Giving your home a makeover can be exciting. However, it can also pose a few problems if you don’t plan or go about it the right way. Statistics reveal that U.S. homeowners can spend an average of $7,560 annually on home improvements.
You may renovate your home for various reasons such as a growing family, a desire to give your home a new look, upgrade your house, or maintenance.
No matter the reason, it’s essential to carry out your renovations properly as it can take a chunk of your finances if you overlook some vital factors. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when renovating your home.
1. Failing to Plan
One great way to ensure your renovation yields the best results is by careful planning. Having a plan will guide you in your purchases and help you put in the necessary measures to ensure safety and reduce the likelihood of any damages in your home.
Planning will also help you set realistic timelines that will help you make other decisions, such as where your family will temporarily stay till you complete the project and know which aspects of the renovation to prioritize. It would help if you were also prepared for any potential delays that may arise from situations such as emergencies, unavailability of supplies, financial issues, etc.
A contingency plan will help ensure you’re not too overwhelmed if there are any setbacks. Measures such as getting a home warranty are also helpful if any of your appliances break down during the renovation process.
2. Trying to do Everything by Yourself
Although DIY is a great way to make some of your renovation ideas a reality, it may not always be the best option for your makeover. You can try the little tasks like repainting or fixing wallpaper on your own.
However, you may need expert help to enable the changes you desire to last longer and save you any long-term costs. Additionally, doing it yourself could increase the likelihood of injuries if you try to take up the technical aspects.
It may also mean incurring more costs from trying to correct any mistake you may have made during your renovation. Research reveals that it can cost you about $300 to make a DIY fail right.
Therefore, it’s best to hire professionals to execute your vision accurately without feeling stressed or overwhelmed over the project’s outcome.
3. Changing Everything at Once
As exciting as home renovations, they can make a considerable dent in your pocket if you don’t take an organized approach. You may want to make several changes at once, but that could be expensive and rush the whole process.
It would help if you took little steps instead. For instance, you can start with a few rooms instead of pulling down everything at once. Doing this will help you stay within budget and help you focus on the most crucial areas that you need to work on immediately.
Making minor changes will also make it easy to ensure the renovations are suited to your specific preferences.
4. Settling for the Lowest Prices
It’s essential to budget before you start renovations. However, settling for the lowest prices isn’t always the best option in staying within budget and saving costs.
You may end up purchasing low-quality materials which may not be durable and lead to future repair costs. You can choose quality items that aren’t too expensive but at the same time aren’t the lowest on the market. To help you make the best decision, it would help to compare the prices of several vendors before making your final choice.
If that option is available, you can also request samples to help guarantee that you’re making the best choice and identify the ones that work best for you.
If you’re hiring professional help, you should consider their reputation, experience, and service delivery in addition to their prices and get more than one quote before deciding. Chances are, if a service provider is offering lower costs than usual, they may be taking shortcuts that could prove costly for you in the future. You should also verify if they have the required permit to work to ensure safety and quality.
Remember to have a contract with clear terms before hiring your contractor.
5. Not Monitoring Progress Closely
It’s essential to monitor your home improvement closely to ensure that your contractors carry out the specific changes you want. Although you may not need to be there 24/7, it would help if you were around as often as possible to keep a close eye on the project, especially if it’s on a large scale.
You can also contact your contractor regularly for updates if you can’t be there physically for some reason and point it out if you’re not satisfied with something.
Doing this will help you avoid the costs of redoing any aspect of the renovation after completion.
6. Combining Too Many Trends
There’s always a new design you can explore for your home, and renovating your home allows you to embrace your style and incorporate some contemporary looks. However, focusing too much on the latest trends and wanting to apply several at a go could make your final design look clumsy.
If the trends pass, you could quickly get bored with the design and want another makeover too soon. Additionally, it could make it difficult for you to sell your home if you intend to someday, as the trends you may have adopted during your renovation may have gone out of style, reducing your home’s appeal to potential buyers.
It’s best to choose a style that complements your original look even if it’s not the same design and maximizes functionality.
7. Focusing Only on the Interior
If your home renovation is a major one, it’s best to consider the changes you can make both outside and inside. If you need to make some external changes, it’s best to ensure that your building is generally good before starting the interior work.
Overlooking this could derail your renovation efforts. For instance, if you have a leaking roof, it’s prudent to fix it before redoing your interior paint.
Doing this will help ensure you have the best environment to make further changes in your home and reduce the likelihood of you having to redo some aspects because of poor quality or damage. As a plus, it enhances your curb appeal.
8. Doing the Flooring First
Although your flooring can significantly transform your interior, and you may be excited about it, it’s best to save it for the end of your project. As your home renovation progresses, you may be moving items like furniture and appliances in and out of your house.
There will also be so much hustle and bustle as your contractors move around while working. This movement could damage your flooring and leave scratches or marks that could tarnish the overall beauty of your makeover. Therefore, it’s best to let your existing flooring take the wear and tear before you replace it.
Home improvements can be an exciting time for you and your family. Renovating your home can be quite an investment, making it essential that you do things right.
Knowing which mistakes to avoid will help make your renovation more rewarding and yield your desired results while allowing you to save costs that would have otherwise arisen due to poor planning and organization.
Remember to make safety a priority and wear protective gear when necessary to prevent any avoidable injuries.
