Every year it’s the same thing. We go from a few months of summer to one week of fall, and then it’s the long haul over winter. This happens every year, and yet for some reason at this time of year, we still don’t quite seem ready for the inevitable snow and cold.

That being said, winter is a great time to start planning for that large scale renovation or custom home that you’re ready to start building when spring comes. Whether you’re part of the agricultural community or a professional, winter seems to slow us down, and that’s the perfect time to start planning for that next great home improvement project. We have a few tips to help take you in the right direction for your planning.

Don’t Rush

Let’s start with something basic. One of the biggest mistakes we see in our industry is people being so excited and eager to get their project going, they end up rushing the entire planning process. Being excited about your new project is definitely a good thing, however when it comes to a new home or a large scale renovation, you want to make sure you take your time to be thorough.

Take advantage of the winter season to slow down and really plan out what you’re looking to do. A few extra weeks for examining your plan can result in a much more efficient layout of your home, and the more time you have examining your plans the more things that you will notice that will get refined. The additional time spent before construction can save you lots of time and money later on.

Make Your Selections

When it comes to building or renovating, there is no doubt a vast array of options to choose from. Whether it’s the type foundation you would like to have, all to way to various types of electrical fixtures that you can choose from. All of these different options usually also affect the price. No matter what your budget is, you will want to research the types of products you’re interesting in having in your project and their affiliated price points.

Knowing the price points of some of the products that you’re interested in having will help you determine where your budget should be. Being educated in this area is very important because it’s important to understand the costs that are associated with construction. A good example is that a custom tiled shower varies in cost, but will be closer to four thousand dollars compared to a knockdown fiberglass shower unit, which you can get for under one thousand dollars. Making your selections comes down to a balancing act of what your budget is and what your wants/needs are.

Plan on Having Accommodations

Whether it’s going to be a small or large renovation or even a custom home build, your day to day lifestyle is going to change. This applies to custom homes as well because during the construction of your home, you might have your home for sale and when it sells then you will have to find accommodations. If you’re planning on living in your home during the renovation, is living in the home a practical and affordable option for you? If it’s a bathroom renovation then it probably is, if it’s a second story addition, then it’s probably not.

If you’re planning on a kitchen renovation, then you have to consider how you will cook without having access to a full kitchen for a little while. Consider options of either having a temporary kitchen provided or plan on going on out for various meals.

Completing a Renovation During Winter

It makes sense to plan for an exterior renovation during the winter, but what about doing the actual renovation during the winter? There are a couple reasons why you should consider doing this in the winter. The winter is the offseason, which could have some cost-saving opportunities for you. Also, the trades workers are typically not as busy as peak season, so there is more opportunity to choose the workers to complete the renovation.

Make sure that this winter, you take advantage of the time you have to start planning out your next project. This should be an enjoyable process and if you’re finding it either stressful or out of your comfort level, then reach out to a professional that can help guide you along the way in making sure your project will be a successful one.