Are you a new homeowner who cannot wait to remodel your home? The idea of renovating your home can be exciting, but home renovation is costly, so you want to avoid as many mistakes as possible. Rushing through house remodeling can lead to many regrets. Here are some of the biggest renovation mistakes you should avoid making.
1. Renovating Too Soon
Avoid the urge to start a house renovation project soon after you move in. Give yourself time to settle into the home first before deciding to make changes.
2. Underestimating Renovation Costs
When you hear the cost of materials per square foot, the amounts may seem small but it all adds up quickly. It’s best to make sure you have some cushion in your budget.
3. Expecting a Smooth Process
Even the most thorough home renovation plan will have some hiccups along the way. Don’t let unexpected issues overwhelm or discourage you.
4. Not Consulting a Designer from The Beginning
The last thing you want is to look back after your renovation is complete and wish you had hired a professional designer to help you make the most out of the room.
5. Going for The Cheapest Quote
Everyone wants to save money whenever possible, but this is not the time to go cheap. Hiring the cheapest contractors you can find or the cheapest material on the market will cost you in the long run.
6. Hiring the Wrong Contractors
You can hire a great contractor that simply is not a good fit for your project. You need somebody who understands your vision and whom you feel comfortable with.
7. Not Checking References
The best way to know how well a renovation contractor is going to perform on your project is by asking their previous clients to rate them. References can help you determine whether someone is the right contractor for you.
8. Not Consulting with A General Contractor in The Beginning
A general contractor can give you a birds-eye view of your project and can help you map out the project if you consult one during the planning phase.
9. Thinking You Understand the Blueprints
There’s more to understanding design and blueprints than just glancing over them. You need an expert to map out the design of a room.
10. Not Asking Enough Questions
The only way you will have clarity about the work being done is to ask as many questions as come to mind. There’s no such thing as a dumb question.
11. Revising the Project During Construction
What you decide on for your design and layout is what you should stick with. Switching things up midway through the project will result in spending significantly more money and can potentially lead to a lot of waste and frustration.
12. Not establishing a timeline
You need to have a rough idea how long the project is going to take from start to finish. There will be some delays along the way, however, keep the lines of communication open with your contractor so you know when certain decisions need to be made.
13. Address exterior concerns first
Before you begin work on the inside of your home, make sure the exterior, i.e. foundation is structurally sound. Start there and address any issues that need to be attended to.
14. Neglecting interior work
Once external issues have been taken care of, make sure that you are not neglecting any of the interior work. Pay attention to the interior work as well.
15. Underestimating the mental stress
Completing a project as complex as home renovations will take a toll on your household. Agreeing on different aspects of the project takes a lot of discussion and compromise, which you need to be mentally prepared for.
16. Compromising on quality
There are some things that you may sacrifice to save some money here and there, however, we do not recommend compromising quality. You need to be happy with the final product.
17. Splurging on the nice to haves
You need to be clear about what things are necessary and what are nice-to-haves. Make sure you do not spend money in areas where you should be saving money.
18. Replacing windows
If the windows in your home are still in good condition, there’s no need to swap them out for new ones just because you are renovating your home. Keep the original windows unless it’s absolutely necessary to replace them.
19. Not taking measurements into account
This is particularly important when it comes time to furnish the room. You need to know the dimensions of the space so you can buy appropriate furniture. Be specific about everything. Write down the measurements you need for the couch, tables and other items you need.
20. Purchasing furniture that is too big
Again, you need to be conscious of your space so you leave enough room to move around easily. Buying furniture that consumes a large portion of the room will be an inconvenience.
21. Purchasing tiny rugs
Rugs are a great accessory to add to a room, but make sure that the rugs you buy are appropriate for the size of the room.
22. Poor communication
Failing to communicate well will result in a lot of confusion and frustration. Be clear on what your responsibilities are vs. the responsibilities of your contractor at each stage of the project.
23. Designating yourself as the general contractor
Being a general contractor requires experience in construction, working with subcontractors, and sourcing the materials that you will need. It’s a complicated job that is best handled by someone with experience.
24. Overspending on technology
You may spend a lot of money installing trendy high-tech features but that may not be the best investment since you will need to continue to update it to keep up with trends.
25. Biting off more than you can chew
Renovating one room takes a lot of time, money, and effort, so renovating multiple rooms can definitely be a huge undertaking. Take your time with the project and work on one area at a time.
Hiring professional renovation contractors can make your home reno project run more smoothly. Don’t leave your project to chance, go with the pros in home renovations. Call Luxe Home Renovations to get a free quote today!
