Tomorrow will be Day 1 of the Home Renovation Journey that we are embarking on. My mom, “the action woman” as I like to call her (this should be her official nickname from now on), shared with me the steps she took to get us going.

This is one of the posts I was eager to bringing to life as it required me to interview my folks, who have so much wisdom to share on the topic.

1. Apply for Permits

Do we not all love the beautiful administrative processes of the projects we wish to take? Before you start physical work, make sure you have obtained the necessary approvals from your village or local governments and paid for any processing fees. You do not want to be flooring the gas on a project only to be derailed by undone paperwork.

2. Decide on Labor

Who will physically do the work on the house? Are you fully going DIY (do-it-yourself) or are you hiring labor? If you want to be Superman and do the work yourself, do you have the skills to do it? Otherwise, what help do you need? For us, we chose not to take on a contractor because mom had experience building and renovating houses. Other than that, we are outsourcing almost everything as we do not have the skills for the physical work. We made sure we locked in a foreman, as they will lead all the other experts, like the painter, mason, plumber, electrician, tinsmith, landscaper, and the rest of the hired utility workers.

3. Plan Your Budget

What is your budget and how will you finance the renovation? Will you need to take out a loan or do you have enough savings pooled together? Are you setting aside money from your salary to tide you through the costs along the way? Should you sell investments to release cash? There are many financing options to consider, and you can mix and match your cash sources.

4. Collect Cost Quotations

We are finally getting to the more exciting part of the planning! Searching for suppliers for the renovation is crucial. We looked at what we needed for the house from top to bottom — from the rusting roof gutters, to cracking paint, unhinging cabinets, and even mismatched tiles that a tenant left (oops – that’s another story!). Don’t forget if you want curtains or blinds, if you need changes to the toilets, sinks, faucets, and general plumbing. If you have wooden floors or stairway handrails, do you want them re-polished? Are the windows still intact or do you wish to upgrade them? Is the wiring still acceptable for lighting, power outlets, switches, and even for the phone and internet? Know what parts of the house are priority and what you want accomplished, so you can gather and compare costs from different vendors.

5. Set a Project Timeline

Decide when you want your home renovation journey to be completed, and consider whether you are chasing a fixed deadline based on permits, children’s schooling, or weather changes. Find tasks that depend on something else to be finished to maximize your workers’ time. You should also clarify with vendors whether they can supply the fixtures and materials within your timeline. Do they have stock ready or do they still need to manufacture the items? Where are the materials coming from and how long will it take to deliver — if they even do deliver? Otherwise, can you arrange pick-up yourself or use transport delivery providers like Transportify or Lalamove? Decide your benchmarks and let this guide you in tracking your progress and completing your home renovation.

For many of us, planning can be dry, but it is necessary to guarantee a successful project. Don’t jump into the home renovation if you do not feel ready, but take the steps above to gain structure and discover the enjoyment in the process.

What steps did you take to plan your own renovation? Share them with us in the comments below!