Are you renovating?

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 about the renovation.
  Even if you are 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 stick to the budget.
• What is the aim of the renovation?
  Do you want a new look, make better use of space or do you need structural changes to achieve the desired result?
• 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 different interior design groups on Facebook.
• Plan your budget and decide if you want to do everything 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.
• Allow enough time to compare prices of products.
  Take advantage of online offers, back-orders and flea markets.
• Prepare for the fact that delivery times may not fit with your planning. Especially during the high season, delivery times for some products may be longer than expected. If you want to make sure that the work you order professionally goes smoothly, it is often good to make an appointment before you start renovating. You can store things in small storage units and pick them up when you need them.
• If you plan to do most of the renovation yourself, plan the work process carefully. Excel documents are very helpful for this.
• If you are renovating yourself, make sure you have the right tools and make sure to search for information on the different stages of renovation. If you are not an expert in renovation, you can find many educational videos on YouTube.
• Make sure you have all the permits you need. Some renovations require permission from both authorities and 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 your renovation company for references and get in touch with them. This way you can find out what others have done before.
• Always make a written agreement for your renovation with your contractor.
• Once you have found a renovation company, ask for a renovation plan so that you know what needs to be done and in what order. This can help you understand what the different phases will require from you.
• Check if there is enough space in your apartment to put away furniture and other items during the renovation. Consider whether it would be better to store your belongings and furniture in a storage unit during the renovation. Pelican Self Storage has everything you need to protect your furniture. In addition, 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 does not 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.