2016 Fall HI

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2016 Fall Home Improvement LINCOLN DAILY NEWS SEPT. 27, 2016 Page 7
How big of a project can you handle? When you
decide to renovate, it is best to match your project
to your ability to budget. You have to look at the basic
questions: How much will it cost? How long will
the project take to complete? What is the difference
between a barebones project and an extravagant one?
Can you do splurging in specific areas?
Sites such as offer tips for remodeling
that will answer many questions you might have.
Knowing what you want is important.
Before you start your project you should have a clear
goal and a plan for achieving it. This will avoid the
chaos of an endless and overly expensive project. A
consultation with your general contractor beforehand
can help you see how the project will affect your
whole house.
The contractor services site says, “during
remodeling it is not uncommon to discover something
extra that needs to be done (a problem with the wiring
or dry rot, for example), but don’t add new ideas
just on a whim. For the sanity of all involved make
sure you have the parameters of the project clearly
defined.”
Before you begin, do your research so you know
the specifics as far as costs and length of time it will
take. The Freshome site says you need to do your
homework beforehand to make sure you are up for the
entire job before you start. The up-front planning will
also make you more likely to stick with a budget.
Knowing cost estimates before you begin is helpful
for figuring out the budget. The remodeling expense
website lists costs for many areas of remodeling from
roofing to flooring to countertops.
You should also research the cost of materials[and]
labor. If you hire a contractor, find out the time it will
take, and what preparations will need to take place for
this renovation to reach fruition.
Keeping the project within the budget
By Angela Reiners
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