Now that spring is here, lots of homeowners are thinking about ways to freshen up their home in 2019. If you have ideas for renovations, though, whether they’re to help you sell your home more effectively or to make the space more appealing for yourself and your family, it’s wise to be strategic so you don’t waste money.

Remodels often end up costing thousands and thousands of dollars, and regularly go over budget. This in turn can lead to more stress you really don’t want. Before you begin any renovation work on your home, then, it’s important to do certain things to make the project go ahead smoothly and economically. Here are five key steps to take.

Work Out Finances

Take the time to work out your finances in advance. Rather than starting remodel work and then discovering, halfway through, that you’ve spent more money than you can afford, it’s best to get clear up front about how much you can budget for the work.

Once you know the final total amount you feel comfortable spending, work back from there to see how much you can afford to put into each part of the renovation (such as materials, labor, legal fees, insurance, council permits etc.), and where you may need to make sacrifices to stay on budget.

If you think you’ll need to get a loan for the work – perhaps a draw down on your mortgage or a separate personal loan – do this ASAP to be sure you will actually get access to the funds you require.

Put Together a Plan

Once you’ve sorted finances, work on putting together a plan for the remodel work. Plan out the entire project as much as you can in advance so that you are clear about which contractors you need to have on site, in what order, and when.

This may change a bit during the life of the project, but thinking about things in advance like this will help you to feel more in control, and less stressed. Planning is also beneficial when it comes to keeping renovation work coming in to schedule, both with regards to workers and with the ordering and delivery of materials.

Investigate Which Changes will Add Value

Something else to do before you start remodeling work is to investigate which changes will really add value to your property. You don’t want to spend money on renovations only to find that the investment wasn’t worthwhile because you’ve made changes which aren’t of interest to potential buyers, whether now or later on down the track if you’re not planning to sell anytime soon.

The fact is that different things will add value, and to differing levels, in every suburb. This all depends on who the main buyers are and what they look for in the houses they buy. For example, retiree couples will be after different features to young families or professional working couples. Some people will be interested in pools or more bedrooms while other will be keen to have large gardens or office space.

Chat with real estate agents who specialize in your area to see what they find comes top of the list for buyers in the suburb. You should also attend open homes and auctions and read recent sales data to get a feel for the prices houses sell for and what they include.

Select the Best Contractor(s)

To have your remodel work completed for a good price and to a top quality, select the best contractor(s) for the work. Research potential options ASAP so you give yourself the best chance of hiring the person at the top of your list; the more notice you can give popular contractors the better.

Whether you’re after an experienced Washington handyman or a licensed electrician in Las Vegas, or any other service in any other location, put together a shortlist of people who specialize in the kind of work you need done; with the qualifications and experience to do the job; who charge within your budget; and who are available within the necessary timeframe. Where possible ask friends, family members and colleagues for recommendations so you know you’ll end up using someone reputable.

Consider Possible “Hidden” Costs

Lastly, consider possible “hidden” costs involved in your remodel work, too. If you haven’t made allowances for a decent-sized buffer in your budget, you could end up in financial strife if additional costs make the final expenses blow out.

Try to think about things which could go wrong or which could be charged as extra fees by contractors, so that you’re prepared if it happens. For example, there are things like the discovery of termite damage, faulty wiring, leaking pipes, or asbestos which must be removed.

Once you’ve followed the steps listed above you will be in a much better position to complete remodeling work efficiently and cost-effectively. The time taken to complete these things now will save you not only time through the length of the renovation project, but also stress, money and energy.