Home Renovation Mistakes to Avoid
Renovating your home can be an exciting and rewarding experience. It offers you the chance to transform your space into the dream home you can’t stop thinking of. However, it also comes with its fair share of challenges and potential pitfalls. By avoiding common renovation mistakes you can save yourself time, money, and stress, ensuring that your home renovation project runs smoothly and delivers the results you want. Whether you’re updating a bathroom or undertaking a major kitchen remodel, being aware of common mistakes can make all the difference. Read on to discover the common home renovation mistakes to avoid.
Lack of Planning
So you’ve decided to start a home renovation project? Hooray! Time to grab the hammer and make a trip to the hardware store. Wrong! One of the most common home renovation mistakes starts right here at the beginning — jumping head first into a renovation project without a clear plan. Before starting any renovations, you’ll want to create a detailed plan that outlines your goals, budget, timeline, and specific details of the project. A comprehensive and well thought out plan can help prevent costly changes and delays down the road. You should spend at least 30-60 minutes creating a detailed list of the steps you’ll need to take to complete your renovation project, how long you anticipate each step will take, and the tools and materials you’ll need. It’s always better to be overprepared than underprepared!
unrealistic Budget
As you start your home renovation project, it’s important to set a realistic budget and avoid underestimating the cost of your materials and/or labor. Although a project you have in mind may seem small and minimal (and therefore shouldn’t cost a lot), that’s not always the case. Depending on the scope of your project, you could be looking at anything from $1,500 to $150,000 or more. If you aren’t sure what to expect for your home renovation project, you can check out NerdWallet’s home renovation calculator for similar projects and try getting a quote from a trusted contractor. Quotes are often free and can give you a realistic expectation of what your project will cost, including all materials and labor required to complete the job.
On top of the basic cost to complete the home renovation project, it’s also important to include a contingency fund for any unexpected expenses, typically around 10-20% of the total budget. Unforeseen issues, such as structural issues or mold, can increase the cost of your overall project and you want to make sure you’re prepared should one of these unfortunate issues arise.
Don’t just stop here either. After you have a realistic budget set, you’ll want to keep track of the total spending that occurs once your home renovation project is underway. If you are working with a contractor, they will keep track of the overall spending for you. Otherwise, remember to keep a running tab of expenses to ensure you’re on track and aren’t overspending.
Hiring the Wrong Contractor
Hiring the right contractor is crucial for the success of any home renovation project. One of the most significant mistakes that can get made during a renovation project is selecting a contractor based solely on the lowest bid or without proper research. A poorly chosen contractor can lead to subpar workmanship, delays, unexpected costs, and sometimes even legal issues. To avoid these pitfalls, it's essential to do your homework on your potential contractors before agreeing to anything. Check references, read reviews, verify licenses and insurance, and ensure the contractor has experience with the type of home renovation you're planning. You can even ask to see examples of completed work the contractor has done that aligns with the type of renovation project you have. By taking the time to find a reputable, skilled contractor you can help ensure your home renovation project is completed to your satisfaction and stands the test of time.
Poor Material Quality
Opting for cheaper materials in your home renovation project might seem like a smart way to save money upfront, but it can lead to costly issues down the line. Low-quality materials are often less durable and more prone to damage, which means you could end up facing frequent repairs or even needing to replace these materials sooner rather than later. These repairs and replacements don’t only add to your long-term expenses but they also disrupt your home life with ongoing maintenance. Choosing to invest in high-quality materials from the start ensures better performance, longevity, and overall satisfaction with your renovation. Although it may be slightly more costly upfront, by prioritizing the quality of your materials, you can avoid the frustration and additional expenses associated with inferior products, ultimately making your home more comfortable and reliable.
Overlooking Functionality
When planning a home renovation project, it's easy to get caught up in the dreamy aesthetics and overlook the functionality of the space. However, a beautifully designed room that doesn't meet your every day practical needs can quickly become a source of frustration. Whether you're updating a kitchen, bathroom, or living area, it's crucial to consider how your space will be used daily. You want to make sure you think about storage solutions, traffic flow through the space, accessibility, and how the layout will support your lifestyle. If you are working with a contractor, try asking them for any tips on how to set up your space and what features may have worked for others with similar projects. Ignoring any of the functional aspects of your new space can result in a renovation that may look amazing but falls short in convenience and usability. By balancing form and function, you can ensure that your newly renovated space is not only visually appealing but also practical for your every day life.
Changing the Plan Often
After developing a plan to tackle your home renovation project, one of the common mistakes that happen and you should try to avoid is frequently changing your mind. Once a renovation project has started, changing details often can lead to significant delays, increased costs, and added stress. While it's natural to have second thoughts or come up with new ideas, frequent changes to the design or scope of the project can disrupt the workflow and lead to complications. Each change you may want to make could require additional materials, labor, and adjustments to the schedule, which can quickly inflate your budget and extend the project timeline. To avoid this, make sure you finalize your plans before any work begins and stick to the plans as closely as possible. You can keep your home renovation on track and ensure a smoother, more efficient process by committing and sticking to the initial plans. In the end, you’ll find yourself with a space you love and without unnecessary setbacks.
DIY Disaster
Attempting to DIY every aspect of your home renovation project might seem like a cost-saving strategy, but it can often lead to more problems. While some tasks, like painting a room or installing new fixtures, can be manageable for you to handle on your own, more complex projects — such as electrical rewiring, plumbing installations, or structural modifications — may require professional expertise to do the job correctly. Tackling these complex projects without the necessary skills and knowledge can result in serious safety hazards for you and your loved ones, like electrical fires or water damage. You could even end up with violations of local building codes that can lead to large fines or other issues later on if you try to sell your home. Additionally, DIY efforts within complex areas of a home renovation project can result in poor quality work that requires costly repairs or professional intervention to correct mistakes down the road. Hiring qualified professionals for these tasks ensures that the job is done correctly, safely, and in compliance with regulations, providing you with peace of mind and a superior quality outcome. By recognizing your limits and knowing when to call in the experts, you can avoid the hidden costs and frustrations of DIY mishaps, ensuring your renovation is both successful and safe.
Renovation Success
While home renovations can be an exciting opportunity to enhance your living space, they come with their fair share of challenges. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can ensure a smoother and more successful renovation process overall. Whether you’re updating a single room or undertaking an entire home remodel, keeping these tips in mind will help you achieve the home of your dreams without unnecessary setbacks. Taking the time to plan carefully, budget accordingly, invest in quality, and rely on professional expertise will save you time, money, and stress, ultimately resulting in a beautiful, functional home that meets your needs and exceeds your expectations. Remember, the goal is to create a space you'll love for years to come, so make informed decisions and prioritize quality every step of the way.
Wanting to start a home renovation project of your own? Contact Miland Home Construction today to discuss your project with our team of experts. We’re here to help guide you through the renovation process so you can avoid these common mistakes and create your dream home.