Should you hire a designer for your home renovation?

[caption id="attachment_491" align="alignleft" width="300"] (Photo credit: iofoto/iStockphoto.com)[/caption] For some people looking to do a home renovation, they may be unsure of how a designer can help. A designer can help homeowners plan out their renovation with drawn up plans and specifications. You'll want to choose someone who's familiar with designing renovations and willing to collaborate with the contractor doing the work. If you're doing a big renovation, some contractors will have their own designers to draft design plans and who will work with you to decide on upfront costs before any construction is started. But not all contractors have designers on staff and it may be up to you to find one. Some homeowners may not realize the value designers can bring to a renovation job. Homeowners may have an estimate of how much they'd like to spend on a renovation, but it may be unrealistic. An experienced designer can help get your head out of the clouds and bring you back down to reality in terms of realistic costs for a project. They can also help you design a renovation that matches your budget. Also, with a renovation, it's easy to go over your budget in terms of materials, but when you work with a designer, they'll be knowledgeable in costs to ensure that you stay on track. In some instances, some designers can also help you design a space that makes it easy to swap out a cheaper material for a pricier one at another time. Attention to detail is an important part of a designer's job since they can tell you if the furniture you're considering is too big for the space you have to work with. It's likely that they keep up with the latest design trends and they can help you design a space that'll wow your friends and family. Designers may also have access to discounts that the homeowner won't be able to get, which can help you offset the cost of using their services. Of course, you'll want to consider that some designers may receive kickbacks on recommending one product over another to a customer and choose the one that works best for your needs. Another benefit of using a designer is they may be able to better communicate with contractors since they have a better understanding of the situation. They also speak the same technical language and they can advocate on your behalf. With a detailed plan, the designer can guide the contractor to your expectations for the renovation. A designer can go a long way in helping you save time and money. When some homeowners undertake renovations that end up costing more than they have budgeted during construction, sometimes it's left incomplete. Homeowners renovate their properties to suit their lifestyles or to help raise the property's value. Hiring the right contractors and designers goes a long way in creating the home of your dreams. If you do a major renovation, Rebate4U can help you claim an HST housing rebate. Our priority is to provide our clients with the most professional and quality service in obtaining rebates for their new and renovated homes. We are proud to offer our clients the most personal and attentive service, and we make sure that all of our clients are 100% satisfied.