How to Prep For an Exterior Renovation Plan
By: Alexis B.
Even if you’ve got Pinterest boards full of dreamy before-and-afters, diving into an exterior renovation plan can feel overwhelming. Should you paint your brick first, or tackle those crumbling steps? Where do you even start?
Whether you’re renovating for resale or your forever home, here’s how you can prep your exterior renovation plan for a magazine-worthy makeover.
Define Your Goals Before Anything Else
Before you even start to look at paint colors or new lights, ask yourself: What am I trying to accomplish here?
Decide if you’re looking for a total transformation, a quick refresh, or something in between. Setting a clear goal can help you prioritize your time, budget, and energy appropriately. If this is your forever home, lean into those personal touches that make you smile every time you pull into your driveway.
Take a Look at Your Exterior
No, really look. Snap photos and pretend it’s not your house for once. What do you notice?
Taking a step back can reveal a lot about your home that you’ve probably been overlooking. We also recommend taking pictures at different times of day, since lighting can change everything (and we mean everything). Look for those areas that feel outdated, worn, or just out of place.
If you’re feeling brave, ask a brutally honest friend for feedback. They may be willing to point out things you haven’t noticed before. Or, send your photos to a design team (like us!) that knows what they’re doing.
Build a Budget (Plus Wiggle Room)
Nobody likes to talk about this part, but it’s pretty important. A thoughtful exterior renovation plan includes a realistic budget, plus a little extra padding for surprises. Yes, there will, unfortunately, be surprises.
Your contractor may find rotted siding, or that light fixture you love is on backorder for six months. No matter what curveball your renovation throws, your budget should be ready. When you plan, add 10-20% extra for that peace of mind.
Gather Exterior Design Plan Inspo
Now’s your favorite part: dreaming. Scroll through that Pinterest board of yours again. What patterns do you like? Wooden shutters? Clean lines? Moody blue exterior paint? Create a vision board to help make decisions.
And don’t worry if your taste doesn’t fit into one neat design style. You’re allowed to be a little of a few things at once, just make sure it all looks intentional and not random.
Don’t put the cart before the shutters, though. Before you get too excited about those planters, lock in the big decisions like siding, roofing, windows, and doors. They’re not just aesthetic choices; they also impact your home’s structure and resale value.
Once you have those major elements squared away, you can start layering in the fun stuff like paint colors and accents.
Don’t Skip the Permits
This part isn’t fun either, but skipping it can cost you big time. Many exterior updates, especially structural ones, require permits. If you live in an HOA, you likely need even more approval before taking a single paintbrush to your house.
Check in early so you don’t have to undo any of your work later. The last thing you want is to have to do everything all over again!
Compile Your Exterior Renovation Plan
Once you’ve got your goals, inspiration, budget, and permits in place, it’s time to put it all together in a plan!
Start mapping out your ideal renovation timeline. Remember that some projects are weather-dependent, and parts may need to be done in stages. There’s no pressure here, either. If your dream exterior needs to happen in phases, like paint one year and porch the next, that’s totally fine. A good plan can remain flexible without losing sight of the big picture!
Take your finished plan to a solid team to begin work. Though you may be tempted to DIY it, most work is best left to the professionals unless you really know what you’re doing.
You may have to find a contractor, installer, painter, or designer. Get a few bids and look at a few portfolios to make sure they understand your vision and can work as a team. Your detailed exterior design plan can help make sure there aren’t any big surprises.
Prep Your Property – And the Neighbors
A little preparation goes a long way when it comes to renovations. Clear your landscaping for the work zone, whether that means moving your car or putting away that front porch decor. If you’ve got pets or kids, make sure they’re safe and secure during the process, too.
You may also want to give your neighbors a heads-up. Renovations can get noisy, and it’s always better to be the courteous neighbor who warns others before that jackhammer starts up at 8 AM.
Stay Focused and Flexible
Even the best exterior renovation plan may hit a few snags along the way. From weather delays to backorders, you can quickly find yourself off track. That’s okay.
If you’ve planned well, you should be able to pivot without full panic. Just keep your end goal in sight and remember that the mess is temporary. Before you know it, you’ll be lounging in your dream home.
Final Thoughts: Make a Master Exterior Renovation Plan
Planning may not always make perfect, but it does make things way less stressful!
Your exterior renovation plan doesn’t need to be complicated, it just needs to be clear. Think of it as your roadmap to your dream home – you’re already almost there!
If you need some help bringing your ideas to life for your plan, that’s what we’re here for. Our designers are ready to help you design your dream exterior with confidence. Reach out to get started today.
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