Building a new home or taking on a renovation project is an exciting decision to make, but the trouble is where to start. Having a clear objective in mind before deciding on a contractor is beneficial in finding the right one for the job. Here is a simple process to get inspired, get organized, and get results.

DISCOVERING HOME IMPROVEMENT

INSPIRATION CAN STRIKE AT ANY TIME.

Whether you’re looking through a magazine or scrolling through your social feed, the creative spark can hit at any time. Maybe you’re just tired of looking at that same old dreary room and think it’s time for a facelift. Then, you get an idea; you’re heart beats a little faster and the possibilities race through your mind. Once your heart it set on a new project, there’s no turning back. You have to see it unfold, and you start to build a strategy.

ENVISION

FINDING THE RIGHT INFLUENCE.

The first step in getting your home improvement project organized is saving some photos you’re inspired by. You don’t have to find exactly what you want, but rather use influences from different ones. This is the first step in being able to show your contractor what you’re looking for, rather than tell. Here are a few ways to help you track down what you’re looking for:

1. There are a huge number of home improvement magazines and catalogs that are often offered for free by suppliers and can be a big help. They provide great photography and a variety of ideas for any type of project you can think of. Even in today’s online world, sometimes it’s nice to be able to hold something in your hand and look at it. By cutting out photos and pasting them on a reference board, you’ll be well on your way to developing a sense of style for your project.
2. Look into the previous work of contractors to find what you’re looking for. Most contractors share their previous home improvement work on their websites and social media. This is a great way to look into their history and see what their strengths are. Not only will this help you get inspired, but can help you find the right contractor for the job.
3. Make a vision board. Vision boards and collages are a great way to organize your vision and explain your ideas. With the help of the vast social networks of today, there are some great ways to quickly and easily make one. Here are some of our favorite ways to create a vision board:

• Moodboard is a great app for apple ipad devices to organize and share ideas
• Olioboard allows you to create ‘mock’ interior designs
• Pinterest is a free website that gives you access to millions of photos and is our favorite way to save and organize ideas on a single board. To make one, you’ll have to create a Pinterest profile. Then, click the ‘Create a board’ box at the top of your list of boards. Choose a name and category for your board – this should be the name of your project in mind. Click ‘Create Board’. Then, search photos sources of inspiration. Example: “modern homes”. Choose photos that inspire you and click the ‘save’ button when hovering over the photo, and select the board you’d like to save it to. When your board is finished, it should look something like this:

Then you can share it with your contractor by clicking ‘Send’ at the top of your board, or you can print it out and have them take a look at it.

DESIGN

TIME TO COLLABORATE.

Once you have a solid collection of photos and have narrowed down what you’re looking for, it’s time to reach out to a contractor to collaborate. They’ll be really happy you’re home improvement project is so focused and organized. During the design process, you’ll be using those ideas to break down a schedule and a budget by tracing backward. What materials will you need? How much time will the project take? What machinery will be needed? By answering these questions in your consultation, the contractor will be able to trace backward and outline the specifics. Then, they’ll start drawing up their own plans and take them back to you for your approval before outlining your agreements in a contract. For more information on how to move forward with a contractor, see our article on What You Need to Know Before Signing a Contract.