Renovation projects are complex undertakings that require to be planned in advance, a budget to be established and funds for financing to be at hand. Builders and renovators with long-standing experience may produce errors.
In getting past renovation disasters, it is not enough to know what one wants. It is equally important to know what not to do. Here are some of the most common mistakes that renovators make – along with the right way to do things.
Not obtaining permits
Renovating a home is no small project, but the job can be done successfully, improving your space and enhancing its value and livability for years to come. By planning ahead, hiring a professional, securing the permits you might need and choosing a licensed contractor with experience and a record of quality work, you can avoid the most common mistakes of home renovation that might derail your project and leave a mess of costly debris. On the homeowner side, a common mistake is to underestimate the budget. To account for any contingencies, such as surprise permit cost or material price hike, always build some overlapping buffer into your budget. Secondly, choose an able contractor who has experience with the task you’re asking them to do. If they are a design-build firm, you might just have to sit back and they’ll take care of everything.
Not Getting the Right Contractor
It’s easy for a homeowner to make the mistake of hiring a contractor simply based on the price, and that opens the door for poor workmanship that ends up costing more in the long run. In order to prevent this from happening, make sure that you receive multiple estimates from at least three separate contractors – not the lowest prices – but those contractors who can offer a good reference, along with offering good work that has an excellent reputation. Don’t sign anything without reading it first and having it typed, legible and looked over by your attorney. Tinkering too much with a renovation midstream will only serve to delay and cost you more, so, if time is of the essence, stay true to the plan you produced up front – and settle on it – the best you can. Making too many changes will raise your blood pressure during your project and keep you from enjoying the completed project fully.
Not Planning for the Unexpected
Home renovation can be a costly, time-consuming and often stressful affair, but even those who do their best to proceed efficiently can trip themselves up. Here are some common mistakes to avoid, which will enable you to save yourself a bit of heartache and a lot of overspend by letting you plan your home-improvement program more thoughtfully. Professionals caution against spending all your money and time on the project, and recommend building in contingencies, both in terms of financial preparation and time (a so-called contingency budget and timeline), to allow flexibility to deal with issues as they crop up and keep the project on schedule. Rather need to be present during the renovation project – attending meetings with contractors and visiting sites and job sites, or just having workers on their property while labouring, expediting project timelines and identifying down the road. And, most important, communication between homeowner and contractor needs to be open and direct, should issues arise.
Not Getting the Right Materials
Your home remodelling project can either be made or lost by your choice of building materials. Choosing products that are durable and top quality will ensure that your renovation will stand the test of time and add to the value of your home; on the other hand, choosing materials and products that are cheap can lead to future expensive repairs and replacements. Last but not least, compare options and prices with your contractor and designer before you buy anything; ensure you also calculate your materials quantities and delivery lead times, so construction doesn’t end up delaying the process and causing additional costs. Also be aware that if the house you plan to renovate is an older one, asbestos or lead may be found. Hiring licensed remediators and contractors who specialise in proper hazardous-waste disposal will be less costly for your health and your legal risks in the long term.
Not Getting Enough Financing
Whether you watch an episode of improve-it-yourself programming or take on the task yourself, there isn’t much about home renovation that isn’t scary — even more so when things go wrong. Everybody knows that home renovation is fraught with problems, especially during development. However, for most people, one of the biggest issues ends up being that the project runs out of money. This often happens when the homeowner has underestimated how much the project will cost or due to unexpected expenses. That’s why it is crucial that they create a realistic budget and save an emergency fund to make sure that this will not happen to them. But you can avoid that problem by choosing high quality building materials. Yes, quality tends to cost more initially, but quality parts will also help you to save money because they will help you avoid using warped wood, rough saw cuts, as well as ineffective energy-wise equipment.
