by Kate Johns

Created on: February 07, 2008   Last Updated: December 28, 2008

Organization is the key to a successful home remodeling project. Before picking up that hammer and before you start whacking away at that old wall, you need to get organized first. Organization is the dull part of the project, with the best yet to come, when you can take out all those aggravations on that old piece of your home to make room for the new stuff. Here's what you need to do first, before youc an do that FUN stuff.

Here are TEN steps to take to get organized before beginning your home remodeling project:

1. CLEAN THE ROOM FIRST. Clean the room you are going to be remodeling. You need to see what you are going to be working with before you start taking the room apart and placing new items inside it. Throw useless things away, to make more room to look at what needs to be done. If you want to remodel your kitchen and make it larger than it currently is, after scrubbing everything, it might actually look better. Then it will be easier to work in that room.

2. WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN IN A BINDER. Organize a binder into sections that you will need in order to do the remodel. Right now you can organize it into very general areas, allowing for space to add ideas, and information later on. You will want to organize it into different sections such as: plans for remodel, budget, possible financing, people working on project, code enforcement, buying items, and where? Once you start remodeling, your binder will grow into more sections to accommodate the project.

3.PLAN AHEAD. Think ahead as to how remodeling will help your overall situation. Figure out if remodeling a room such as the kitchen will actually help your family with their needs. Will you have more room to cook, and clean and to sit in the kitchen? Do we really need to do this? Will it raise the value of the house? By thinking about it, you may find out that you really don't need to remodel at this time.

4. DRAW UP PLANS. Draw exactly what you want in the plans for the remodel. That way you'll have a better idea exactly what you want to accomplish. Then if you need an architect, she'll have a better idea what you want. This way you can change the plans later.

5. CREATE A BUDGET. Decide on a flexible budget that will probably change later on. Decide if it is affordable, and if it will raise the value of the house. You need to know if you're getting a home improvement loan, now and about how much you'll need.

6. DECIDE WHO WILL BE DOING THE REMODEL. Now is the time to figure out who will be doing the remodel.

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