Renovating your home can serve many purposes. Not only does a renovation increase the value of a property, it can also make a home much more comfortable and appealing. If you're thinking about remodeling your home, here are 6 tips for a smooth home renovation.

6 Tips for a Smooth Home Renovation

1) Go Energy-Efficient

When renovating your home, focus on energy-efficient solutions. If you're renovating the kitchen, perhaps you can upgrade to ENERGY STAR-rated appliances. Or if you're renovating the living room, maybe you can install low-energy compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) instead of conventional incandescent lighting. Over the course of a year, these small changes can save you big bucks.

2) Choose a Value-Adding Home Renovation

It's important to choose the right type of renovation, as this can affect your home's value. Investing in a below-ground pool when no other house in your neighborhood has one, for instance, could actually lower your home's selling value. Remodeling the kitchen, on the other hand, offers roughly 60 to 120% of your initial investment, according to HGTV. Other value-adding renovations include the addition of a deck, new bathroom, and expansion of master bedroom.

3) Get Everything in Writing

You can always save money by performing renovations yourself. There are times, however, when the services of a professional, licensed contractor will prove useful. Before allowing a contractor to work on your home, though, get everything in writing. A written contract is essential when working with contractors. It offers security knowing that the contractor is legally bound to his or her word.

4) Check Zoning and Construction Regulations

There are countless horror stories about homeowners investing thousands of dollars, and many hours of labor, into renovating their homes, only for the local authorities to say the home renovation was done illegally. Some cities and counties have strict laws regarding construction projects, even if those projects involve residential dwellings. To prevent this from happening, check the zoning and construction regulations for your respective area.

5) Set a Budget

Do you want to spend $500 or $5,000 on your home renovation project? Rather than "winging it," set a budget for your project and stick with it. There's no way to tell exactly how much the project will cost, though you can get a rough estimate by adding up the products and services that you'll need.

6) Don't Rush it

Most importantly, don't rush your renovation. Many homeowners are eager to complete their renovations, simply because they want their home to look "normal" again. In doing so, however, they end up with poorly completed project.

This article was brought to you by Premier Island Properties - A full service real estate firm serving Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, South Carolina. For more real estate news, information, and interesting facts about the Lowcountry, please visit our website.