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Make a long list of each item required for your renovation:
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Make a selection from among the available products for each item. Mark “tentative” on as many items as you wish and feel free to list alternate choices. This enables you to review the whole package without making a full commitment until you have had a chance to review their impact on the budget and schedule.
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Once you have made a final decision, remove the 'tentative' label from your choices and make a commitment to them.
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Don't sacrifice quality design and craftsmanship to save a bit of cash. For example, if cheap tile is used in a high-traffic area, it will quickly show wear and tear and may cost you more in the long run if you need to replace it.
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Before you renovate, go window shopping to get educated on the price of materials, and develop a realistic budget. For example, people may be surprised to learn that a bathroom tap can set you back anywhere from $70 to $450.
Ballpark Pricing
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For additions, use a price range of $175 - $250 per square foot to estimate cost.
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If a "big ticket" room such as a kitchen, bathroom or media room is included, add the value of that room to the previous total. For example, add $30,000 - $80,000 for a kitchen; add $15,000 - $50,000 for a bathroom, etc.
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For any adjacent or “tie-in” areas such as stairwell, or for an area which needs a major redecoration, add 40% to 70% of the per square foot cost of the additions for those areas.
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For a large scale project such a s a second-floor addition, consider budgeting some money to move to a temporary dwelling for a few months. It’s less disruptive, especially if you have a family, and will let you retain a sense of normalcy. Just ensure you are close enough to visit the work site often.
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Last-minute changes to details by the homeowner, like structure and materials for example, create more work and can delay the project. To avoid this, TQ sets deadlines for each phase. For instance, you can only alter the placement of windows prior to receiving the building permit.
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7. |
Visit home trade shows where new innovations are introduced. Knowledge of industry trends is important, especially when it comes to energy-efficient solutions. In the end, it can save you a lot of time and money.
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