Plan
Do a scale drawing of the rooms to be renovated, or get a professional to do it. While you're at it, ask the pro for advice on what can and cannot be changed in your house. Getting an expert opinion before the construction chaos starts may help to prevent costly mistakes down the road.
Make a list of the work to be done, in order of importance. For example, get the roof fixed before tackling the floors. At this stage, you should also be thinking long-term. After all, your needs will change over time. Eventually you might want to convert the basement into a granny flat or a rental apartment; having the plumbing installed now for that possibility will save you time and money later.
Estimate the cost of the project and then add on a “cushion.” Ask for project quotes from two or three reputable renovation contractors, architecture firms or building suppliers, explaining to them exactly what you want. Pick the most reasonable of the estimates and add on 10 to 15 per cent for unforeseen costs.
Financing and permits
If you haven't saved enough money to pay for the project, you'll have to borrow. There are a number of ways to finance renovation projects: credit cards, credit lines, personal loans, mortgage extensions.
Now you need to submit the plans for your renovation project to the urban planning department of your municipality to obtain the necessary permits and find out about local building codes.
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