Whenever you’re going through a big building improvement project, it can seem almost as if though the end is never in sight. Whether it’s an interior remodeling or exterior renovation, any project of significant size and scope can feel like a herculean effort to get done on time.
If you’re about to start planning a renovation for your building’s exterior, then you’re in the right place. We’ll help you to avoid becoming burdened with this project by giving you five simple tips to implement in the planning phase. These tips will help you get the project done efficiently.
1. Get Feedback
The first place to start when planning an exterior renovation is with tenants and neighbors. Get feedback on what needs to be improved. What sticks out like a sore thumb when someone first comes up to the property?
This feedback is invaluable. Remember that your perspective may often be clouded by the fact that you’ve owned and managed the building for years and your eyes are accustomed to looking over certain defects. Talking to tenants and neighbors will introduce a fresh perspective.
2. Identify What’s Broken
The next step in the planning phase is to identify what’s broken. This goes beyond just what needs to be changed in order to improve curb appeal. This is all of the broken custom box gutters, the sticky gate, the crumbling brick, etc. that isn’t functioning correctly.
You should prioritize these repairs first, especially in a commercial building. By planning to fix what’s broken before you tackle anything else, you keep the most important things top of mind.
3. Budget
All construction projects are notorious for two things: going over budget and missing deadlines. The first mistake — going over budget — can be eliminated if you do the budgeting step right.
Be sure to take into account all of the different things that you know you want to fix. Apply liberal estimates for their costs to your budget. Then, add a 30% contingency cost for the things that will inevitably come up.
4. Find the Right Contractor
Now that you have a budget and a list of things to fix, all that remains is for you to find the right contractor. The right contractor is one that has significant experience in fixing the particular issues that you want to tackle in your home renovation.
5. Negotiate Fees
Once you have a good shortlist of contractors that you could work with, it’s time to get quotes from them. Be sure to shop around and get multiple quotes to ensure that you get the best price.
Exterior Renovation Planning Made Simple
There you have it. With this guide to exterior renovation planning under your belt, you should now be all set to plan out a structure improvement project that will nail your expectations without breaking the bank.
For more real estate improvement information, be sure to take some time to check out the rest of the articles that are available to read on the website before you leave!