Guide to surviving home renovations

Home and Garden

Photos: Planning that next big renovation project? Here are eight tips for making it through your home makeover.

Start with a willingness to reveal your budget and to be honest about your financial situation. ”If you’re not discussing the budget at every single design meeting, it’s really going to be frustrating because you’re going to hit a dead end at some point,” says Warner McConaughey, founder and president of HammerSmith, a Decatur-based design and renovation firm.

When budgeting for appliances, plumbing, electrical fixtures, tile and other items, add a 20 percent cushion. Spending a little bit more here and there can add up throughout the project.

Decide on a start time with your contractor to avoid unexpected knocks on the door. Also, consider the rest of your routine.

Sometimes, homeowners have a difficult time making a plan and following the plan. When you are in the building process and decide you want to increase or decrease a room size or move windows or doors, it could impact the rest of the changes.

Indecision or putting off choosing your lighting, tile, flooring, countertops, windows and other features could be costly and delay the project.

Remodeling a kitchen -- one of the most popular types of renovations -- could be so inconvenient that you might want to arrange other housing.

If an electrician has done his job and then you ask them to return to add another outlet, it will take more time and extra money. It’s the same for other subcontractors, such as plumbers.

It sounds funny, but contractors say it’s best to provide a portable toilet on site for workers. a portable toilet can cost $80 a month.

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Start with a willingness to reveal your budget and to be honest about your financial situation. ”If you’re not discussing the budget at every single design meeting, it’s really going to be frustrating because you’re going to hit a dead end at some point,” says Warner McConaughey, founder and president of HammerSmith, a Decatur-based design and renovation firm.

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