Let’s say you’ve bought yourself a new home. Also, we can add that the place you’ve bought is located in another state. Finally, your new home might need some repairs without which there’s no point in you moving in. In other words: you’ll need to orchestrate the whole home renovation ordeal from afar. We can assume you’ve never done that kind of thing. That’s why we’ve created this beginner’s guide to help you out with the issue. So, if you’re wondering how to renovate your home from afar – make sure you keep on reading!
Obtain quality info
When speaking of home renovations, one can never be too informed. That’s why you should use your free time to obtain as much info on the subject as possible. Talk to your friends or relatives, or find online testimonials. For instance, since you’re reading this text, you’re already doing yourself a favor. Anyway, collect all the information in one place before moving on with the renovation plans.
If your friends have already been through the process of guiding a renovation remotely, make sure you get some piece of advice.
Locate & hire a trustworthy contractor
This is very important. Since you won’t be there to oversee the renovation process, you’ll need contractors that are worth your trust. It’s also crucial you don’t rush the process. Take your time to get quotes from a couple of different local companies to decide on which one you’ll hire. Don’t forget to ask them for references. Some folks are afraid to do it or think it’s just a matter of bad manners, but it’s really the most ordinary thing. Also, if you’ve got friends in the town that will serve as your new home, ask them for suggestions. Additionally, don’t forget to check out online reviews and see if they match your criteria. Nowadays, it’s really not that hard to pick out the right company for the job. Just be patient.
Ensure good communication with the contractor
Many mistakes can happen and have happened due to bad communication. The contractors you’ve hired for the job will need a thorough explanation about everything that needs to be done. You don’t want to arrive at your new place only to find out something didn’t go as you imagined. Also, make sure the contractors know when to call you. In other words: they’ll want to know when your “free hours” are, just so they don’t contact you when you’re at work or something.
If possible, try to schedule visits
Now, if the whole process lasts for more than a couple of months, you’ll probably have the time (and money) to visit the site every now and then. Of course, if that sounds like too much of a hassle, you can ask someone to give you a tour via video call.
Set the relocation day in accordance with the renovation plans
Ask your contractors if they know approximately how much time they’ll need to get everything done. You’ll need to set the relocation date in accordance with the answer they give you. Also, are you moving with kids? It’s always good you prepare in advance for the ordeal that lies ahead by making up a plan, starting preparations on time, and figuring out what to do with your little ones on the final moving day. For example, you might want to hire a babysitter so you can pay attention to something else like helping your movers and ensuring everything is going smoothly, instead of worrying about the kids.
If you’re moving with kids, there’s a couple of things to pay attention to. For instance, you might want to hire a babysitter for the moving day.
A quick digression: Why should you hire movers in the first place?
Okay, it might seem costly to hire both the contractors for the renovation and movers for the relocation. It’s as if no one recommends going DIY anymore. It’s “hire this”, or “hire that”. But, that’s only the way things look at first sight. Since we’re talking about a long-distance relocation here, you’ll rarely find anyone recommending you go total DIY. Things can get a little bumpy on the road, and you might waste more money repairing or simply losing it on broken, unrepairable stuff. Signing a contract with a certain moving company, you’ll guarantee your belonging safely reach your new home since most moving companies offer insurance (and they, as all professionals, don’t like to lose more money than it’s necessary).
Before the project even starts, ask your contractors to give you a total cost
We all know home renovations can sometimes turn out to be serious money-drainers. That’s why you’ll need to complete the financial picture by asking your contractors to give you a final price for the renovation, upfront. This will help you set a budget since you’ll also have to deal with moving expenses, too. You certainly don’t want to find out later you can’t really afford to pay for the works.
Make sure the contractors you’ve hired for the renovation give you a total price upfront.
Check everything right before the contractors leave
Before contractors leave, you’ll want to check if everything’s alright. If you can’t be there, you can ask for a video tour with the project manager so you can ask them anything you want concerning the work. The thing is: the home you’re planning to move into needs to be ready for the moving crew that will arrive shortly after.
How to renovate a home form afar – a conclusion
If you were wondering how to renovate a home from afar, now you’ve got a lot of tips (sic!) up your sleeve. As we said, it’s not that hard to find a reliable contractor to help you finish the renovation just the way you’ve planned. You’ll need to be patient and check every source of information you’ve got. Once the renovation starts, try to stay up to date as much as you can and ask for video tours every now and then. Lastly, don’t forget to check the house after the work’s been done.
