Who doesn't want to live in their dream home? Trust me, it's easier than it sounds! My boyfriend and I managed to do it. And today, I'm walking you through the process
9 steps to turning your house into your dream home
1 – Determine your needs
2- Evaluate the space and any adjustments to be made
3 – Buy your home!
4 – Design your plan
5 – Get the necessary permits
6 – Choose your contractors
7 – Choose your materials and furniture
8 – Move and settle in!
9 – Add your finishing touches
1. Determine your needs
The first step starts even before you own the house. It's all about finding the right property. So, what makes a property desirable? It depends on your needs! To make sure it's perfect for you, start by making a list of your criteria. Determine, for example, the number of bedrooms, the number of bathrooms, the landscaping, or the presence of a backyard. And above all, don't forget to set your renovation budget!
2. Evaluate the space and any adjustments to be made
Once you've found a house that meets your needs, it's time to figure out what needs to be modified. Make a list of what works for you as is and what needs to be renovated. A little tip: during your evaluation, don't forget to analyze the condition of the windows, the roof, the exterior siding, etc. This is when you need to wear your inspector’s hat! This step is essential to determine the extent of the renovations to be carried out.
3. Buy your home!
So, you found the perfect home and determined that the scope of work to be done is right for you? Time to make an offer! For our part, our house wasn’t yet on the market at the time of purchase. But you can always seek out professional support; the specialists at RE/MAX will take care of you!
4. Design your plan
Probably one of the most important steps: designing your renovation plan. For a project, just like for your home, starting with a solid foundation is key. This is where the pros come in: do business with an architect, a designer, or a structural engineer, depending on your needs. This is also where your preferences come into play: define your tastes and intentions, let your creativity run wild!
5. Get the necessary permits
Having a plan is great, but you need to have it approved! Your plan is essential to obtaining the necessary city permits, so be clear and concise. Important point: before starting any work, make sure to have your city permits in hand. It’s essential to be transparent and precise in your requests.
6. Choose your contractors
It’s Go time! Look for qualified contractors to carry out your renovations. Does your uncle have a talent for plumbing? Is your mother-in-law a natural-born electrician? While working with family members can seem like an interesting option, always opt for expertise. The option of dealing with a general contractor allows you to centralize the work and increase efficiency. On the other hand, this option gives you less control over the various steps and it’s necessary to hire someone you trust. Remember, the more research you do beforehand, the lower the risk of errors.
7. Choose your materials and furniture
As the renovations wrap up, it’s time to think about materials and furniture. I can't stress this enough: take your time! It took me months . . . but I’m proud to say that I’m 100% satisfied with all of my choices.! Key tip: bring home samples to see what they look like in the light of day and don’t be afraid to mix and match styles; play around and test things out! And if you’re just not feeling inspired, you can entrust the choice of materials to a designer. The selection of materials and furniture is based on your personal taste and functionality. On the other hand, you want to think about what will add the most value to the property at the time of resale—you need think long-term. Also, be patient . . . delays can be long!
8. Move and settle in!
An obvious step, but one that shouldn’t be overlooked: the move! This process consists of several sub-steps. Determine the best time of year for you, book the movers and the truck, collect your boxes, etc. To make sure you don't forget anything, check out RE/MAX's articles on the subject.
9. Add your finishing touches
The house is to your liking in terms of construction, but make sure that it’s also visually pleasing! It’s time to decorate and add personal touches that will turn your house into your dream home.
And there you have it—congratulations on your project! Believe me, living in your dream home gives you a real sense of accomplishment. And at each stage, make sure you have the right support. If these first steps have inspired you to start your own home renovation project, don't hesitate to do business with the pros at RE/MAX—they’re there to meet all your needs!
