances will not work with your plans. According to Adams, doing so well in advance can also help your spending stay on track. "You'll want your architect or an interior designer to help you to make these selections and determine the budget for these items, which can easily get out of hand if not monitored," she continued.

Although adhering to your project's budget and scope are important, there's another reason you should not waste time in selecting your fixtures. "You'll also want to select and purchase the majority of these items before starting construction to avoid delays caused if materials go on backorder or are discontinued, something that is much more common given the materials shortages we've experienced through the pandemic," she added. "Appliances, for example, can take a year to receive after placing your order."