Plan ahead before making those Chinese New Year home improvements

Time flies, and Chinese New Year isn’t far away! And for many of us who are homeowners, that means it’s the perfect time to get our house in order – literally speaking. Many homeowners in Hong Kong wish to have an auspicious start to the lunar year by making home improvements, and this can be a serious undertaking.

So what steps should you take to ensure your renovations go smoothly? How can you avoid turning the holiday season from a time of joy to a period of stress? And what should you do if things don’t go according to plan? In this article, we are going to suggests some steps you can take to avoid the pitfalls you might encounter otherwise.

First on the list and probably the most important is that you always use the services of a qualified builder. When it comes to non-structural changes, like fitting a new kitchen, you want peace of mind knowing a professional will do the job properly, giving you beautiful results. But if you intend to make structural changes to your home, such as knocking through a wall to increase the size of a room, this is even more vital. You must ensure you aren’t making changes that could be potentially dangerous. Earlier this year, a homeowner in Hong Kong removed part of a load-bearing wall and was subsequently ordered by the authorities to act to ensure the building’s structural safety. You do not want to find yourself in that situation.

Once you have engaged a professional to carry out your home renovation project, it is time to share your plans in detail. At this stage, you have to keep your expectations realistic based on your project timeframe and, of course, your budget. Be as thorough as possible so your contractor completely understands your vision – even if it is something as simple as retiling a bathroom. At the end of the day, you want to be sure the job has been completed to standard and your contractor wants to take pride in a job well done. Communication is the key to happiness.

We’ve already alluded to the third point on this list, but it almost goes without saying that the lead-up to Chinese New Year will be an incredibly busy period for builders. Their services will be in very high demand, so arrange the timing of your project accordingly. Furthermore, bear in mind that popular materials, paints and designs are also likely to be in high demand, so ensure you leave ample time to source the materials you desire for your home renovation project.

One of the big considerations about carrying out home improvements is that you will need to move out your valuable belongings before any work can begin. Expensive paintings, furniture and antiques must be stored in a safe place, and moving them can pose its own risk of accidental damage. So it is wise to protect your household items with a suitable home insurance plan. MSIG’s iHome Insurance covers your household items for up to HK$50,000 if they are accidentally damaged or lost during temporary removal for the purpose of making renovations to your property.

Take the necessary steps to ensure your improvement project is a breeze. That way, you can enjoy complete peace of mind as your loved ones gather together in your newly renovated home for Chinese New Year.

To find out more about iHome insurance, please click here. If you are interested in other home insurance plans, please contact your insurance agent or broker.
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