Last Updated on September 29, 2025 by Admin
Your home is a true reflection of your personality and that of your family. Just as you take care of yourself and your loved ones, provide regular healthcare, move with some of the trends that appeal to you, make adjustments for the seasons, attend to a crisis and make the necessary alterations, deletions and additions, your home too goes through similar processes.
If you live in a rental or leased property, you don’t have to worry. The owner is responsible for most of these aspects. But as a proud home-owner, your target is to make your living spaces comfortable, functional and aesthetically pleasing. As the building ages, it needs certain modifications or even a complete makeover. There are certain essential features of renovation that cannot be ignored if your renovation project has to be smooth, efficient and successful.
Before we get into that, let’s take a quick look at some of the reasons why you’d want to renovate your home.
Why Renovate?
If you’ve recently moved into an older house, you may have already decided about the changes you want to make. Everyone has their own way of making a house their home. Or you’ve lived in your home for a long time, and feel the need for change. Perhaps you want to modernize certain elements such as the kitchen or bathrooms.
Some older homes have a cramped floor-plan that doesn’t sync with modern ideas of a more open living and working space. You may want to add more storage and make maximum use of available space. The paint, flooring and tiles may need to be changed, and there could be safety issues with the electricity and plumbing.
Families undergo changes as children are born, grow up and leave home. Your home has to reflect these changes to ensure that life is more comfortable for those who continue to live in it. It has to become more senior-friendly, have more safety features and perhaps incorporate features that make your home convenient when your extended family gets together.
Ultimately, the right renovations and repairs make your home more energy-efficient, increase your property value and boost its curb appeal.
Top 5 Renovation Essentials
Before you start your renovation project, ensure that you comply with the prevailing building regulations and laws in your area. It’s important to confirm whether your older building contains asbestos or asbestos-containing materials. You will need completion certificates if you’ve done plumbing works, and if your renovation project includes outdoor works, ensure you hire the right contractors.
1. Know What You Want: This means doing a detailed analysis of what, where, why, when and how you want to undertake renovations. Be a little flexible on your budget without going overboard. In the long run, it’s worth spending on quality materials and roofing, eco-friendly paints, the best insulation, kitchen and bathroom upgrades, smart technology, modern temperature control systems, environmentally-friendly accessories, security and safety features, state-of-the-art fittings and modern roofing. You could have a renovation plan based on a certain time-line, of say 25 years if you plan to live here long-term. If your plan is to sell, ensure that every feature you put in should give you the best return on investment.
2. Hire a Professional: Unless you’re an experienced and licensed building contractor yourself, avoid making this a DIY project. Research local professionals who have the qualifications and experience to successfully complete a project like yours. Get information from trustworthy sources, shortlist a few contractors, visit projects that they have completed in the vicinity and compare prices and work ethics before you sign up. If you’re switching to metal roofing from tiles or concrete, opt for affordable colorbond roof restoration services with the right warranties.
3. Keep It Subtle: It’s tempting to indulge in bright color palettes, quirky tiles, over-the-top laminates and funky flooring. Focus on improving natural ventilation and light, opening up cramped spaces and making the space safer and more functional. Keep the design and hues more neutral and classic so they don’t become outdated. You can quickly get tired of extreme elements. Such features tend to bring down your property value once these trends become out-of-date.
4. Additional Space: One of the biggest reasons why you’d undertake renovations is to increase the utilizable space. You may want to add an extension that abuts the main home, or an enclosed patio or conservatory that gives you more entertaining area, add another storey for guests, teenagers or your parents or a hobby area. Inside the home, you can add overhead lofts to store bags, or convert some space inside a large bedroom into a walk-in closet. This can significantly boost property values and make your home more functional and comfortable.
5. Kitchen and Bathroom Upgrades: Add an en suite bathroom to your second bedroom, at least one common bathroom, and try to fit in a smaller powder-room for dinner guests so that they don’t need to enter your bedrooms. Give your bathrooms a more clean, modern and spacious look with clever lighting and well-planned ventilation. Change to large-format floor and wall tiles in neutral shades. Kitchen upgrades must include new plumbing, electricals and energy-saving modern appliances along with a more ergonomic floor-plan and cabinetry.
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- The Role of Home Renovation Services in Increasing Your Home’s Value
- 10 Benefits of Hiring a Contractor For a Renovation Project
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