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5 ways to keep your home renovation on budget and on point

From prioritizing needs + wants to avoiding costly changes, here’s how to strike the right balance
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When undertaking a renovation, finding the right balance for your home and your family does take a little work up front, but it’s so important to ensure you stay on track – in terms of design, construction and budget. Photo courtesy MAC Renovation

Any time you embark on a renovation, it’s important to strike a balance – between needs and wants, budget and costs, form and function.

Do you need to renovate the whole house, or is the kitchen layout your prime source of frustration? Are quartz counters a must, or is opening the floorplan more important? Finding the right balance for your home and your family does take a little work up front, but it’s so important to ensure you stay on track – in terms of design, construction and budget, explains Robbyn McDonald, from MAC Renovations.

With that in mind, here’s a look at 5 ways to keep your home renovation on time, on budget and on point!

Plan ahead. Have a clear idea of what you want to achieve, and – realistically – what you’re prepared to invest in your home. It’s important to determine your biggest pain points and what will help you solve them. Is it the whole family sharing one bathroom? The lack of a playroom or office? It’s also essential at this early stage to set a budget – then use the next steps to stick to it.

  • Prioritize. Decide what’s most important to you and allocate your resources accordingly. This is where you differentiate between your needs (a second bathroom) and your wants (walk-in shower vs. a shower AND stand-alone spa-inspired tub). Think how you use the area – will you really use that tub, or would a linen closet be a better use of space? Do you really want the added cost of running plumbing for an ensuite, or would a second main-floor bath serve the same needs at a lower cost? “It’s often about managing expectations,” McDonald explains. “Different options come with different costs, so it’s about determining which solutions fit your goals and your budget.”

  • Work with a professional. This is where working with a contractor experienced in the kind of renovation you want can make a big difference. “It’s important to find someone who understands your goals and your budget constraints, and can work within them,” McDonald says. If you’re struggling with narrowing down that needs-and-wants list, they can also help fine-tune your goals. Maybe you’re better off investing in that large island now, to provide storage, prep space and seating, but leave the expensive fixtures for an aesthetic update down the road.

  • Consult a designer. An experienced designer is invaluable – in choosing products and finishes that suit your style, but also those whose functionality matches your family and lifestyle. Do you have a large dog? Scratch-resistant flooring is likely a must. Are you planning on aging in place? It may be time to install slip-proof tiles. “A designer will help you explore what you want, why you want it, and how to walk that fine line between your style and what will work for your life,” McDonald says. An experienced designer can also be instrumental in finding ways to adapt the project to your budget – considering vinyl plank flooring instead of hardwood, for example, or granite-look laminate counters instead of actual granite.

  • Avoid changes. One of the easiest ways to blow the budget is by changing plans mid-renovation. “You can either let the budget run the design or let the design run the budget,” McDonald explains. “Yes, there are many decisions to be made in any renovation, but it’s important to be comfortable with the choices you’ve made, based on that earlier planning and the experience of your contractor and designer.”Ready to start planning your renovation? Visit macreno.com or call 250-384-6091.