How to prepare for your renovation in Victoria, BC

A home renovation in Victoria is an exciting event that involves your whole family. Whether you’re in the ‘just thinking about it’ stage or in the middle of planning your renovation, there are a few things you can do to ensure you and your family minimize the disruption to your life during your home renovation.

Choose a professional

When it comes to home renovations for homeowners in Victoria, choosing a professional remodeller is one of the most important parts of the process. You want a team who can work with you to design the home of your dreams; explain what needs to be done and how it can be accomplished; oversee all aspects of the project, including the permits, sub-contractors, and appropriate insurances; and have a reputation for doing it right the first time. Fortunately, we know the right crew for you and your project.

Set expectations

Being realistic about your renovation will help you make it through to the other side a bit easier. While your home will look amazing after the renovation is completed, the construction phase will have a variety of crews working on your property and in your home. We work with your neighbours to minimize parking and noise issues, but it’s best that everyone involved understands that life at home will require some temporary concessions. If everyone is aware that tensions might be higher when routines are disrupted, it’s easier to appreciate that you’re in this together, and the end result will be worth the minor inconveniences.

Should I stay or should I go?

Depending on the scale of your renovation, you may want to consider alternate accommodations. While this isn’t an option for everyone, the ability to stay off-site during your renovation might be a more enjoyable experience. Plan a vacation or rent a smaller home for the duration of the renovation. Take an extended camping trip or stay with friends or family. By using smart tools, such as BuilderTrend, you can stay connected to what’s happening on your project, even if you’re not in the same hemisphere. 

Proper Planning

If you’re doing a kitchen renovation, you’ll want to plan for no-cook meals or meals you can whip up in the backyard BBQ. While this is reasonable in the summer months, it might be problematic during the wetter months we have here in Victoria. Take-out every night sounds exciting, but the novelty wears off and the cost adds up quickly. Meal planning and cooking in separate facilities will make it easier and more enjoyable. We’ve had some families do their cooking in their RV: basically camping, but in their own yard, with better WiFi.

While you probably weren’t surprised by the need to plan your meals, another room that will require coordination is the bathroom. If you plan to stay in your home during the renovation, you’ll probably want to schedule your showers and bathroom needs appropriately. You might be down to just one bathroom, and depending on the size of your family, this will require a coordinated scheduled to keep everyone on time.

Pack it Up

Your project manager will tell you this multiple times during the planning stages, but it’s imperative that the space we’re renovating be as empty as possible. If it isn’t, we’ll end up moving it multiple times, which will slow the renovation process to a crawl and isn’t an efficient use of your budget.

While we do everything we can to minimize the amount of dust and particulates during the renovation, including extensive protective plastic sheeting, building dust-walls and negative air units, when needed, and floor protection in the rooms we’re walking through or working in, it’s best if you pack everything but the essentials. If possible, move it to a secure storage area. This will give the demolition and renovation crews room to work while helping you and your family feel a little less crowded in your home.

Many of our clients will have a moving crew come in and box everything up so it’s all safely stored and out of the way. 

It sounds like a lot of work, but a bit of preparation, planning, and communication will go a long way to ensure your renovation is on time and on budget. In a short while, you’ll be looking back at the renovation as a minor blip in the creation of the home of your dreams for you and your family.

When you’re ready to make your home perfect, contact us to see how we can help.