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Bryan and Sarah Baeumler are one of our favourite couples, especially since she started working for him on his latest series, Bryan Inc. Part of the fun of the show is always seeing some of the last-minute changes Sarah tends to come up with, and how Bryan deals with them. That's all fine for this seasoned couple, who know how to roll with the renovation punches. But for everyday folks who are about to undergo renovations in their own homes, last-minute changes can lead to unnecessary stress, sky-rocketing budgets and major time delays. If you want to avoid them in your home, here are a few simple strategies to employ.
Bryan Inc.
Strategies to Avoid Last Minute Renovation Changes
January 19, 2017
Bryan and Sarah Baeumler are one of our favourite couples, especially since she started working for him on his latest series, Bryan Inc. Part of the fun of the show is always seeing some of the last-minute changes Sarah tends to come up with, and how Bryan deals with them. That's all fine for this seasoned couple, who know how to roll with the renovation punches. But for everyday folks who are about to undergo renovations in their own homes, last-minute changes can lead to unnecessary stress, sky-rocketing budgets and major time delays. If you want to avoid them in your home, here are a few simple strategies to employ.
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Formulate a Plan
1/16Formulate a Plan
1/16Photo Credit: Getty
Before you even go so far as to hammer in a single nail during your renovation, be sure to sit down and formulate a plan. Put pen to paper, use an app or hit up some online renovation sites. However you want to proceed is up to you, but figure out where you’re going and how you want to get there so that you can avoid any unforeseen headaches.Bryan Inc.Strategies to Avoid Last Minute Renovation ChangesFormulate a Plan
PHOTO 1 of 16READ LESS -Before you even go so far as to hammer in a single nail during your renovation, be sure to sit down and formulate a plan. Put pen to paper, use an app or hit up some online renovation sites. However you want to proceed is up to you, but figure out where you’re going and how you want to get there so that you can avoid any unforeseen headaches.Photo Credit: Getty
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Get Super Detailed
2/16Get Super Detailed
2/16Photo Credit: Getty
When formulating your plan, don’t just think about the big picture – break down your renovation piece by piece and then create sub-plans for those pieces even, if you must. The more detailed you can get, the more potential problems you will foresee, anticipate, and hopefully avoid.Bryan Inc.Strategies to Avoid Last Minute Renovation ChangesGet Super Detailed
PHOTO 2 of 16READ LESS -When formulating your plan, don’t just think about the big picture – break down your renovation piece by piece and then create sub-plans for those pieces even, if you must. The more detailed you can get, the more potential problems you will foresee, anticipate, and hopefully avoid.Photo Credit: Getty
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Set a Timeline
3/16Set a Timeline
3/16Photo Credit: Getty
Living through a renovation is tough, but having an end point in front of you always helps. Before you embark on your home fixes be sure to estimate (or even better, overestimate) how much time each step will take so that you can manage your own expectations. Because as we all know, it’s easier to make a hasty decision or last-minute change when we’re under extra or unforeseen stress.Bryan Inc.Strategies to Avoid Last Minute Renovation ChangesSet a Timeline
PHOTO 3 of 16READ LESS -Living through a renovation is tough, but having an end point in front of you always helps. Before you embark on your home fixes be sure to estimate (or even better, overestimate) how much time each step will take so that you can manage your own expectations. Because as we all know, it’s easier to make a hasty decision or last-minute change when we’re under extra or unforeseen stress.Photo Credit: Getty
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Measure, Measure, Measure
4/16Measure, Measure, Measure
4/16Photo Credit: Getty
This is the biggest mistake any renovation rookie could ever make: not measuring your space. Whether you’re looking to add furniture, hang a picture or undertake a much bigger project, it’s always a great idea to measure – and to do so more than once. Nothing throws a renovation off course quicker than bad measurements.Bryan Inc.Strategies to Avoid Last Minute Renovation ChangesMeasure, Measure, Measure
PHOTO 4 of 16READ LESS -This is the biggest mistake any renovation rookie could ever make: not measuring your space. Whether you’re looking to add furniture, hang a picture or undertake a much bigger project, it’s always a great idea to measure – and to do so more than once. Nothing throws a renovation off course quicker than bad measurements.Photo Credit: Getty
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Keep the Big Picture in Mind
5/16Keep the Big Picture in Mind
5/16Photo Credit: Getty
While it’s a great idea to have as many of the nitty gritty details nailed down as you possibly can in advance, be sure to keep the big picture of what you want in mind when you’re making some of those smaller decisions that come up along the way. It’s easy to get bogged down in the minutia of it all, but it’s not always practical when you’re on a timeline.Bryan Inc.Strategies to Avoid Last Minute Renovation ChangesKeep the Big Picture in Mind
PHOTO 5 of 16READ LESS -While it’s a great idea to have as many of the nitty gritty details nailed down as you possibly can in advance, be sure to keep the big picture of what you want in mind when you’re making some of those smaller decisions that come up along the way. It’s easy to get bogged down in the minutia of it all, but it’s not always practical when you’re on a timeline.Photo Credit: Getty
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Grab Lots of Samples
6/16Grab Lots of Samples
6/16Photo Credit: Getty
Just because a swatch looked great in the store doesn’t mean it will look great in your home. That’s why it’s always a great idea to take samples from the store and bring them back to your site. Having them in your space will give you a much better idea of how they’ll work out in the long run.Bryan Inc.Strategies to Avoid Last Minute Renovation ChangesGrab Lots of Samples
PHOTO 6 of 16READ LESS -Just because a swatch looked great in the store doesn’t mean it will look great in your home. That’s why it’s always a great idea to take samples from the store and bring them back to your site. Having them in your space will give you a much better idea of how they’ll work out in the long run.Photo Credit: Getty
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Test Your Colours
7/16Test Your Colours
7/16Photo Credit: Getty
The colour of your space goes a long way in determining the tone, theme and personality of a room, so you want to get it right. Rather than investing all your cash in a colour that looks great at the store, take a few samples in the hue you’re looking at back to your renovation site and then throw some on the walls. You’ll get a much better idea of what works, plus you won’t end up having to repaint later on down the line when you realize the shade isn’t quite what you’d hoped for.Bryan Inc.Strategies to Avoid Last Minute Renovation ChangesTest Your Colours
PHOTO 7 of 16READ LESS -The colour of your space goes a long way in determining the tone, theme and personality of a room, so you want to get it right. Rather than investing all your cash in a colour that looks great at the store, take a few samples in the hue you’re looking at back to your renovation site and then throw some on the walls. You’ll get a much better idea of what works, plus you won’t end up having to repaint later on down the line when you realize the shade isn’t quite what you’d hoped for.Photo Credit: Getty
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Going with Too Many Trends
8/16Going with Too Many Trends
8/16Photo Credit: Getty
When you’re first setting out to design or renovate a space it’s easy to get overwhelmed by some of the gorgeous trends out there. The problem though is that some trends don’t mix and match; we all love a shiplap wall, but should it be paired with wallpaper? To help decipher which trends fit your personality, consider putting together a Pinterest board ahead of time to really pinpoint what you like.Bryan Inc.Strategies to Avoid Last Minute Renovation ChangesGoing with Too Many Trends
PHOTO 8 of 16READ LESS -When you’re first setting out to design or renovate a space it’s easy to get overwhelmed by some of the gorgeous trends out there. The problem though is that some trends don’t mix and match; we all love a shiplap wall, but should it be paired with wallpaper? To help decipher which trends fit your personality, consider putting together a Pinterest board ahead of time to really pinpoint what you like.Photo Credit: Getty
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Talk it Out
9/16Talk it Out
9/16Photo Credit: Getty
Whether you’re doing a renovation with a contractor, your partner or a roommate, consider setting up weekly or even daily check-ins so that you can keep the lines of communication open. It’s easy to get off track when you fall off the same page, but it’s even easier to avoid with a little communication.Bryan Inc.Strategies to Avoid Last Minute Renovation ChangesTalk it Out
PHOTO 9 of 16READ LESS -Whether you’re doing a renovation with a contractor, your partner or a roommate, consider setting up weekly or even daily check-ins so that you can keep the lines of communication open. It’s easy to get off track when you fall off the same page, but it’s even easier to avoid with a little communication.Photo Credit: Getty
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Get Recommendations
10/16Get Recommendations
10/16Photo Credit: Getty
Unless you’re a contractor who does renovation-type things for a living, you might want to consider vetting the people you use for certain aspects of your redesign. And when it comes to vetting, what’s better than word of mouth? Community Facebook groups are a great way to source the right people you need to do a job right, and they usually come at the most reasonable prices, too.Bryan Inc.Strategies to Avoid Last Minute Renovation ChangesGet Recommendations
PHOTO 10 of 16READ LESS -Unless you’re a contractor who does renovation-type things for a living, you might want to consider vetting the people you use for certain aspects of your redesign. And when it comes to vetting, what’s better than word of mouth? Community Facebook groups are a great way to source the right people you need to do a job right, and they usually come at the most reasonable prices, too.Photo Credit: Getty
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Listen to Your Contractor
11/16Listen to Your Contractor
11/16Photo Credit: Getty
Once you do decide on the right man (or woman) for the job, be sure to listen to their input and trust their expert opinion. After all, you’ve done your homework by making sure they’re up to the task. Why not let them do their magic?Bryan Inc.Strategies to Avoid Last Minute Renovation ChangesListen to Your Contractor
PHOTO 11 of 16READ LESS -Once you do decide on the right man (or woman) for the job, be sure to listen to their input and trust their expert opinion. After all, you’ve done your homework by making sure they’re up to the task. Why not let them do their magic?Photo Credit: Getty
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Seek Help
12/16Seek Help
12/16Photo Credit: Getty
If you don’t have a contractor and are heading up the renovations yourself, don’t be afraid to ask for help when things become overwhelming or if you run into a situation you can't handle on your own. It’s better to squash a potential problem early on by admitting you’re unsure rather than forging ahead and doing something wrong or perhaps even dangerously.Bryan Inc.Strategies to Avoid Last Minute Renovation ChangesSeek Help
PHOTO 12 of 16READ LESS -If you don’t have a contractor and are heading up the renovations yourself, don’t be afraid to ask for help when things become overwhelming or if you run into a situation you can't handle on your own. It’s better to squash a potential problem early on by admitting you’re unsure rather than forging ahead and doing something wrong or perhaps even dangerously.Photo Credit: Getty
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Do Your Research
13/16Do Your Research
13/16Photo Credit: Getty
If you’re anything like us and you’re addicted to home renovation shows, you’ll know that sometimes these pros make things look so much easier than they actually are. Rather than assume you know the cost or timeline of certain projects or upgrades, make sure you actually call around, get quotes and learn what’s involved. Otherwise you could end up blowing your time, energy and money on something small that should have been a breeze in the grand scheme of things.Bryan Inc.Strategies to Avoid Last Minute Renovation ChangesDo Your Research
PHOTO 13 of 16READ LESS -If you’re anything like us and you’re addicted to home renovation shows, you’ll know that sometimes these pros make things look so much easier than they actually are. Rather than assume you know the cost or timeline of certain projects or upgrades, make sure you actually call around, get quotes and learn what’s involved. Otherwise you could end up blowing your time, energy and money on something small that should have been a breeze in the grand scheme of things.Photo Credit: Getty
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Avoid Making Last Minute Decisions
14/16Avoid Making Last Minute Decisions
14/16Photo Credit: Getty
Sometimes a renovation can feel so large that you actually don’t want to be tied down to the little details just yet. And so you leave the selection of certain finishing elements until later on down the line. That might not be the best idea, because it then opens the door for other last-minute changes. When you know what’s coming down the pike you’re a lot more likely to stay on track.Bryan Inc.Strategies to Avoid Last Minute Renovation ChangesAvoid Making Last Minute Decisions
PHOTO 14 of 16READ LESS -Sometimes a renovation can feel so large that you actually don’t want to be tied down to the little details just yet. And so you leave the selection of certain finishing elements until later on down the line. That might not be the best idea, because it then opens the door for other last-minute changes. When you know what’s coming down the pike you’re a lot more likely to stay on track.Photo Credit: Getty
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Respect the Original Architecture
15/16Respect the Original Architecture
15/16Photo Credit: Getty
You may want to create an open concept feel in your home, but if your home doesn’t have the bones to support that structure you could run into large, potentially dangerous problems down the line. Before you become married to a certain idea, learn what’s actually possible and then try to work with your preexisting structure; you’ll be a lot less likely to change the game plan after you get going.Bryan Inc.Strategies to Avoid Last Minute Renovation ChangesRespect the Original Architecture
PHOTO 15 of 16READ LESS -You may want to create an open concept feel in your home, but if your home doesn’t have the bones to support that structure you could run into large, potentially dangerous problems down the line. Before you become married to a certain idea, learn what’s actually possible and then try to work with your preexisting structure; you’ll be a lot less likely to change the game plan after you get going.Photo Credit: Getty
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Overestimate Your Budget
16/16Overestimate Your Budget
16/16Photo Credit: Getty
So you’ve done your research, sourced your materials, put together a timeline and hired all the right people. That means you should know how much things are going to cost, right? Wrong. Projects always run into delays and unforeseen costs. That’s why it’s a good idea to add at least 20 per cent to any estimated budget you may have. Best-case scenario is that you have a little bit leftover in the kitty when all is said and done, but isn't it better to overestimate than underestimate? We certainly think so.Bryan Inc.Strategies to Avoid Last Minute Renovation ChangesOverestimate Your Budget
PHOTO 16 of 16READ LESS -So you’ve done your research, sourced your materials, put together a timeline and hired all the right people. That means you should know how much things are going to cost, right? Wrong. Projects always run into delays and unforeseen costs. That’s why it’s a good idea to add at least 20 per cent to any estimated budget you may have. Best-case scenario is that you have a little bit leftover in the kitty when all is said and done, but isn't it better to overestimate than underestimate? We certainly think so.Photo Credit: Getty
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