A home should shelter you from the elements, but on occasion, natural disasters and accidents can prove too much for a structure to withstand. Whether rebuilding part of your home after a severe storm or repairing damages from a fire, how you approach restoration can make a difference.
We will guide you through the rebuild process, step by step. From assessing the damage to setting a budget and hiring the right contractors, each stage requires careful consideration. Poor planning and inexperienced renovation companies can turn damage repairs into a man-made disaster.
Step 1: Thorough Damage Assessment
What might initially be considered purely cosmetic damage could, upon investigation, turn out to be a cause for concern. Although you know your home well, do you know what to watch for when it comes to serious structural damage? Looking over the property on your own is not sufficient. You need an expert eye on the case.
Not only does missing an issue in the early stages cost more to remedy later, but cracks in the foundation and damage to supporting walls can compromise safety. An accurate assessment is also valuable when filing an insurance claim. So, it’s a first step you can’t skip.
Step 2: Planning Before You Build
Proper planning is essential when embarking on a rebuild after property damage. Mistakes often arise out of poor planning. Detailed plans can help contractors identify potential issues and address them before they turn into costly errors.
Additionally, a plan can help to focus work and reach the goals you’ve set for the rebuild. Not only that, but projects without plans tend to drag on. Therefore, outlining a clear plan helps contractors to hit deadlines, getting you back into your newly renovated home earlier rather than later.
Step 3: Redesign or Rebuild?
Dealing with property damage is stressful. However, you could see this as an opportunity to redesign your home and not just rebuild. This gives you the chance to improve the flow of your home, improve energy efficiency, and utilize modern building methods and materials. However, for traditional-style properties, you may need to honor their original character and features.
Talk through your ideas for redesigning your property with the renovation company and get an architect on board. They may be able to advise you on key features to include and current trends.
Step 4: Keeping Calm
Not technically a step, but keeping calm is an important part of a rebuild project. Damage to the home you love can be heartbreaking. At the very least, it’s an inconvenience, causing you to temporarily move out of your home while the rebuild takes place. This can bring on huge amounts of stress that, if not managed correctly, can impact your mental health and wellbeing.
Although it may be difficult to see it this way, a rebuild can be a fresh start. If you are struggling to cope with the emotional effects of property damage, it is important that you find ways to manage stress. This may be through meditation practice, seeking expert help, or turning to your loved ones for support.
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Step 5: Staying on Budget
The costs of a rebuild can quickly get out of hand if you are not careful. To avoid overspending, a well-thought-out budget plan allocates money to each element of the rebuild.
Your budget should take into account the quality of materials and the cost of labor. It should also prioritize which areas are essential and those aspects of the rebuild that can be left for later, should the budget stretch that far. Additionally, you should budget for unexpected costs, as these can derail a renovation project.
Step 6: Quality Control
Rules are there for a reason. Complying with building codes protects you against any legal issues. By enforcing quality control this guarantees that your home is structurally sound to move back into or resell. Conducting regular inspections will give you the peace of mind that your project is on the right track.
Properties that have been renovated under a strict quality control protocol are likely to demonstrate higher quality craftsmanship. This is good news, whether you are planning to move back in after the rebuild or are intending to sell the property.
Step 7: Choose the Right Professionals
Many of the steps above can be managed more efficiently by hiring the right professionals. An experienced renovation team can assess your property, plan the rebuild, oversee quality control, and help you stay on budget.
When researching companies to contact, check out customer feedback from past clients. This will give you an idea of the kind of service you can expect and the general customer satisfaction rate. Accreditations and decades of industry experience are also green flags when looking for a disaster restoration company.
Future-proofing Your Home from Damage
Experiencing property damage even one time is more than enough for any homeowner. Therefore, a key goal of your rebuild is to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.
A successful rebuild should strengthen your property, improving its resilience against the elements. What’s more, hiring professionals means that the work carried out is guaranteed and supported by warranties.
Upgrading to sustainable building practices and replacing potential threats, such as old wiring, and addressing leaking water pipes will lower the risk of fires, floods, and the need for future callbacks.
A reputable renovation company won’t want to return to your property once the rebuild is complete, because the work has been done to a high standard the first time around.
