<p>We understand that renovations, big or small, can be overwhelming and costly. That’s why we sat down with our designer partner Jamie Banfield to provide you with his personal 6 tips for a stress-free home renovation!</p> <p><!--more--></p> <p>Jamie approaches renovations like a dinner party – he considers factors like functionality, cost, materials, and more into the overall process. Preparation is key to success (good thing you’re here reading this!). This is how Jamie breaks down the design process to his clients, educates them about what he does and how he does it so well as part of his Jamie Banfield Design process.</p> <p><strong>Step 1 | Who’s on the list: who’s coming? Any dietary restrictions? (Functionality)</strong></p> <p>Typically, when we start a home renovation, there’s the desire to be ambitious and build something beautiful and extravagant. Take a step back, and think about your home’s functionality: list out what you need in your home before looking at what you aesthetically want. This is like a dinner party, where you’re thinking through the evening’s details instead of just jumping two feet in: who to invite, what the menu theme will be, where to host the dinner, and what the schedule will look like.</p> <p>Consider these starting questions:</p> <ul> <li>Is this a forever home or is this temporary?</li> <li>Will there be kids or pets in the space?</li> <li>How will I use this space?</li> <li>Does anything need to be specially made? I.e. wider doors for wheelchair access, etc</li> </ul> <p><strong>Step 2 | Plan a menu: are we having steak and lobster or spaghetti meatballs? (Budget)</strong></p> <p>Set your budget, and find a way to balance it with your wish list. Decide where you’re going to splurge and where you’re going to pull back. If you’re not the cooking-at-home kind of person, do you really need that state-of-the-art kitchen with fancy appliances? Maybe you should invest more on the living room instead.</p> <p>Keep in mind that great design is definitely attainable – “It’s our job to make sure that you’re provided with options. Mixing high and low to get the design you desire is one of our specialties anyways,” Jamie added.</p> <p><strong>Step 3 | Buy the ingredients: Where do I shop? Are they local? Any special ingredients? (Products)</strong></p> <p>Now that you’ve decided what you need, what you want and what your budget is, look to where and how you are going to get these items.</p> <p>Some guiding questions for your consideration:</p> <ul> <li>Are these items available in your local home store or do you need to source them from somewhere else across the country, or even import them?</li> <li>Are you going to pick them up in-store or do you shop online and get them delivered?</li> <li>Is anyone (your contractor or designer) going to help you with the purchase? Remember that they usually get industry discounts, so don’t be afraid to ask.</li> <li>Is everything going to arrive in and or on time?</li> </ul> <p>There are a lot of moving pieces when it comes to a reno - every piece big and small matters, which leads us to the next point.</p> <p><strong>Step 4 | Build your game plan: where and when do you start? Does anything need to be pre-made? Is anyone helping you with the prep? (Planning)</strong></p> <p>It’s important to come up with a strategy. Start making plans once you know you are committed to a reno – it will save you from the headache later. Make sure to allow your plans to have room for errors, just in case.</p> <p>Just like your dinner party prep, it will be very helpful to plan your every step from the shopping, chopping, seasoning, to the actual cooking. Similarly, in a home renovation, plan when you want your materials delivered, which rooms to work on first, whether to lay new flooring or paint the walls, and when to move furniture and appliances in.</p> <p>Going over budget, delivery delays and errors are very common when you’re renovating, but with a solid contingency plan, you’re covered. Remember, when it comes to renovations, it’s always better to hope for the best, but plan for the worst.</p> <p><strong>Step 5 | Get cooking.</strong></p> <p>It’s now time to put your plan into action. As contractors, delivery drivers, and materials arrive, your reno will start to take shape into the home of your dreams. Chances are, things will go wrong: your tiles are not delivered on time so you need to put the plumbing works on hold, or something you ordered never shows up. The list goes on.</p> <p>This is where your hard work and planning comes into action – because you planned ahead for these scenarios, you don’t have to worry as much now. Also, don’t be afraid to improvise!</p> <p><strong>Step 6 | Enjoy the meal.</strong></p> <p>Whether it’s a dinner party or home renovation, you’ve done it! Pop open a bottle, pour yourself a glass, and celebrate your success.</p> <p>Doing a home renovation soon? Shop with confidence at Trail Appliances with our Price Guarantee and <a title="find competitive pricing every day" href="https://www.trailappliances.com/excellent-everyday-pricing">find competitive pricing every day</a>!<br>Visit one of our <a title="11 different showrooms" href="https://www.trailappliances.com/store-locator/">11 different showrooms</a> across Metro Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna for a great selection of live appliances you can <a title="see, hear and try out in-store" href="https://www.trailappliances.com/trail-test-drive">see, hear and try out in-store</a>.</p>