Here are some ways to help you plan a budget for your upcoming home renovation project.

Have a Renovation Plan

Get everything in order by listing the things you need. What paint do you need to use for your walls and ceilings? Do you have hammers, rulers, or anything else to help you with the labor?

Make it a priority to help you see the areas you have to renovate first. It can help you get some of the costs down and estimate what it would take to get the job done. Maybe some backyard contractors can help you see what to do to your patio before tackling the grass.

Create a Schedule

Always consider your schedule. Do you need to have everything done before the summer ends? It might be wise to get everything started in the spring to help you throughout the early summer.

You’ll have warmer weather to use instead of the sporadic element of winter. You never know if the cold weather could cause snow, ice, freezing rain, and other precipitation to delay your project. Also, you’ll get better workers who would help you on your project in more desirable temperatures.

Scheduling things in advance helps you plan. When you stick to a schedule, it can help you cut costs on labor and spending on frivolous things. Also, you can do things around your 9-5 and your kid’s school routine.

Speak to Contractors

Another tip to help you plan a budget is speaking to contractors. These experts know how to construct things and lead skilled workers on a job site. Hire one for your renovation project because they can guide you through a step-by-step approach.

You may plan a large-scale project only to find out it can’t happen. You might not have the budget for it. Maybe the city building codes don’t allow you to build something to a specific height. A quality contractor knows these details and will tell you the truth.

Maybe you can think of an alternative plan to get what you want but differently. Not to mention, a contractor might have other people who can lend their expertise to you. Put a contractor in your budget to help you when you get stuck on your home renovation project.

You might delay your home renovation job for months, or buying unnecessary things would cost a fortune. However, a lead constructor or a professional architect can help you dial things back to fit more in your budget. They have experience working in a cash limit to help you stay within your means.

Find Out What Materials to Use

It’s always important to know the materials you’ll use for the project. If you’re planning to renovate specific parts of your home, only get tools that will help you get the job done. Go to a vintage, hardware, or online store that would help you keep to a reasonable budget.

Give yourself a few weeks to piece everything out. Some stores might sell a few items higher, while others can price them lower. Shop around for the best deal because it can save you money, and you can build contacts.

You might be working on another project right around the corner. When you get to know these mom-and-pop hardware stores, you might be able to do a long-term deal. Building a long-term relationship will work well for both parties.

Also, they can give you a heads up when they get new material. You’ll have the first crack at the new items to help you out before the demand increases. It can help you get quality stuff for a reasonable price to make the most out of your remodeling project.

Also, you won’t have to worry about another retailer overcharging you for something you could get locally.

Think About Efficiency

It’s good to have space in every room while remodeling things. Consider how to use the area. Is there enough room to move comfortably? Are the couches aligned to keep people glued to their seats?

Also, how does the room look with tables, plants, and other accessories? You want to make each room fit a specific theme to maximize the space. Additionally, you can throw things out or sell them if the items don’t go with your plan.

It can be a better way to cut some costs instead of buying everything outright.

Take Your Time

Never rush into your renovation project. It takes time to plot everything out to help you make wise decisions. Do some research before buying materials, getting a contractor, and doing other things to finish your task.

Also, it creates fewer headaches along the way. You’re bound to run into a delay or something, but you can do it with a better eye. You take more calculated risks to help you not go over budget to the point where it puts you in debt.

Additionally, you feel better because you’re not in a hurry to get things done. You can take a day off between your renovation schedule to recharge. Having a clear mind will help you see avoidable mistakes that would be costly.

Also, you can think of what could go wrong to help you troubleshoot these issues before they happen.

Do Some of the Work Yourself

Don’t be afraid to roll up your sleeves and do some of the preliminary work with your family. You might not have the expertise for plumbing and electrical work. However, you can start ripping up the carpet, taking down the lights, and other things that would add up in labor costs.

Also, it makes you feel more a part of the process. You might not want an elaborate renovation at first, so you can do this yourself to see what areas need the most attention. When you plan a realistic renovation budget, it can help you make your project more successful.

The post How to Plan a Budget for Your Home Renovation Project? appeared first on Houseyog.

Prioritize What Needs to Be Done First

When you make a plan, think about the first things you want to get done to the home. You might have bought a new property through a Santa Monica realtor or from a friend and decided to get a fresh start by doing your renovations right after the purchase.

It’s good to prioritize what to do to help you prepare a proper renovation plan to schedule things correctly. You might want to remodel your bathroom or do something to the kitchen to make it feel more like home. It can make it more manageable for your plans to find a few places to renovate first.

Additionally, you can get experience with taking on a remodeling project. You find out what you did right and what needs to go back to the drawing board. Help save money by working on a few things first to pace yourself.

Make Small Changes

You might not have the budget to build another bathroom or redo your kitchen or existing bathroom from floor to ceiling. However, you can make slight alterations throughout the house to give it that gloss. Even giving some rooms a fresh coat of wall paint can work wonders. But, just make sure to choose the right shade of wall paint for your home. As the wall colour plays a crucial role in enhancing the looks and ambience.

Just a pop of colour can change the mood of your room. You might work with a blank board to help you take the next step to create a stellar design within your means. Paint is not the only affordable change you make to your house.

Maybe you add new drawer pulls or knobs to give your home a modern edge. It doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars to help you feel good about your house.  Take some small steps to update your house and still have money left over for your other obligations.

Go to Second-Hand Stores

It’s a good idea to go to some second-hand stores. Some of them sell quality items for a lower price. While it might seem like you’re getting hand-me-downs, you do yourself a service by saving in places that could help you stay on budget.

Additionally, you might be able to work out a long-term deal that can help you with multiple small projects around the house. It’s better than buying all new stuff that you might pay a premium price for your home. Do some research on the things you need to help you find stores that have the ideal supplies.

You don’t have to spend a fortune on furniture or anything else you need if the quality matches your tastes.

Get Help from Friends and Family

Never be afraid to ask for help. That’s what your friends and family are there to do when you have to navigate this challenge. Some of your friends might be an expert in fixing things around the house. Use their expertise to help make this transition more feasible.

You can get their advice on where to locate quality material from flooring, paint, and other items that you need to help your renovation be more successful. Also, they can help you with the labor part of the renovation. Two heads are better than one when it comes to these projects.

Give them some cash as an incentive for lightening the load. If you can’t afford a professional, this could be the next best thing when you have friends who know their way around some tools. Some may do it for free, so offer them a gift after completing your renovations. Gestures like this go a long way.

Additionally, this is a great way to keep building a bond by working together.

Sell and Exchange Your Items

Another good tactic to help you get some extra cash is to sell off your old items. You can sell them on Craigslist or another place to get some more money. It can help you feel more comfortable because you have a small safety net in case you have to go over your budget.

Additionally, you can exchange your old items for new ones. Get some store credit by exchanging multiple items you’ve kept in good condition. It can help you build some leverage and go after a couple of new things you need for your home.

Another good thing about getting rid of your old items is that you start to free up space in your home. Sometimes that’s what you need outside of remodelling. You have more room to help you get creative in arranging different elements in your interior and exterior.

Do Things Early

An early start can help you make the project more manageable. When you stick to a tight deadline, it can stress you out. It’s easier to make mistakes that can cost you thousands of dollars.

Also, having more time can help you secure different things you need to make it easier to keep your home in good standing. Whether you need to get to a family emergency or other things delay your project, you have some room to breathe by getting to the project earlier.

Hire a Professional for the Complicated Stuff

Some areas of your home need an expert eye. You might need a professional home renovator to swap things out. It seems more expensive, but it can save you money in the long haul.

The more technical aspects of your home renovation need that expertise to help keep your home from getting damaged and your family members safe. You don’t want an accident to happen to you or your loved ones while renovating the house. Even with a small budget, you can still renovate some parts of your home. Just be clear on the priority areas first to help you make things less stressful.

The post How to Renovate Your Home When You Are On a Tight Budget appeared first on Houseyog.

We have started this new series called site update. The idea is to share the project updates and our journey. It will help you understand what goes behind the scene in renovating and designing beautiful homes, and what it takes to execute a project successfully. If you are planning to renovate and redesign your house, and you are looking for some inspiration then continue reading. Also, don’t forget to check this space to learn and experience everything you need to know to renovate and redesign any old residential property.

So are you ready?

Well, I hear you saying yes.

So let’s dive in.

Project Overview – 2BHK Home Renovation and Interior Design in Kolkata

As I said, this is an over twenty year old two storey house. The carpet area of the ground floor is approx 650 sq ft. The owners are staying on the first floor. They want to completely renovate both the floors and make it look modern, efficient and of course beautiful. We have started the renovation at the ground floor which has the following spaces.

• A decent size bedroom with two windows
• Second bedroom with small balcony
• One standard size kitchen room
• Only one common bathroom
• A separate dining area
• Living and drawing space

Here’s the existing floor layout or the floor blue print of the house.

Key Objectives of This Home Renovation Project

We had several meetings with the home owners to gather and understand the requirements. We discussed the space they need and how they plan to use that space. After several brainstorming sessions, we concluded and understood that they want a functional, efficient, open and spacious house.

These are the major changes they wanted to make:

• Change the entrance of both the bedrooms for efficiency and better layout
• Create a new attached bath for second room
• Increase the size of the main bathroom by moving the front and back walls
• Renovate the existing bathroom completely including all the fittings and accessories
• Change the position of entrance in both the bedrooms to make it more efficient
• Convert the kitchen room to an open kitchen concept
• Replace all the doors and windows to make it look good and modern

After subsequent discussions, we concluded that we have to make many changes in the existing floor layout to make it open and efficient.

Modified floor layout

Here’s the new floor layout that we finalized after trying various layout ideas.

We decided to make following major changes in the existing floor layout.

Master bedroom layout changes:

• We decided to move the entrance towards the left for privacy reasons, and to create the space for the TV unit.
• There were two big size windows and we decided to leave the windows towards the main road, and close the other window.
• By closing one of the windows, we were able to create the space for the wardrobe.

Second bedroom layout changes

• We again changed the position of the entrance and moved it to the other side to create space for the L-shaped sofa and sit out area.
• Moved the smaller door towards the right to create space for a new bathroom, as well as kept a small balcony that can be used as a utility area.

Kitchen layout changes

• The client wanted to try the open kitchen layout, so we had to demolish the wall and make it open.
• By making the kitchen open, we also created space to keep the fridge inside the kitchen for ease of use.

Other layout changes

• Removed the curved structure that was separating the living and dining area to make the space look open.
• Moved the front and back wall of the common bathroom to create more space.
• Adjusted the height of the windows.
• Refurbished the existing iron grill on all the windows.
• Level up the floor and main doors across the house.
• Other demolition, brick work and plastering here and there.

Scope of work for the civil job

Since the project required a lot of civil work, we decided to make the structural changes and complete the civil, plumbing and electrical work first.

The major civil and renovation work involved can be summed up as under:

• Leveling up the floor of the entire house to the existing level of dining and kitchen.
• Moving existing door (closing) and opening new door in both the bedrooms
• Closing one of the existing window in the main bedroom to create space for cupboards
• Creating a new attached bathroom in second bedroom (to be used as a guest bedroom)
• Removing the existing mosaic and installing new floor tiles across the house
• Replacing the wall tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms
• Installation of new granite kitchen countertop
• Replacing kitchen sink, wash basin and related accessories
• Plumbing work in both the washrooms
• Dismantling, brick work and plastering at several places.
• Complete electrical rewiring and moving switch boxes as per new layout.
• Minor adjustment to existing window grills
• Installing aluminum windows and slider to access balcony area
• Installing new door frame with granite paneling and wooden door
• Brick work, plaster, primer and putty on all walls and ceiling
• Anti termite treatment

Budget for the 2 BHK home renovation project

When we met with the home owners for the first time, they had pretty basic requirements for this home renovation and interior design project in Kolkata, South. They were planning to replace the floor tiles, and wall tiles in the kitchen and bathroom. They also wanted to create a modular kitchen, and replace all the door frames and doors. Also, they wanted to get rid of the old mosaic floor and level the floor up.

The initial allocated budget for the civil work was around Rs. 500000.00. But, as we started brainstorming ideas we kept fine tuning the scope and started preparing the block estimates. However, after considering all the requirements and specifications, we had to tweak the budget. The total project cost for the vicil related changes came at around Rs. 542532.00 for this 650 sq ft, 2 Bedroom home renovation project in Kolkata. That comes at around Rs. 834.66 per sq ft based on carpet area.

This covered almost all the civil alterations and changes such as new bath fittings, kitchen countertops, wash basin, complete flooring, bathroom fittings and accessories including water line. Besides, we also had to make a new bathroom, and that was included in the block estimates.

Although we did many sessions and finalize the initial requirements, there were some additional job requests like

• Water proofing on the entire floor and all internal walls up to 30” from floor levels
• Rewiring the entire house as per new layout.
• Wiring for AC

And therefore we had to rework the expenses and project budget.

However, I am happy to say that the project is going well so far.

We have nearly completed the civil work. And ready to start the interior work which includes carpentry, false ceiling, some electrical work and furnishing.

Material specifications for civil work

Choice of materials can be vital for any project. Luckily, the client for this 2 BHK home renovation and interior design project in Kolkata is open to suggestions. Considering the budget we had to complete the civil work for this renovation and interior design project, we finalized following material specifications.

• Tiles: Kajaria tiles / Asian Granite Ltd
• Floor tiles: 2×4, wall tiles : 2×2
• Cement: Ultratech / Ramco
• Sanitary and bath fittings:  CERA / Hindware / Jaquar
• Plumbing pipes: Prayag / Aashirward
• Electrical wires and cables: Havells / Finolex
• Waterproofing: Dr. Fix it
• Putty and Primer: Asian / Berger

Although we had to complete the civil related renovation work within 5 lacs, we had to stretch the budget a bit. But, we are happy that we chose the best of the brands for this 2 BHK home renovation and interior design project in Kolkata. As you can see, we have not compromised with the quality of any of the materials. We are using the brands that are leading in their category and serve the purpose well. 

Current status of the project – as on 20^th Jan, 2022

We have almost completed all the renovation work which includes

• All the structural changes i.e. demolition, brick work, plaster to finish the wall
• Complete the floor leveling by laying hard core fill with stone and sand under the roofing, paving with stones of approx 150-200 mm size along with smaller chips to fill any gap. This followed by dry sand filling and PCC (plain cement concrete) to finish the floor.
• Waterproofing the floor and all the interior walls from floor level to up to 30” by scratching the plaster, treating the wall and re-plastering work.
• Complete the floor and wall tiling job
• Fixed the kitchen counter as per specification and counter design
• Finished all the plumbing related work including the installation of kitchen and bath accessories e.g. sink, tap, wash basin, commode, shower unit etc.
• Installation of aluminum windows
• Putty and primer work is going on and hopefully it will be completed within a day or two.
• Termite treatment to be done tomorrow.

Next up, we are starting the interior design work for this project. Interior work includes false ceiling work, followed by carpentry, painting, lighting and soft furnishing.

We are already working on 2D Elevation and 3D interior designs and views for all of the spaces in this project. We have also calculated the cost of the interior work, but thats in block estiate format. Once the design is approved, We’ll share the final budget, specification and updates from the site in south Kolkata.

We’ll be sharing further updates on this home renovation and interior design project from Kolkata.

In the meantime, I am living with you with these work in progress pictures from this site.

Over to you

Home renovation projects are not easy to handle. No matter how you plan, budget and execute the project, you will have to make adjustments to your plan and strategies during the execution. From that point of view, this home renovation project in Kolkata is no different. However, we love transforming spaces and therefore we are equally excited to share everything that goes behind the scene.

Stay tuned and keep checking this space.

If you have any questions, feel free to share by commenting below.

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