Five First Steps to a Home Renovation

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2 Renovating your home is exciting—there’s a new and improved living space on the horizon. But launching the process, especially in new York city, can be daunting—which is why we came up with some good first steps.

Determine Your BuDget

It’s not easy to set aside a large sum of money but calculating a renovation budget in the beginning of your project will keep you focused as the renovation revs up. It will also help you determine the scope. For example, will it be just the bathroom tiles or the tub as well? It’s important to think through what you care about most: Are you going for the most cost-effective route or are you willing to sacrifice cost for long-lasting quality?

Hire tHe rigHt team

While DIY renovations are popular, the process is way more difficult than it may look on HGtV. every nYc building has its own insurance policies and renovation rules, so it is

3 important to find pros in the know—including designers, legal advisors and financial planners. A good first step is to interview friends and family for recommendations. You can also read reviews on Houzz and in the discussion forums of local real estate websites like Brownstoner and Streeteasy.

Put a Pro in CHarge

You want someone in charge who knows the ropes and can communicate with the rest of the team. this is usually a general contractor—whom you can find via a service like Sweeten which hooks up homeowners with screened general contractors in nYc. there’s also Block Renovation, the first home renovation platform that not only helps design your project, but also matches it with a vetted local contractor (as well as an experienced team and the materials needed to carry it through.) While you should always be an active participant in your own home renovation, it can be a huge relief to know there is a pro in the room.

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Create a Plan

It’s important to start the project with a thorough plan that includes evaluating any

5 risks, gathering all necessary paperwork, and putting back-up plans in place. For example, how and when will the construction materials be delivered and where will they be stored? this can be tricky in a big city but a nYcbased renovation company like Block can plan and execute all of these details.

unDerstanD Your timeline

Hope Holland, a project planner at Block,

says she can’t emphasize this enough: “Being truly educated about what to expect around timelines is going to keep you sane during the renovation process.” Home renovations, especially in nYc, will often require board approval, permits and procurement of materials—which could take weeks or months. And because you never know what you might find behind those prewar walls, getting educated and staying up to date with your trusted team will make the experience less stressful.

Planning a Family Home Renovation

Renovations can be tough on families—the disruptions and lack of continuity, not to mention the dust and mess, can drive everyone crazy. Hope Holland, a project planner at Block, recommends families take the opportunity to go on a vacation. For those who can’t manage that, or if coVID is preventing travel, we came up with some tips for keeping the family sane.