Renovation resources

Straight answers about renovation work

Practical guides from BazaNova, a residential renovation company working across the Chicagoland area, Illinois. No sales pitch, no invented numbers — just how the work actually goes and what to ask before you hire anyone.

• Costs · 6 min

  What actually affects the cost of a home renovation

  A renovation quote is driven by six things: the size and scope of the work, the condition of what is already there, the material and fixture level you choose, access and protection requirements, permit and inspection needs, and how many trades have to be sequenced. Two projects with identical square footage can price very differently because of condition and access alone.

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• Planning · 5 min

  How to prepare your home before renovation work starts

  Before a crew arrives, clear the work area and adjacent rooms, agree on protection and dust control, confirm building access rules and parking, decide where materials will be stored, lock in your finish selections, and identify the water and electrical shutoffs. Most delays on small projects come from unmade decisions, not from the work itself.

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• Process · 5 min

  When a Chicagoland renovation needs a permit

  As a general rule, cosmetic work such as painting, patching, trim and like-for-like flooring does not require a permit, while structural changes, moving or adding plumbing and electrical, changing windows or doors in structural openings, and finishing a basement usually do. Every municipality sets its own thresholds, so the permit question is answered by the local building department for your specific address.

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• Rentals & investors · 5 min

  Rental turnover checklist for Chicagoland landlords

  A rental turnover is a fixed sequence: inspect and document, repair damage, address moisture and safety items, paint, refresh flooring, deep clean, then photograph for listing. Doing it in that order avoids the most common turnover mistake — cleaning or painting before repairs are finished and having to redo both.

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• Maintenance · 4 min

  How to spot water damage behind walls and ceilings

  The common signs of hidden water damage are brown or yellow staining, bubbling or peeling paint, drywall that feels soft or spongy, a persistent musty smell, warped trim or baseboard, and nail pops or cracking that keeps returning after patching. Cosmetic repair before the source is fixed and the cavity is dry will fail again.

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• Planning · 5 min

  How to choose a renovation contractor (questions to ask)

  Judge a contractor on four things: how specific their written scope is, how they handle changes and surprises, how they communicate during the job, and how their payment schedule is tied to progress. A detailed scope and a clear change-order process predict a good project far better than the lowest bid.

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