Doing a renovation is a generally challenging undertaking. Whether or not you are doing minor or major renovation, there will always be inevitable challenges here in there. But say you are doing a renovation in an upscale neighborhood like New York City, things can actually get overwhelming. An NYC renovation means you have to deal with a relatively smaller floor area than most suburban townhouses, and higher costs on materials, hired labor and property taxes. Not to mention the considerations you have to think about if you are doing a complete overhaul of the place. When talking about the challenges people face when renovating, the first thing on the list is usually budgeting. All those cost estimates can really get stressful. But whether it is a renovation in NYC or in any other city in America, as soon as you know how to manage the budget properly, you will be fine. Hence, to help you calm down a bit regarding that upcoming renovation, here are a few practical tips to keep in mind:
- Focus on functionality, not size – This is a very crucial point when talking about an NYC renovation. Some homeowners tend to get as much fixture and décor as they can, believing that they are making the most of the space they have. Aside from making the space look more cluttered, this will actually cost you a lot. The thing will small spaces is that you can have less or more furniture, but what matters is everything should be functional. That is how you make the most of a small space.
- Bring as much natural light in as you can – Most designers would recommend you to do this to make the room look more spacious. However, when talking about the costs of a major renovation, letting natural light into the house will minimize the need for expensive lighting fixtures, and will save you a lot of money on electric bills during the day.
- The recycling center is a perfect place to find goodies for less – All homeowners would of course want the best and finest pieces of furniture and fixture in the house – as much as they can afford them – however, budget will always be a crucial consideration. At this point, it is crucial to know more affordable ways on how you can get functional elements for your house without spending as much. For this reason, the recycling center is a good place for you to visit. They have slightly used fixtures in there like windows, doors, and skylights that are a total steal compared to brand new items in a home center. Hence, if the estimate of your expenses in a home center overwhelms you already, find the best pieces you can get from a recycling center and know the difference it makes.
The budget will always be a critical consideration when doing a total remodel of a house. While it gives us a sense pride whenever we see expensive things in the house, sometimes, it feels better to know that these things are worth it despite getting them at a thrift store or a flea market. Always remember that in renovating, as in any home improvement project you will do, quality and functionality always come first before size and number.