Buying a house is a great accomplishment. After years spent saving money and dreaming, you finally have a place you can feel secure in knowing that it is yours.

Whether you have lived in the house for years and you feel it’s time for a change, or you just purchased a house that might look a little outdated, home renovation is a great project to undertake to make your house your home.  However, if you have no prior experience in this kind of stuff, home renovating can be a daunting project that can set you back a fortune if you aren’t careful. Luckily, this cheat sheet should help break down the process and provide you with useful resources to put you on the right path.

Step 1: BUILD YOUR VISION

This step is where you let your creative juices flow, and you think of what you want to do to your house. Whether you want an updated bathroom, a modern kitchen, a super sweet man-cave in the basement, or a beautiful porch to spend your summer days— it’s all up to you! Get creative, but also consider the magnitude of the project and whether you can do it yourself, or if you’ll need to hire someone.  

Once you have your vision, you should create a concrete plan for your renovation. This Old House has a great list of planning tools you can use that will help you save money on your project so that you won’t be wasting trips to the home improvement store or over-paying for materials.

Step 2: DO IT YOURSELF OR HIRE A CONTRACTOR?

The answer to this question will be different for every situation, but you should always be honest with yourself in regards to your skillset and experience in this area of work. If you are only remodeling one bathroom, or changing the paint in a bedroom and adding new lights, you might be able to tackle the project yourself. But if you plan on taking out walls in your home, you will want some expert advice and help.

•  You’ll want to make sure that you find the right contractor, so be sure to do your research. Fortunately, the Internet makes it incredibly easy to track down contractors in your area and you should have no problem viewing reviews of their service, seeing pictures of their past projects and getting in touch with them.
•  You’ll want to meet with them and ask as many questions as you can to be sure that they are the company or individual for the job. It also doesn’t hurt to meet with a few of your top picks and ask them for a quote on the project so you can compare prices.

 Another important thing, if not the most important aspect to consider is financing the project. You must have a solid budget in mind and determine whether you will pay for the project out of your pocket or if you’ll need a loan to complete it. Figure out the costs and then meet with a banker to learn your options.

Step 3: LET THE RENOVATING BEGIN!

Now that you have your contractor nailed down and all the financing is squared away, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get down to business. Some think this is the best part of the reno and have made comfortable livings starring in TV shows where they tear apart houses. They live for the thrill of knocking down walls, using loud power tools, and being covered in plaster. Others simply can’t wait for the renovation to be complete. Whatever category you fall into, you’ll need to keep your belongings safe while your house is getting its makeover.

 YOU CAN DOWNLOAD OUR GUIDE TO PERFECT FURNITURE LAYOUT HERE   

That’s where Super EasyStorage comes in. We can (or you can, it’s up to you) move all your items out of the area that you’re renovating and store them in one of our mobile storage containers. From there we can leave the module on-site, so you’ll have quick access to your belongings once the renovation is complete or we can take it to our warehouse where your belongings will be safe and secure, ready to bring them back when you’re ready.

NOW THAT THE SAWDUST HAS SETTLED

Once the renovation is complete, the only thing left to do is to move your furniture, appliances, etc. back into your newly renovated home. Sit back, relax, and enjoy your new home! Hopefully, your newly remodeled home is exactly what you had envisioned at the start. Pat yourself on the back.

You did it!