Apartment Renovation: Dos and Don’ts

Apartment renovation can be a great benefit or a detriment, depending on how you approach it. Whether you’re doing a minor project like putting a wall shelf up or a major undertaking like installing new linoleum, there are several “dos” and “don’ts” you should know about.

Do Read Your Lease

Your rental contract should spell out exactly what you’re allowed to do in your apartment, and what’s forbidden. Read through the lease carefully. There might even be a clause that describes the process you should go through in order to renovate your apartment. If there is, make sure you follow that process. If you don’t, you’ll open yourself up to an eviction or even a lawsuit from the landlord to recover damages.

Don’t Rewire Anything

It’s a bad idea to try to rewire anything as part of an apartment renovation project. If the outlets in the living room aren’t in the precise location you need for your entertainment center, you’ll just have to problem solve it another way. Doing any rewiring in your apartment could void your lease, leading to an eviction. Even worse, it could lead to an electrical shock, or if you really don’t know what you’re doing, you could cut off power for a portion of the building.

Do Talk to the Landlord

Visit with your landlord about your apartment renovation idea. With any project, you’ll want to get permission from the property manager or the landlord before you even start. If you can convince the landlord that you know what you’re doing, and that your renovation project will add value to the apartment, you’ll more than likely be allowed to proceed. In a best case scenario, the landlord might even allow you to deduct some of your expenses from the rent.

Don’t Surprise Your Neighbors

If your project is going to produce a lot of noise, fumes or any other sort of distraction to your neighbors, visit with them ahead of time to let them know what you’re doing. An elderly neighbor might have sensitive health issues and won’t be able to be around paint fumes, for example. If you’re going to be hammering or using noisy power tools, find out what times work best with your neighbors’ schedules. The less disruption you can cause to the apartment building, the happier everyone will be.

Don’t Damage the Apartment

If you don’t know what you’re doing, hire a professional. You might have your landlord’s permission to tear up the linoleum in the kitchen and replace it, but if you don’t know how to do the project, you could do more harm than good. You should research how to do the project, the tools needed and how to carry out the task before you start renovating. You can even find more information on do-it-yourself projects here on this website.

Depending on the project, apartment renovation can be a rewarding thing to do. Your apartment will feel much more like a home if you can make changes to fit your style or needs.