Handyman Morgan Jensen will answer your home improvement questions.

The end of your renovation is near, no really!

Anytime homeowners embark upon a home repair or renovation, the same questions often arise. What will it cost in the end? Can we do this ourselves or should we hire someone? And, how long is it going to take?

In my last column I spoke about when to hire someone to do the work. This time I'd like to discuss just how to determine the time it can take to get work done in your home.

There are some basic principles when scheduling renovations and repairs, and they are covered by asking yourself some simple questions (these can apply to any situation, whether you're doing the work or hiring someone else).

1. What impact will the work have on your home and family? For example, if you are doing a bathroom renovation, is this the only bathroom in the house or are there others to use in the meantime?

2. Does someone need to be home during the renovation and how will this affect your work or school schedule, especially when having a contractor do the work, some homeowners wish to be around to monitor progress, watch their possessions, or just be there for questions.

3. Is there a time of the year when you would prefer to have the work done? Some homeowners prefer to have work done - and the mess involved - happen while they are on holidays and away from the stress and disruption.

4. Are there any upcoming events that will have an impact on the completion date? This is always a big question, especially for the contractor, because any serious deadlines can add stress, and often cost, to any job.

Major parties, weddings, family visits, and even planned trips or holidays, will have an impact on any work being completed and homeowners must be cautious to set realistic deadlines.

I know, as both a husband and a contractor, that it is important to know what the deadline is and whether it is a reasonable one.

You should always plan for the unknown of course, and factor that in to any home repair or renovation, and always try not to take on more work than you can handle - both literally and financially.

Prioritizing any work to be done in the home is critical, unless you're choosing to go all out and attack the whole house at once.

You must make lists, pick the important things first, break projects into smaller, more manageable parts, and always take time planning.

Although the end may be near once you start your renovation, the beginning may be far away.

This is another thing that many homeowners can find a bit frustrating, especially once they decide to go ahead and do the work.

This will apply more often when hiring someone to do the work, because your schedule isn't always in sync with a contractor's timeline.

Always discuss this up front with anyone you plan to hire and make this a part of your decision process. It can be as important as cost and quality when it comes to your home and your family.

Take care, and take your time when doing anything around your home. After all, your home is one of your biggest investments in life.

PROJECT GUIDELINE

How long do certain jobs take? Here's a very loose timeline:

. Bathroom makeover: At least a week

. Major bathroom reno: two to three weeks

. Full kitchen reno: four to six weeks

. Small addition: three months

Visit his website at www.jbshomeimprovement.ca or send your questions to morganjensen@shaw.ca.