In our last article, we talked about decluttering your home. If you’ve done that, and you are still not satisfied, it may be time to look at the next step. It may be time for that home renovation.

There are a number of reasons for considering a home renovation. Here are a few.

Outside of a pandemic, when was the last time you invited anyone to your home? If it’s been a while, ask yourself why? If the answer includes having you looking around your home, it’s probably time for some changes.

Is your family growing or shrinking? If it feels like your home is shrinking, it may simply mean that there are more kids. That may mean converting a den into another bedroom. On the flip side, if the kids are grown and gone, you may want to convert a bedroom into a man cave or home office.

Does the paint on the inside or exterior look shabby or dirty? That’s a sign that it’s time for a new paint job. It’s possible that’s all the home renovation you need.

While you’re examining the walls, take a minute to look down. Are the carpet and flooring showing their age? Or is there damage to the floor in the kitchen or bathroom? That may be all the reason you need to replace all of it, possibly with wood flooring.

Finally, does your house make you feel bored? That’s the surest sign that it is past time for you to consider a home renovation.

If any or all of this is true, you may finally be ready for that home renovation. Before you jump in, there are some other factors when it comes to timing.

Especially if part of this effort includes some do-it-yourself work, here in Florida, you may want to avoid the summer. Spring and summer may be the popular times for home renovation in other parts of the country, but that may not be the case here.

Here’s another consideration. Depending on the scope of the project, you are likely going to call in a qualified contractor. You may want to do a little research first to find out if there are times of the year when they are traditionally busier. Those are times you want to avoid. You may have to get fit into a schedule that doesn’t work for you, and there may be unforeseen delays. If you’re thinking that’s OK, you may want to reconsider. Living in your home may be challenging during a renovation, so, while you want it done right, you do not want this project to take any longer than necessary.

So, if you’re ready, there are a few more steps to consider.

The first one is to make a plan. This could entail full architectural plans, or, at the very least, a list of things you want done. Determine what part can be DIY work and what needs to be done by a professional. And make sure the professional knows you may be doing some of it yourself.

Finally, if that long-awaited, home-renovation project is going to happen, consider the following: roof, foundation, water issues, siding, windows, HVAC, electrical plumbing, insulation – in other words, any of the big items in your home. If this renovation includes dealing with any of these significant pieces of your homes, it’s a good idea to get them done first.

Renovation may be the perfect solution to solve many of the issues in an older home, or one where the family dynamics are changing. Just remember, it is a major commitment and having a workable strategy is imperative.