There is nothing more satisfying than completing a renovation. Updating, upgrading and expanding a home gives homeowners a sense of pride as they bask in their completed projects. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Home renovations can turn terribly wrong rather quickly. So what makes a home reno flop?
Here are 4 Renovation Mistakes to Avoid.
Related: 5 Tips on Living in Your Home While You’re Remodeling
Cheaper is Not Always Better
When completing a renovation, cheaper is not always better. While in some cases such as a simple project or update, you can find DIY ideas using household materials, however, when it comes to a larger renovation, buying cheap materials will not last. Your reno may look beautiful immediately following completion, however, the cheaper the material, the cheaper the quality which means the durability, longevity and even functionality of the material will not last long.
If buying high-end materials is out of the budget, try shopping around to find medium-grade materials, or simply start budgeting to save the extra cash needed to complete your project with materials that will last, thus ensuring you will not be redoing the same project only a few years down the road.
More Than You Can Handle
Biting off more than you can chew is one of the simplest ways a renovation can take a drastic turn. Electrical and plumbing repairs and upgrades should nearly always be left to the professionals, the only exception to this general rule of thumb would be if you or a friend/family member was a licensed technician and was assisting in the work. Plumbing and electrical work aren’t generally on the cheapest side of the spectrum, and if not done properly can cause a lot of damage to your home that requires hefty repair bills.
Related: 4 Remodeling Jobs Best Left to the Professionals
That it will be easy
While we always want things to run smoothly in life, especially when renovating a home, you should never expect smooth sailing. Plan for something to go wrong with every project you tackle, if it doesn’t happen, no skin is off your back, but if it does, you have a contingency plan as backup. Two things to plan for should be time and budget.
If you expect a project to take 2 weeks, plan for an extra few days to a week just to be safe, likewise, set aside funds in addition to your budgeted reno costs to help cover any additional material, labor, or repair needs that may arise. By planning for something to go wrong and being prepared, you will save yourself both financially and lift a large weight of stress off of your shoulders.
Related: How a Custom Deck Can Increase Your Home’s Value
Not Planning Ahead
With any renovation, you should always plan ahead. Think through the plans, discuss the pros and cons, and make sure you’ve thought through the whole scenario prior to beginning your project. There is nothing worse than slamming a sledgehammer through a wall to have an “open concept” only to discover you forgot to look and see if it was load-bearing. Think ahead, plan ahead and always be prepared.
Related: 3 Easy Steps to Planning a Deck Addition
If you’re planning a home renovation, need ideas for your next project, or want to set up a consultation, please feel free to reach out to us at any time!
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