You’ve started thinking about doing a major renovation or even building a new home, and you have no idea where to start.  What are the first steps in a home renovation or new construction?  Before you start making calls to set up meetings with architects or builders, there are several things you can do first to make the process easier.

1. Needs and Wants Lists

The first thing I suggest doing is putting together separate needs and wants lists.  Needs are the items you really need to have in the project. These are the things that are the reason for doing the project in the first place.  Wants are the things you’d like to have, but you are willing to let them go if the budget gets tight. The reason for putting together separate lists is to help prioritize the goals for the project.  Writing these down (or typing them up) really gets you thinking about what you’d like this project to accomplish.

2. Inspiration Photos

The second thing I suggest doing is gathering some examples of houses, spaces, or details that you like. This is often in the form of Pinterest pages or Houzz idea books, but sometimes it’s just individual pictures. Pictures make it a lot easier to nail down your vision.  Eventually, you’ll need to bring an architect or contractor into the discussion and having examples to show will really move the discussion along.

3. As-Built SurveyThe third thing you may need is an as-built survey. Surveys often take 4-8 weeks to complete, so it’s good idea to get those started. For new construction, or addition projects, a survey may need to show trees and grading.  Requirements change depending on where the project is located and how extensive the project will be.

4.  Construction Budget

The last thing you’ll need to figure out is your construction budget.  You don’t need to figure out exactly how much a project will cost, but you will need to figure out what you can afford, or how much you want to spend.

You may also want to read Reasons to Hire an Architect at https://robertkochdesigns.com/reasons-to-hire-an-architect/

To see some of the exciting projects designed by Robert Koch Designs and to learn more about the home design process, please visit www.robertkochdesigns.com.  Here you’ll find many examples of both modern and traditional homes, created with an attention to detail and a love of design.