WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES AUGUST 16, 2018 15
AT HOME
Before you renovate,
have you considered this?
Home improvement projects are
popular this time of year and
you've certainly tackled your
share of DIY to-dos in the past. But
not this year. This year you realize it's
time to go big, to go bold, to set aside
those traditional home improvement
projects for another year and do something
even bigger.
Yes, this year, it's time to renovate.
Whether your plans include renovating
one room, a floor or your
entire home, there's no denying that a
renovation project greatly increases
the scope of the work to be done - and
the expense. And because of that, it's
incredibly important to have your
entire plan laid out before you begin.
Aft er all, the last thing you want to do
is renovate your latest renovation.
To be sure you're ready for the renovation
project of your dreams this
season, apply the tips below.
* Finalize your goals. The largest
projects are more successful when
they are planned down to the fi nest
details and that includes getting very
specifi c about your goals. Don't settle
for a goal of simply improving your
home. Decide if you're trying to up
the resale value, add more space, create
a hobby area or fi nally build the
bathroom you deserve. Any or all of
these could qualify as improving your
home, but when you get specifi c about
your goal, you'll better recognize what
needs to be done to attain it.
* Determine if you need to update/replace
core systems. Your air conditioning
unit, water soft ener and furnace
are all vital components in your home
and it's easy to take the work they do
every day for granted. However, these
systems eventually need replacement
as well, and your home renovation
could be the perfect time to tackle this
task. Take your air conditioning unit,
for example, and replace your old, ineffi
cient unit with the newest two-stage
Luxaire Acclimate Air Conditioner. It
uses a two-stage compressor to meet
your comfort needs and its SilentDrive
system ensures a peaceful, enjoyable
experience. In addition, you can also
access its Hx Touch-screen Thermostat
via your smartphone for total
temperature control no matter where
you are.
* Set your budget. Many homeowners
have no idea what a renovation
project will cost and even if they do,
unexpected expenses can appear
very quickly. If you are working
with a contractor, they should be
able to give you a fairly accurate
estimation of how much your project
will cost. However, it's still a good
idea to determine what your absolute
spending ceiling is for the project and
not go above it. This means making
sure you budget in some extra space
below this mark to allot for unexpected
expenses.
* Organize your calendar. Delays
during a renovation project will cost
you time and money, so it pays to eliminate
them when possible. Do you plan
to remain in your home during the
project? Are there any seasonal plans
- like a family vacation - that could interfere
with the progress? Understand
these potential hazards early and you
can plan for ways to minimize them.
* Know what you can do and, more
importantly, what you can't. When
you move from a home improvement
project to a renovation, you're also
probably moving from DIY to hiring
an expert. Tackle what you can yourself
- including buying materials for
the project, which will save you the
contractor's mark-up - but leave the
things you don't know how to do in
the hands of the professionals. Doing
so will make sure that you're happier
with the result and that you don't have
to pay someone to fi x your mistakes.
START YOUR PROJECT
TODAY
No matter your motivation for starting
a home renovation, it's easy to be
excited about the result. Take your
time, plan your process using the tips
above, and be ready for any hurdles
that come your way, and that result
will be all the more satisfying.
Courtesy BPT