In the heart of every FadyReno project lies an unmatched dedication to quality. Whether it's the sleek finish of a newly remodeled kitchen, the inviting ambiance of a freshly painted living room, or the grandeur of a custom-installed staircase, every detail is a testament to FadyReno's commitment to excellence. Their services don't merely alter spaces; they transform lifestyles.
Unless you have hired a project manager who oversees all the subcontractors, it will fall on you to make sure the site is tidy at the end of the day. Each individual trade will do what they can to keep their work area tidy, but it is inevitable that there will be a certain amount of shared mess that nobody takes responsibility for. Sweep up and have a quick tidy at the end of each day to make sure that tradespeople who come in to start new jobs the following day aren’t held up, or that you don't have a build-up of mess.
a traditional white freestanding dresser in a country kitchen with red tile floor, a wooden chair, and welly boots in the background
If the eventual ROI when you come to sell your property surpasses the amount of money spent on renovating the house, then it is financially worth it. Where house prices are a little out of reach, renovating could even be your best way to get on the property ladder.
But be aware that adding value isn’t guaranteed. ‘Budgets can overrun, the market can change or you can simply be unlucky,’ says Jonathan Rolande. ‘It is a risk but good research will stack the odds in your favour. Only take on property at a price you can afford to lose money at.’
Of course, the benefits of renovation should not just be considered in financial terms. It can help you to create a home you love, with more space and better facilities to live the life you want to live.
Taking your home down to the studs for a top to bottom renovation is a big endeavour. It’s often stressful, expensive, and time consuming. That’s why it’s important to partner with an experienced contractor who will work with you to understand your goals, respect your budget, and be able to work within an agreed upon timeline. It goes without saying, for a full house renovation you also need an excellent project manager to coordinate all the moving parts. With the right team, tackling a major project like a full house renovation will be more manageable and ultimately enjoyable.
The success of any project is defined by how closely the end result meets your objectives. That’s why it’s a good idea to clearly identify your goals before embarking on any home renovation. Examples may include:
Once you know what you’re looking to accomplish, Billdr and its team of vetted contractors can help define a work plan. For instance, to reduce energy costs, you’ll need to address your heating and ventilation setup as well as your home’s insulation. To make room for a new baby, you will need to determine if it’s possible to alter your home’s existing footprint or if you need to extend your home. It’s likely you’ll have overlapping objectives that can be addressed in similar ways.
Within the range of what you can do during a home renovation, there are minor, standard and major renovations.
Minor renovations and many standard ones don’t require an architect, structural engineer, or technologist. Major renovations almost always require at least one of these professionals. Your Billdr project manager can suggest the right professional based on your scope and goals.
If you need plans drawn up by an architect, technologist, designer or engineer and approved by your city, give yourself a minimum of 4 to 6 months before starting construction. When you’re starting a major renovation that involves your whole house or several rooms, it’s best not to rush.
With a lot of moving parts, good planning and preparation is key to success. Involving a Billdr Project Manager at the onset can ensure less surprises down the road. From providing an initial budget estimate to helping define the project scope, Billdr can provide a better understanding of what to expect throughout the renovation process.
It’s highly recommended that you live in your home before renovating. This will give you a good sense of how you use the space and where your home falls short. If you’re buying an old house that needs a lot of work and is unlivable, that might not be possible or desirable. In that case, try to get into the house at different times during the day to evaluate the natural light, how the home temperature feels when it’s colder, etc. Living in your house prior to renovation, even for a little bit, however, will empower you to make more confident decisions about what you need and what to get done.
While different cities have different requirements, if you are setting out to do a whole house renovation with architect and/or engineer plans, then it’s very likely you will need a permit. It’s also likely that you’ll need a permit for any exterior changes like siding and new windows.
Factor the time to obtain permits into your renovation schedule. There are times during the year when the permit bureaus are busier than others, for instance leading up to the summer months. You can call your permit bureau to see what their average time delays are for issuing permits.
If your house is deemed historical or in an area with homogeneity rules, the permit process might take longer than average. Even if you’re working with an architect, it’s a good idea to find out what restrictions might be in place in your area. That way you can focus on making changes that are likely to be approved.
Any reputable contractor will have property, liability and workers compensation policies in place. All Billdr contractors for instance have at least $2-million of liability insurance. It’s also vital you inform your homeowners insurance that you are renovating and provide them with details regarding the scope of your renovation. Your insurer will let you know about any additional costs to cover liability during construction. You should also let them know if you will be moving out of the house during the renovation to see whether that impacts your policy.
If your project requires professional plans and a permit, it’s best to wait until the plans are drawn up and submitted to the city before getting quotes from a general contractor. Billdr however can provide you with a high-level estimate at this stage to give you a ballpark idea of what to expect. Once the plans are final, Billdr will provide a more detailed estimate and get 2~3 quotes from general contractors within their network.
The average whole house renovation for a 3 bedroom, 1500 square foot detached house in Canada and the U.S.A is $300,000. That being said, this price can vary depending on the scope of work, the cost of materials and your general market. In areas where home prices are higher, renovation/construction costs tend to also be higher than in cities with lower home prices.
Modern Kitchen RemodelIn recent years, labour shortages have also impacted prices. While this level of uncertainty might be discouraging, it’s important to be informed about all the factors that can affect the cost of your home renovation. Billdr provides you with a detailed estimate based on the scope of the project before submitting it to its network of qualified contractors for their bids. That way you have a clear idea of what your project will cost from the get go.
Depending on where your home is located and what the renovation is there are several incentives and rebates you can look into. Normally they will have incentives for energy efficiency, for new builds, for heritage buildings, for new homeowners and for low income families.
When building the budget for your renovations, don’t forget about these rebates — they can make a significant difference in terms of the bottom line.
If you have a traditional bank mortgage for your home, then there are programs in place to help you pay for your renovation. With low interest rates, refinancing can be an attractive option. Many banks also allow you to combine your mortgage with a home equity line of credit. This means you can borrow a certain percentage over and above the market price of your home. As you pay off your mortgage, you have more money available to borrow under this scheme.
There are also home equity lines of credits that aren’t bundled with your mortgage and allow you to simply borrow a certain percentage of your home’s market value. Finally, you can also inquire about home equity loans where your bank will hand over a one-time lump sum as high as 80 per cent of your home’s value. It’s a good idea to speak with your lender if you require additional help to finance your renovation before meeting with architects and contractors so you can get a clear picture of your situation and see if you have wiggle room in the eventuality that costs run over budget, which is often the case.
If you are able to finance your renovation completely in cash, that’s great! There are still ways to help spread out payments on certain things like materials. Certain big box and/or hardware stores will have credit cards that allow you to buy now and pay in a year or 19 months without any interest. When you need to pay for construction materials, professional fees, permits and contractor fees in real-time, knowing that you can divest some expenses later on can be a big relief.
Good communication skills are the hallmark of a great contractor. During a renovation, even one that’s meticulously planned, there will be unplanned occurrences. Your contractor through your Billdr project manager should document every change to the plan in writing. If the homeowner decides to add to the scope, that should be well-documented as well in order to avoid any disputes down the line.
Good communication skills are the hallmark of a great contractor. During a renovation, even one that’s meticulously planned, there will be unplanned occurrences. Your contractor through your Billdr project manager should document every change to the plan in writing. If the homeowner decides to add to the scope, that should be well-documented as well in order to avoid any disputes down the line.
While communication between contractor and homeowner is important, it’s also important not to overwhelm the contractor or vice-versa. In other words, exchanging multiple text messages or email per day with your contractor might not be the most helpful. Establish with your contractor which method works best for all parties and make sure to get everything in writing. Depending on your selected package, your Billdr project manager will be in the loop for all communications and will conduct weekly site visits to make sure everything is running smoothly. Any emergencies that impact the scope of your Billdr-managed renovation are communicated right away.
Unless you are a serial renovator, a major renovation is only a once or twice in a lifetime affair. It’s normal to have questions and concerns. With the right support system in place and a realistic mindset, you will come out the other side relieved that you decided to take the plunge and ready to enjoy your new space.
If you are undertaking major renovations requiring architectural plans, plan ahead because the time required to approve the project to the City can be long.
For medium and large projects, it is essential to document everything: Billdr supports you throughout the process until the project is delivered.
Renovating a house is both exciting and rewarding yet it is not without its challenges. Our guide is here to ensure your renovation project runs smoothly
There are many advantages to renovating a house, as opposed to buying a new property or self building. Perhaps the main advantage of renovating a house is the exciting potential it offers to uncover all manner of charming original features, closely followed by the fact that a renovation project can, if carried out to a good standard, result in a home that sees an impressive uplift in value.
Conversely, there are also some downsides. For one thing, renovation opportunities are not always easy to come by — buyers often clamour to snap them up and are regularly willing to pay a premium for a 'blank canvass.'
There is also the risk of buying a money pit that ends up draining your funds and causing undue stress — although this is avoidable if you know what to look out for.
And that is exactly what out guide to renovating a house is here for — to arm you with the right knowledge to ensure your project results in the house of your dreams.
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