Renovating your home can improve its aesthetic appeal and functionality. However, like any other undertaking, various things could go wrong along the remodeling journey. Read on for 12 common home renovation mistakes you should avoid when remodeling your home to make the process easier and get the best outcome.
1. Going DIY
Renovating a home is expensive, which motivates many people to go DIY to cut the cost of hiring a contractor. However, this only works when you have the proper skills, knowledge, and experience to handle the project. Without the right experience, you could end up making major mistakes that may be expensive to rectify, so you should consider bringing in a professional.
2. Hiring the first contractor you find
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when hiring a home renovation contractor in Richfield, Ohio, is failing to vet the professionals properly. If you plan a major house renovation, you should dedicate enough time to due diligence. Be sure to interview different contractors, reach out to their references and previous clients, and check out their portfolios. You should also develop a list of questions to ask each potential contractor you encounter and take notes. Check whether they are licensed and how long they have been in business to determine their experience levels.
3. Creating an unrealistic budget
Before you start your home renovation project, you should determine how much you are willing to spend and the cost of the necessary renovation materials to plan accordingly. Be sure to consult a renovation contractor to evaluate whether what you want is within your price range. To be safe, set aside an additional 20% to your budget to cater for unforeseen expenses such as electrical upgrades, structural work, or add extra plumbing, to mention a few.
4. Failing to get permits for your home remodeling project
Some homeowners fail to get the required permits to save on time and costs. This results in unnecessary delays and problems. The local authority may prevent you from proceeding with the project, or demand that it be demolished or halted, for security reasons. Consult your local authorities whether you are handling a major or minor renovation project to get the necessary documentation.
5. Not having a plan
Before you hire a contractor, you should have a clear vision of your home’s desired look. Once the project begins, try not to make too many changes, as this will likely increase expenses and lead to delays. Having a detailed vision beforehand provides the remodeling company or contractor with a clear and complete scope of your work. The more you plan upfront; the more precise the estimate will be.
6. Buying the cheapest materials
You always get what you pay for, especially when it comes to home construction materials and products. While you may save a few bucks upfront, buying cheap materials increases maintenance costs. Cheap products often have low quality, so they cannot last long in harsh environments such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Be sure to invest in durable, high-quality materials that will not require replacements within a few years after installation. Consult your contractor for recommendations to quality construction materials to achieve the desired results.
7. Paying too much for the construction materials
While you should not go for the cheapest materials in the market, be careful not to overpay. Be sure to shop around and compare the pricing before purchasing. You could also ask your contractor whether they get special pricing on construction materials to realize more savings.
8. Choosing the wrong paint
Painting is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to boost your home’s aesthetic appeal. However, using the wrong paint color could hurt your project in the long run, especially if you are looking to sell the house at the end of the renovation. Use neutral-colored paint such as beige, cream, and gray to make your home appealing to buyers. You should also ensure that the paint finishes match the different rooms. For instance, use satin finish for walls to reflect light and matte finish on the ceilings to make them appear to recede.
9. Focusing solely on appearance
While ensuring your home looks attractive is crucial, you should also focus on other features such as structural issues and safety when remodeling your space. Ensure that the foundations are solid and update the electrical system to fix potential problems and prevent costly repairs in the future.
10. Being too trendy
Although adding fresh and updated looks are excellent, you should not neglect your home’s resale value. Trends are short-lived, meaning that what is popular now may hurt you in the future, especially when you want to sell the house. For this reason, you should stick to timeless designs and add modern hardware or accents to give your home the best of both worlds.
11. Decorating from scratch
This is a common mistake among homeowners who recently acquired a new space in an attempt to personalize their space. However, this escalates into an expensive task and turns the home renovation project into a never-ending mess and a whole load of frustration. A house renovation should only refine the existing features and not construct everything from scratch. Hire an experienced contractor to help you transform the existing home interior with a few techniques and tricks without making significant changes.
12. Hiring different people to manage the house renovation
The house renovation involves expensive materials, fixtures, appliances, and people. To ascertain that everything runs smoothly, it should be managed and supervised by one person or entity, who takes full responsibility and accountability for their duties. However, as most homeowners fail to do their due diligence when hiring a contractor, they give these responsibilities to different contractors. This creates chaos, time wastage, and lack of accountability, so ensure your project is managed by only one contractor or group.
Endnote
If you can navigate the project smoothly, a renovation is one of the most rewarding home investments. It can make your space look more attractive while increasing its value. Familiarize yourself with the above mistakes and how to avoid them to increase the worth of your home and avoid problems in the future.
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Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Pinstripe Magazine. Creative thinker and menswear designer who has been writing articles dedicated to men’s fashion, lifestyle, luxury items, home design, gear, grooming and gadgets since 1998. For info on PinstripeMag, any editorial needs or to contact me please email at marv@pinstripemag.com.
