Getting ready to start a new home renovation project can be exciting, and you probably can’t wait to start putting together all of the details. However, before you start purchasing new furniture or appliances or going through color swatches, there is one critical element you should start with – the walkthrough.
A pre-renovation walkthrough gives you the ability to meet with various contractors and or designers to help lay the groundwork for ensuring a successful project. By applying the right strategies, you can make sure you’re getting the most value out of this process and setting your project up for success.
Why Are Walkthroughs Important Before Starting a Home Renovation Project?
While you may already be envisioning your finished project, it’s important to recognize all of the different steps it will take to get there. Although some home renovation projects may be relatively easy to perform, others will require specialized skills and careful planning to make sure they go smoothly.
Taking the time to do a walkthrough with any professionals involved in your renovation project is important for various reasons. Some of these include:
Establishing Clear Communication and Expectations
Not everyone may work the same way you would when starting and completing a project. This is why it’s important to set the right tone on how you want to communicate during a renovation and exactly what you’re looking for.
Preventing Costly Mistakes or Delays
All renovation projects can cost much more than initially expected. Many times, this is a result of running into unplanned setbacks like electrical or plumbing issues or needing to reschedule work due to supplier issues or conflicts in contractor availability.
Conducting a walkthrough ahead of time may not completely avoid these problems, but it definitely helps to reduce their likelihood.
Ensuring Everyone Stays on the Same Page
Before you start your project, you will want to make sure all of your ideas are reasonable when fitting into your budget and that you have the right people for the job.
By investing enough time ahead of time to prequalify contractors and ensure everyone is on the same page regarding the process, you’ll experience a much smoother renovation experience.
Preparing For The Initial Walkthrough
Although you may not have all of the details ironed out for your project ahead of a walkthrough, the more prepared you are during this process, the more value you and anyone else attending will get out of the process.
Below are a few preparatory steps you can take when planning your walkthrough:
- Gathering Inspiration and Ideas – You no doubt will have a ton of different ideas flowing through your head on what you’re trying to achieve, but sometimes, putting those ideas on paper will make them easier to explain. Consider creating a mood or Pinterest board with different images you’ve used to inspire your project. You could also collect magazine clippings or save pictures from other real estate guides to help better explain your vision.
- Creating a List of Priorities and Must-Haves – Renovation projects will often come with a number of compromises you should be ready to make – unless you’re working with an unlimited budget. Before you need to make these types of decisions, decide ahead of time what the highest priority elements of your renovation are and which are “nice-to-haves.”
- Designing a Workable Budget – Budgeting is a critical part of planning a new project, and you’ll want to make sure you have this clearly ironed out before doing your walkthrough. The budget you design will heavily dictate the type of work your contractors are able to perform, and knowing your financial boundaries will give them the ability to provide adequate quotes.
Effective Strategies for Getting The Most Out of Your Renovation Planning
Once you’ve scheduled a walkthrough prior to starting a project, you’ll want to have a checklist of things to complete once you’re meeting with qualified professionals. Below are some important points you’ll want to include to make sure you’re getting the most out of your meeting:
Discussing Project Scope
Even before you start touring your home or the specific room(s) you’ll want to work on, it’s important to lay out the exact scope of your project. Take this time to explain any important goals you’re trying to achieve and list the rough budget you’re trying to stay within.
During this process, you’ll want to clearly identify the reasons behind your looking for home improvements, including any challenges you currently have with the space or how you’ll be using the renewed parts of your home.
Identifying Any Potential Challenges
You’ll want to be sure to keep an open mind when planning your project and be prepared for some potential roadblocks that can come up – both during walkthrough discussions and once work has already begun. Contractors may already identify certain challenges you might have when trying to achieve a specific vision and may guide you toward alternative thoughts or ideas.
Take this time to discuss the feasibility of your plans and consider other solutions as needed. Proactively identifying this ahead of time can help save you significant costs if a problem arises mid-project.
Establishing a Timeline and Project Milestones
Another important part of the walkthrough process is to agree on important project timelines or milestones that need to be met. This is a great opportunity for you to establish how much time you have to complete the project and for contractors and designers to validate if and how it’s possible to meet those goals.
Contractors will want to make sure you’ve factored in any potential delays that can arise with suppliers or inclement weather that can slow down work. Once you’ve ironed out those issues, you’ll be able to create a firm timeline that everyone can follow once work has begun.
Selecting Materials and Finishes
A renovation walkthrough is also a great time to review the different design choices you’ll have available to you. Once the space has been evaluated by renovation teams, they’ll often be able to shortlist different options that will help you maximize the value and aesthetics of the finished project.
Whether you’re doing a kitchen renovation, bathroom remodel, or repurposing a basement, be sure to go over all of your options for getting the space exactly as you want it.
Make Your Home Renovation Project a Success
Taking the time to plan for and execute a helpful walkthrough before starting your renovation project will help you set the groundwork for a much more successful experience.
By following the tips discussed when getting ready for your walkthrough and making sure you have the right questions thought out, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that your vision will be able to be brought to life while staying within budget.
Author Information
Author Name: Rebecca Denis
Author Bio:
Rebecca Denis, Head of Design at Revive Real Estate, is an accomplished and highly creative interior designer with over ten years of experience in the industry. With a passion for transforming spaces and a keen eye for detail, she has successfully completed numerous projects ranging from commercial spaces to custom show homes.
Set the budget
Think about it, if you are already doing work on your home why not take it to the next level and ensure that your investment returns a profit in the future. For example, installing additional insulation materials will decrease your electricity bill and putting solar panels on the roof will benefit you in numerous ways. There are a lot more things you can do, so make sure you have done your research thoroughly.
Country & Victorian Times 
