You’ve decided to go for it: You’re going to Or Or finally finish the basement. Congratulations!
But also: Good luck. Renovations can strike fear into the hearts of even practiced professionals, and if you’re reading this story we’re guessing that’s … not you.
“[First-timers] are nervous, they don’t know what to expect,” says David Jordan, owner and president of in Virginia. “They’re anxious about price; they’re anxious about time frame; they’re anxious to know how their life is going to be disrupted and if so, how much.”
Among the questions Jordan commonly fields: “Where do I start? How long is it going to take? … Can I stay in my house? What do I do if I don’t have a kitchen for three months?”
If you can relate, we’re here to help. Here’s a list of some basic things to know before you get started with your project, compiled from conversations with general contractors, architects and interior designers who’ve guided hundreds of people through renovations.
Understand the scope of your project
There’s a difference between a simple “swap out” bathroom project (replacing the tub, toilet and vanity with new, prettier versions) and a total reconfiguration of the bathroom that requires knocking down walls and moving around plumbing. That may sound obvious, but getting clear about exactly how much you’ll be changing affects many other choices you’ll need to make, including what kind of contractor to hire, whether you want a designer to help and how much you could decide to DIY. Generally, the more complex your project, the more likely it is you’ll want to hire help for everything, including design, planning and labor.
It’s often easiest to know exactly what you want to change if you’ve lived in the space for a while, says DC interior designer Iantha Carley, of . “When I meet people who just purchased a house and they want to redo the kitchen, I recommend them waiting,” she says. “I’ve had lots of instances where people have not thought it out [and] don’t know a simple thing like do you want a pot filler? Do you want the microwave in the base cabinets or do you want it overhead?”