Whether your renovation project involves the kitchen, bedroom, gallery, or your whole condo, one thing is certain – home renovation brings along a lot of challenges if you haven’t done proper planning upfront. The proper planning will help you avoid expensive changes in the middle of the project, have a solid timeline and budget, and abide by any HOA rules during construction. At ArDan Construction, we have a structured, proven process as well as a Pre-Construction Agreement (PCA) that helps us deliver the condo renovation of our client’s dreams. We highly recommend working with a contractor that requires a PCA so you know exactly what you’re getting into before construction starts.

That being said, before you meet with your contractor, it is important that you have a clear vision. To get you started on the path toward clarity, we created a list of 6 things you should consider before remodeling your condo.

Have a Clear Idea of the Rules

There are varied policies of the condo board for each developmental project. You have to make sure that you are not interfering with any of those relevant policies. The board may have some regulations that could possibly affect your design decisions, such as material selection. Mostly, the rules and regulations serve to highlight which particular days and hours you can spend renovating a condo.

It is better to stay on top of these things, so you don’t have to deal with the scheduling or delivery hassles later on. Furthermore, you would definitely require a permit or some kind of legal approval before initiating any work.

Perhaps it will be best if you discuss your detailed plans with a knowledgeable board member before going ahead with anything. This will help you better gauge your expectations, and make sure you stay realistic about your home design plans.

Know Who You’re Making Changes For

After going over the detailed plans with your condo board and deciding what you are (and aren’t) allowed to renovate, you will also need to take into consideration for whom that condo unit is being renovated.

A lot of things also depend on whether you are refurbishing the entire space or if you plan on putting the real estate up for a resale or rent.

If you are sprucing up a condo for yourself, you would still need to see how long it will take to finish the job. You can prioritize your work likewise with an estimated timeline that describes every design detail.

If you are, on the other hand, refurbishing a condo in order to sell or rent it, then you have to consider the best investment opportunities. You need to focus on some key areas while skimping through the unwanted details.

Bottom line, it is possible to achieve all of the given conditions, as long as you figure out what’s your top priority. These are not everyday decisions so make sure to give yourself time.

Stay Flexible

This is one of the most useful renovation tips you’ll receive. It is more beneficial to be flexible in terms of what your designer concepts are. Every condo renovation project is somewhat limited and can potentially go awry. If you are smart enough to reconsider certain design changes, it will be easier to come to terms with the things you can’t actually achieve during the construction phase. You can essentially make a trade-off and realize some priorities quicker.

It is important to know what is essential for your condo unit and what isn’t. For example, if you live solo, why not dedicate a small space for your fridge so that you could indulge in some better and more creative ideas for the leftover kitchen area? Or just make that extra space for those kitchen cabinets. Things like this will usually help you get a clearer idea of what your priorities are and what you might be willing to compromise in order for them to be realized.

Don’t Shy Away from Painting

If you’re willing to rent out or sell the condo that you own, a paint job might be enough to completely revamp the place. A dramatically dark paint job might sound terrifying, but if that’s what the rentee wants, that’s what he or she should get.

Perhaps an unusual color that is totally overrated is just what you need to stand out or maybe you just need a decent hue that will get you the most bang for your buck.

Whatever the case, a beautiful paint job, as well as a few smart condominium renovation choices, will most likely be enough to help you to resell or rent the place. You should always keep in mind whom the renovation is meant for. If it’s for you – great, have at it! The sky’s the limit.

Also, choosing certain colors will give you a chance to lower the design costs and circumvent some of the other challenges as well.

Or you can simply choose some of the interior designers’ favorite or most popular hues, such as dusty blue, muted green, and apple red.

Choose to Stay Somewhere Else During the Condo Renovations

Another important issue is to make sure you have somewhere to stay during the whole condo renovation process. Of course, if you prefer to stay at home, nonetheless – you do that. However, finding that temporary living space often ensures that you stay rested and better prepped for work – both physically and mentally.

You can choose to stay at a friend’s or family’s place while the project is undergoing renovation. Essentially, you don’t have to deal with the extra hassles of moving stuff around unnecessarily.

Find a Trustworthy Contractor

This is the most important step of a successful remodel! If you are a part of a condo association, then it may be better to hire some outside help. It will help the renovation project run smoothly. Furthermore, you will have a team of experts like ArDan Construction who will deal with everything so you won’t have to worry about the hassles.

Contact the condo remodeling experts at ArDan Construction for a consultation today!