How To Have A Stress-free Cabin Or Cottage Renovation

‍Tips for a stress-free cabin or cottage renovation

A summer home is a happy place, full of memories and joy. It’s where you go to get away from it all and to reconnect with nature, family, and friends.  

So, you want to make sure that it is in the best condition possible. That means that you may want to do renovations on your cabin or cottage to ensure that you and your family can continue to enjoy it for years ahead.  

Should you renovate your cabin or cottage?

There are several reasons to renovate your cabin or cottage. They include:

1. Addressing safety concerns

2. Adding a deck

3. Increasing the size

4. Modernizing the kitchen

5. Winterizing  

6. Updating the plumbing

7. Adding more storage

Renovating a cabin or cottage doesn’t have to be stressful

If you are like most people, the idea of doing a major renovation can cause you anxiety. You may have fears that a renovation will be costly, or that it will make it impossible to enjoy your cabin or cottage while it is happening.  

Five keys to a smooth cabin or cottage renovation

With a little planning, you shouldn’t worry about a renovation ruining your enjoyment of the cabin or cottage. Instead, you should focus on how it will enhance the value and enjoyment of it in the years to come.  

Here are five things to consider:

Have a full vision for your renovation

Do your research and come into the renovation with a plan of what exactly you want done. Too often, people only have vague ideas and that can lead to you starting a project that is too complicated. Or not complicated enough. That, in turn, can lead to escalating costs or time.  

Don’t be married to your idea

It’s easy to get excited by a great design you see on Instagram or Pinterest. Real life, however, can be messier. When you talk to a professional contractor from MoveBuddy you may find that your idea is too expensive or that it can’t be done exactly the way that wanted in your cabin or cottage.  

That doesn’t mean there isn’t a way to make something similar happen though. Listen to your contractor. They have the expertise to make magic happen.  

Be honest with your cabin or cottage renovation budget

Your cabin or cottage is supposed to be a place that you go to relax. You won’t be able to do that if it nearly bankrupts you renovating it! So, have an honest conversation with a financial advisor about how much you can afford then pick a project that fits that budget.  

Make sure you factor in a 20% to 25% buffer for unexpected costs too.  

Don’t get pressured into increasing the budget

If you have anticipated that the quoted cost of the renovation maybe 20% to 25% higher due to unexpected costs, then there is no reason to go over your budget. Stick with what you can afford. That may mean that part of the renovation plan will have to be adjusted. That’s OK, there is always the possibility of doing more work down the line.  

Think long term

One common mistake that cabin or cottage owners make is that they want to get all the renovation done in one shot. It doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, it shouldn’t. You want to be able to enjoy the property and if a renovation is going on for the entire summer, you can’t.  

So, instead, plan over several years. By spreading the renovation out, you can save more, make more changes, and get to enjoy the cabin or cottage throughout the process.  

Enjoy your cabin or cottage for years to come!

If you follow this advice, you can give your cabin or cottage a second life with a fresh renovation and continue to enjoy it long into the future.  

MoveBuddy publishes tips and tricks to help you navigate your next move or renovation weekly. Make sure to follow us on Instagram to be updated on our next article!