When beginning a home renovation, there are a multitude of things to consider — cost, time, materials, permits, etc. But have you ever considered documenting your project to be an intregal part of not only the process, but a beneficial one?
Recently we were scheming a potental new project in our house when a couple of possible complications came to mind involving stud and beam placement in a wall. Instead of cutting holes into the wall to figure out if our idea was even possible, all we had to do was go through our renovation photos to before we put up the drywall to answer our question. No mess, no tools, just a couple clicks of the mouse to settle our minds.
In that vein, here are a few reasons why you should consider documenting your renovations from the very beginning until the very end:
Reference
Like we mentioned above, because we’d taken photos throughout our dining room’s (still ongoing) renovation, all we had to do was go back in our personal files to find the answer to the questions we had, no mess or demo required.
Display
We actually keep a tangible photo album of before and after shots of each room in the house with short commentary next to each photo. That way, when guests are over, they can thumb through our progress without needing a full tour or trying to explain the differences without a visual for reference. We also blog our renovations for friends and family who live far away to also participate in our journey and to share their knowledge or opinions when we need them. Someday we plan on having an open house for our friends when the house is “complete,” and we’ll display the before photos and some of the progress photos for everyone to see the work we’ve accomplished. It might be a bit of a bragging point, but there’s not much greater pride than being able to show your handiwork off for others to appreciate.
Legalities
On the off chance that you have legal matters that concern your home, such as potential housing or building code violations, having photographic evidence of the steps taken throughout your renovation (as well as all applicable permits and professional services) will only help your case in the end.
Selling points
If you’re trying to sell your home, it may be worth it to submit your records to your Realtor or to have available to potential buyers and/or renters. Once people can see all the hard work you put forth into the home (illustrating that you did more than just basic upkeep on the home & hopefully showing the improvements and updates in a positive light), they might be more inclined to pick your home over a basic or outdated model.
Memories
In the end, you’re going to want to remember the process for what it was — exercises in learning, bonding, problem solving, creativity, and the ultimate in home-making. Time will fade your recollection of the befores, the trials and tribulations, and a great deal of the process through which both you and your home endured to make it exactly what you dreamed it to be. Looking back at photos and re-reading your comments will be sure to elicit giggles and fond disbelief that things were ever any different.
What are the reasons you document your renovations? Let us know in the comments below!
No Comments