Going through a home renovation is always challenging. That's even more true when you must consider the rest of your family as well. Whether your first child is on the way, or you've got a few teenagers in the house, you'll need to consider the needs of your family as well as the typical concerns that accompany a remodeling project. Below are a few of the things you need to think about.
Involving the Family
First, what's the reason for the renovation? How much input should you give everyone? This is going to affect adults and kids alike, so everyone should get some say, but there should be some balance. Your 18-year-old who's off to college in two months may not be crazy about your plans or might wish for a game and recreation space, but they might never be living under your roof for more than a summer again. Their 11-year-old sibling, on the other hand, still has many years left living there.
Your kids probably aren't going to be thinking about things like budget limitations, and you could even get them involved in that side of things. It can be a good financial lesson to sit down as a family, look at the amount you can set aside for the project, and figure out what various things are likely to cost. Your child might be able to get a bigger bedroom, or a basement renovated to be a game room, but not both. They will probably enjoy being able to choose and understanding the money situation can be educational.
Budget
The tough thing about a remodeling budget is that it's almost never what you think it's going to be. There's a reason that you'll often hear that you should build in as much as 20% extra on to what you think your project is going to cost. The reason is that home renovation costs simply have a way of spiraling higher than anyone expects them to, whether that's through a change in the cost of materials, a discovery that a certain plan isn't going to work as anticipated, a change of heart, delays, or many other factors. You also need to think about where the money is going to come from and whether it's needed for something else. Will it cut into your retirement savings or savings for your child's college education?
Perhaps one parent wants to stay home full time, and this will delay that. One option for getting the money that you need is a personal loan. Personal loans can be used for home renovation, paying off high-interest debts, a vacation, or in many other circumstances. Like any other loan, though, they should not be taken on lightly, so you need to research and determine if it's right for you. It may help you to review a guide about personal loans to help you better understand how they work, where to find them, and whether one is right for you.
Timing
If you've got a baby on the way, you should put your project on hold. You do not want to combine a newborn and remodeling. If your kids are older, consider exactly what the project is, how it will affect them and the reason for remodeling. Will it be better to do the project during the school year, when they aren't home during most of the day and will be least affected by it? Would it be better to do it over the summer, when they won't be distracted from schoolwork by the chaos or when you can all take a vacation together during some of the most intense parts? Consider as well whether you or your spouse has a big stressful work project or something else coming up that might make another time better.
To DIY or Not
You might feel that you have something of a manly obligation to take on some of the projects yourself, but unless you have a knack for following design tips for any room and really feel strongly about wanting to learn how to do these tasks, you should not feel like you have to. Doing it yourself is nearly always more difficult than you expect it to be, and it might not even save you much money, especially if it's something you must have redone by professionals anyway. Only opt to do it yourself if you genuinely want to.
