Renovation Nearly Finished? Here’s What You Should Be Doing Now
Follow these tips to ensure a smooth transition from building site to new home
Coming to the end of a home renovation is a time of mixed emotions – excitement, frustration, worry and, most of all, impatience to settle back in and have your home to yourself. However eager you are to get back to normal, though, the process will be smoother if you hold off a little. Follow these tips to make putting your home back together as seamless as possible.
Give your builder two weeks’ grace to finish
You should allow a fortnight for the contractor to do any touch-ups after the other trades have all finished their work. Professionals such as joiners and flooring fitters will cause disruption and dust, so a decorator, for example, can’t finish any painting until this messy work is complete.
Discover advice from design experts on mistakes to avoid when renovating
You should allow a fortnight for the contractor to do any touch-ups after the other trades have all finished their work. Professionals such as joiners and flooring fitters will cause disruption and dust, so a decorator, for example, can’t finish any painting until this messy work is complete.
Discover advice from design experts on mistakes to avoid when renovating
Hold off on furniture deliveries
Don’t attempt any furniture installation until the painting is totally finished. This might seem like an obvious one, but if you have your furniture in storage, it can be tempting to save money by moving it back into your home early. Or it could be that your newly purchased furniture items are due to arrive before the contractor has finished.
It’s much easier to work in an empty house, so try to budget for some extra storage time, and many furniture suppliers will be happy to hold onto your purchases until you’re ready for them.
Don’t attempt any furniture installation until the painting is totally finished. This might seem like an obvious one, but if you have your furniture in storage, it can be tempting to save money by moving it back into your home early. Or it could be that your newly purchased furniture items are due to arrive before the contractor has finished.
It’s much easier to work in an empty house, so try to budget for some extra storage time, and many furniture suppliers will be happy to hold onto your purchases until you’re ready for them.
Leave the front garden until last
If you have any budget left over, it’s worth getting your front garden relandscaped at the same time as your renovation project. However, if you do decide to do this, remember to leave this area until all of the messy stuff at the back is finished. It can be tempting to try to get the front done first, but you risk your brand-new garden path or driveway getting damaged.
If you have any budget left over, it’s worth getting your front garden relandscaped at the same time as your renovation project. However, if you do decide to do this, remember to leave this area until all of the messy stuff at the back is finished. It can be tempting to try to get the front done first, but you risk your brand-new garden path or driveway getting damaged.
Complete electrical installations
Make sure all of the electrical work is completely finished before you start putting your furniture in place. There may be different trades involved, such as audio and video specialists or alarm suppliers, all of whom will need to drill and cut into ceilings and walls, which is a dusty job. There’s normally some touching up required by the contractor after these trades have finished.
Find out how good lighting can miraculously transform your hall
Make sure all of the electrical work is completely finished before you start putting your furniture in place. There may be different trades involved, such as audio and video specialists or alarm suppliers, all of whom will need to drill and cut into ceilings and walls, which is a dusty job. There’s normally some touching up required by the contractor after these trades have finished.
Find out how good lighting can miraculously transform your hall
Get your storage ready
Organise all of your storage before you start unpacking or taking things out of a lock-up facility. If you don’t have wardrobes, shelves or storage cupboards in place, you won’t be able to put anything away, so you’ll be living out of boxes. This isn’t ideal when you’re trying to settle back in.
The same goes for your kitchen – make sure everything is complete and working properly.
Organise all of your storage before you start unpacking or taking things out of a lock-up facility. If you don’t have wardrobes, shelves or storage cupboards in place, you won’t be able to put anything away, so you’ll be living out of boxes. This isn’t ideal when you’re trying to settle back in.
The same goes for your kitchen – make sure everything is complete and working properly.
Cover the windows
Budgets can be running low at this stage of the project, so the furnishings and accessories may need to be put on the back burner. Don’t worry too much about curtains and window dressings, but do try to get some roller blinds fitted in the bedrooms. This will ensure you have privacy and will enable you to get a good night’s sleep.
Budgets can be running low at this stage of the project, so the furnishings and accessories may need to be put on the back burner. Don’t worry too much about curtains and window dressings, but do try to get some roller blinds fitted in the bedrooms. This will ensure you have privacy and will enable you to get a good night’s sleep.
Anticipate snagging
The need to snag final items is completely normal and some troubleshooting will only become apparent as you use your home.
Spend a little time living in your rooms before calling your contractor back to fix anything. It’s a good idea to save up any odd jobs, such as installing light fittings and mirrors, and arrange for him or her to return and do everything in one day.
The need to snag final items is completely normal and some troubleshooting will only become apparent as you use your home.
Spend a little time living in your rooms before calling your contractor back to fix anything. It’s a good idea to save up any odd jobs, such as installing light fittings and mirrors, and arrange for him or her to return and do everything in one day.
Make a plan to remove rubbish
Once you begin to unpack and receive deliveries, you’ll find your home starts to fill up with unwanted packaging. You might also find you’ve been storing a lot of items you no longer need or want.
Instead of filling up your beautiful new home with things you’d rather get rid of, use this exercise as a way to cull unwanted items and give yourself and your home a fresh start.
Many contractors will be happy to help with the removal of unwanted items and rubbish, or alternatively you might want to organise a skip or skip bag before you start to declutter.
Tell us…
Are you nearing the end of a renovation project? Are you keen to get back to normal now? Share your thoughts and experiences in the Comments section.
Once you begin to unpack and receive deliveries, you’ll find your home starts to fill up with unwanted packaging. You might also find you’ve been storing a lot of items you no longer need or want.
Instead of filling up your beautiful new home with things you’d rather get rid of, use this exercise as a way to cull unwanted items and give yourself and your home a fresh start.
Many contractors will be happy to help with the removal of unwanted items and rubbish, or alternatively you might want to organise a skip or skip bag before you start to declutter.
Tell us…
Are you nearing the end of a renovation project? Are you keen to get back to normal now? Share your thoughts and experiences in the Comments section.
Avoid hold-ups at the end by making sure you know which items are on long lead times – special appliances and bespoke items might take longer to arrive. Speak to your contractor and find out when they need to be on site.
Failing to have these items arrive on time will delay the project and mean tradespeople will be under your feet for a lot longer that you’d anticipated.