The new guidelines include advice for tradespeople heading back to work, and how you as a homeowner can accommodate tradespeople in your property.

Here, we’ve broken down the advice so that if you’re planning a renovation project, or are preparing to restart a renovation, you know how to keep everyone in your property safe.

Can renovation work go ahead?

Yes, renovation work can restart – but only providing you and the tradespeople you’re using can comply with the government’s strict social distancing guidelines.

What should I do if I’m self-isolating?

This is hugely important. No tradespeople should enter your home if a member of your household is showing symptoms of coronavirus or is self-isolating.

Tradespeople should contact you in advance to check this, too. If anybody in your house is self-isolating, all works should be delayed.

What about if the tradesperson is showing symptoms?

Again, no work should be carried out by anyone who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild.

It’s worth repeating but make sure you speak to whoever is due to carry out the work ahead of time. If it’s clear that any party is showing symptoms of coronavirus, delay the work until it is safe to do so.

What should I do before (re)starting a renovation?

To give confidence to all parties involved in the renovation that the guidance is being followed, you should be asked to complete a handful of questions before moving forward, such as:

• Has anyone in your household had COVID-19?
• Has anyone in your household displayed COVID-19 symptoms or not yet completed a required period of household self-isolation?
• Are you in the high-risk category?

Tradespeople should also contact you in advance to check that no member of your household is showing symptoms of coronavirus or self-isolating. If that is the case, work should be delayed.

What guidelines should tradespeople be sticking to?

Firstly, all tradespeople should follow the government’s ‘safer working’ guidance, which you can find here.

Communication is key and bosses should ensure their employees understand how to work safely. Workers should also share their new safety measures with you, too.

More specifically, tradespeople should:

• wash their hands on entering your home, using separate towels of paper towels which need to be washed or disposed of safely after use
• seek to minimise contact with you as the homeowner and remain two metres apart from anyone else at all times
• implement a buddy system and ensure that the same people work together where this is needed
• bring their own refreshments but you should ensure they have access to hand washing facilities, using separate towels or paper towels if possible, which should be washed or disposed of safely afterwards

What other precautions can I take as a homeowner?

When a tradesperson is at your home, you should maintain social distancing, wash your hands regularly and minimise contact as far as possible, for example by staying in another room to where the work is happening.

You should also leave all internal doors open to minimise any unnecessary contact with door handles.

You should ask any tradesperson working in your home to remove all waste and belongings from their work area at the end of a shift and at the end of a job.

You should also ask tradespeople to clean down the surfaces in the room or rooms they have been working in at the end of each shift.

Should tradespeople wear a face covering while in my home?

According to the latest government guidelines, wearing a face covering is optional and is not required by law, including in the workplace.

If it is something that you feel strongly about, you should speak to the tradesperson you’re using before they start or resume work at your property.

If he/she/they choose to wear one, however, it is important that they wash their hands before putting them on and after taking them off.

The post Can renovation work restart now? first appeared on Housing Market Marketing by Housing Market Group.

If you’re considering revamping your home, purchasing a fixer-upper, or flipping a property, it can be helpful to know which category your project will fall into, so you can accurately estimate the scope and cost.

Renovation vs. Remodel: The Real Difference

In general, renovations typically involve some sort of restoration work—repainting walls or cabinets, replacing fixtures or hardware, or updating old or outdated features. Renovations are intended to revive a room or property, not entirely replace it or change it.1 They also may be used to add value to a home before listing it for sale. Because of this, renovations are often smaller-scale projects.

Remodels, on the other hand, are generally include changes to a home’s structure or layout, and they function more like a transformation of the property, rather than just an update to one or two rooms.2 They often involve changing the use of space (or several spaces at once). 

Examples of common renovations:

• Repainting
• Refacing cabinets
• Installing new light fixtures
• Replacing windows
• Updating appliances
• Adding new hardware
• Replacing tiles or flooring
• Replacing outdated systems

Examples of common remodeling projects:

• Combining two rooms into one
• Installing a kitchen island
• Removing walls
• Raising ceilings
• Changing the layout of a room

Remodel vs. Renovation: Which Costs More?

Because remodels are more involved than renovations, they typically cost more. They also tend to require more professional assistance than renovations, from experts such as architects, electricians, plumbers, and more. On top of this, many remodel require permits, which can add yet another cost to the project. 

Here are the major factors you’ll need to take into account when gauging the costs of a remodel or renovation:

• Materials (wood, flooring, paint, etc.)
• Labor, contractor and consulting fees
• Permits (if required)
• Appliances, fixtures, cabinets, and hardware
• Size of the space being renovated or remodeled
• The age and condition of the home

According to the home improvement network Home Advisor, it costs anywhere from $18,451 to $74,954 to remodel multiple rooms3. Home improvement company Thumbtack found that kitchen remodel alone averages around $25,000, while a bathroom remodel is more affordable, at around $6,000 for a 50-square-foot space.4

Choosing the Best Route

Deciding whether to renovate or remodel your property can be a big decision. You’ll want to take into account your budget (what can you afford and how will you cover the costs?), time (how available are you and when do you want the project completed?) and your final goals for the property. 

If you’re looking to update a few aesthetic areas or increase the value of your home in time for a sale, a quick renovation may be your best bet. If you’re settling into the property for the long haul and you aren’t happy with the look and/or functionality, a full remodel may be in order.

Tip: A remodel may also mean less in upkeep and maintenance down the line, since you’ll be adding new fixtures and hardware that are current with modern building codes and standards.

Picking the Right Projects

Regardless of whether you opt to renovate your home or remodel it, it’s important to consider the potential return on investment—especially if you’re looking to increase the property’s value or resale potential.

According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2019 Cost vs. Value Report, the highest-ROI home projects include:5

• Garage door replacement (97.5% of your costs recouped)
• Stone veneer siding addition (95.9% recouped)
• Minor kitchen remodel (80.5% recouped)
• Wood deck addition (75.6% recouped)
• Siding replacement (75.6% recouped)
• Steel entry door replacement (74.9% recouped)
• Vinyl window replacement (73.4% recouped)
• Fiberglass grande entrance (71.9% recouped)
• Wood window replacement (70.8% recouped)
• Composite deck addition (69.1% recouped)
• Asphalt shingle roof replacement (68.2% recouped)
• A mid-range bathroom remodel (67.2% recouped)

The projects that add the most resale value (in dollar value) are a master suite addition, which adds more than $136,000 to your home’s value, and a major kitchen remodels, which adds $78,524.5 Bathroom additions and remodels can also add a significant amount of value to your property.

The post The Difference Between Renovation and Remodel first appeared on Housing Market Marketing by Housing Market Group.