Prepare for home renovation during the holiday season for savings

True, the past year caused most of us to give up on large and complex projects, but in the process we learned one important thing: Our homes have the power to grow, heal and dramatically improve the energy level, so not surprisingly many of the homes in Israel are considering right now how to improve and upgrade the living environment in the hope of a good future more.

According to interior designer Barbara Brazin, this is a particularly strategic point in time, during which you can build a regular renovation plan and save a lot of time and money, certainly in relation to renovation at the height of the season.

"In Israel, renovation between the months of April and November is a very unsuccessful idea, certainly in such a challenging time when manpower in the industry is limited. Add to that the backlog of holidays and the long vacation and the fact that many of the professionals in the field choose, just like many others, to take advantage of the weather and vacation abroad. All of these make the hot season, which is also full of non-consecutive working days, particularly busy and as such, a significant slowdown is expected at the pace of the project's progress."

"On the other hand, in days like these, the period between November and April is seen as the ultimate time to embark on renovation work because the work teams are freer and as a result they are goal-oriented and focused - so the work is carried out at a turbo, which is exactly the pace we all strive for, certainly when it comes to a process that throws the house, and us, out of balance. Similar to a year As we have passed, it appears that the coming winter will also be different from its predecessors: The renovation costs during it are expected to be higher, but one thing is quite certain - that after the holidays, and towards the warm seasons, the demand is only expected to increase and so are the price offers of the professionals. Some believe that a lot, given the costs of materials and power The person who just keeps saying things."

"Renovation is not a trivial matter and it is not a matter that is carried out from moment to moment, therefore building schedules is of great importance in our ability to succeed in the task," she adds. "It is necessary to take a lead of several months even before the works begin and at this time to carry out the preliminary steps: From the planning itself, through the construction of technical specifications and bills of quantities to the signing of agreements with a contractor and/or subcontractors. For cosmetic renovations, approximately two months of preliminary preparations should be prepared and if you are planning A massive renovation, you should allocate between three and five months to the matter. Another reason why now is exactly the time to start."

According to Brazin's method, renovation is similar to making a cake according to a recipe, and in his case, too, a predetermined order of operations must be followed. "The preparation phase, as well as the execution phase, must be carried out according to clear and orderly phases," she explains. "First, it is important to define the essence and scope of the renovation and at the same time the budget available to you, otherwise you will easily find yourself in a financial crisis.

Ask yourself whether you plan to take care of specific areas such as children's rooms and bathrooms or whether you intend to carry out a mega renovation, one in which you will redefine the distribution of The spaces will require you to leave home for a period of time in order to be able to move forward with the work. Regardless of which constellation you choose, you must have a sample and professional set of plans and written quantities that precisely define the scope of the work and the specific actions to be performed in each of the stages Let him not be equipped with these three, which awaits him a mask of agony, a direct highway to hell where, as you know, no one is waiting with a tissue to wipe your tears. If you are planning a commedia del arte style process, stand in front of the contractor, wave your hands and explain to him verbally what you are planning and thinking wrongly Everything will be fine and will pass smoothly, so all I can do is wish you lots of success, but know that this is a very stupid idea."

Brazin faces another important task that you must prepare for and take into account: The selection and purchase of materials and accessories. "A large part of the elements is imported from abroad and from the moment you place an order until the products physically land at your home, about six weeks will pass, and this is just an estimate because during this period it is not impossible that you will encounter unexpected things and additional delays due to disruptions in sea crossings that have become a routine matter. By the way, quite absurdly, those who usually delay the works are the property owners themselves who have difficulty making decisions. Thus the months pass, the schedule is delayed and the costs are increased. This is just one of the reasons why I urge you to use a professional man or woman who will fax you and help you synchronize the purchases in relation to the budget and the schedules you originally set."

And what about the year-end sales we're all waiting for? 

According to Brazin, and contrary to popular belief, winter does not necessarily bring with it a flood of dramatic price reductions, certainly not blanket discounts and not in all departments: "In the cold months, it is likely that we will enjoy discounts in particular on products that are used in the opposite season, such as air conditioners and garden furniture. At the same time, Similar to fashion, it is likely that at least some of the chains and stores will have a series of sales, right after the big shopping season before the holidays. It is not impossible that immediately after them discounts will start and this is a product of the slowdown in the economy and sales and the fact that just before a new civil year the chains are preparing for inventory counts and making room. For new collections. So it's true, we may not see huge discounts this year, but the coming months are expected to be a relatively good time to enjoy design items at relatively reasonable prices."