The Most Common Home Remodeling Mistakes
A home remodeling project is an involved process. As with any big project, proper planning is a must before you begin. We’ve asked several experts to share the most common mistakes they’ve found in home improvement plans. Just being aware of these mistakes can save you a great deal of frustration.
The Most Common Home Remodeling Mistakes
- A Lack Of Research: a home remodeling project is a complex undertaking, should never be started on a whim, and you should always perform proper research first. Before knocking out a wall to increase the size of your living room or hiring home repairs on demand research home remodeling projects on the internet. Carefully review what other homeowners have been able to accomplish, the steps involved, how long it took and importantly how much it cost. Doing proper research keeps your expectations realistic, gives you a proper starting point and reduces overall stress because you now have a better idea of the overall process.
- Budgeting Errors: a remodeling mistake that’s easy to make is underestimating how much these projects can cost. Popular media has created the idea in the public’s mind that home remodeling is a lot cheaper than it actually is. Always review what the project you’re wanting to do costs so you can budget accordingly. A good contractor can also help keep expenses down.
- Overly High Expectations: a common error is expecting too much from the project itself or having goals that are simply unrealistic. Now certainly you want your project to be a successful one with a clear goal in mind that you’re trying to meet. However, it’s important to be patient and realistic about what the work being done can achieve. In that respect go into your home remodeling projects with a patient mindset and the willingness to work with the home you already own.
- Lack Of Specifics: another mistake in home remodeling is the lack of a clear goal, purpose, or plan. Good research can quickly go to waste if you don’t know how to correctly apply it to your unique situation or desired results. Specifics that are easy to miss include not taking floor plans into consideration, not measuring for appliances, to short a time frame, and just a general lack of direction. One of the most important parts of working with your contractor is discussing step by step what you want done and what results you want your remodeling project to achieve.
- Uncovered Issues: during the process of a home remodeling project unknown issues that need to be addressed may be discovered. For example, while remodeling your kitchen a contractor may discover aging wiring that should be replaced before it becomes an issue in the future. While this extra expense is not ideal problems that your remodeling job uncovers should not be ignored as they can become far worse issues later on. Always, have extra money set aside to pay for any unforeseen repairs you may encounter.
- Undervaluing Contractors: a good contractor is worth the time to research and the money spent to hire them. A lot of homeowners get overly concerned with cutting corners and while budgeting is important you should never hire a contractor just because they’re the cheapest option. A good contractor is one whose pricing is realistic and calculates for what your project is likely to cost. The lowest bidder not only often uses bad math but in many cases may lake the skills and experience you’re looking for.
- Not Speaking Up: finally, it is important to remember that any good remodeling project requires communication between homeowner and contractor. You should never stay silent if you see the project isn’t going in the direction you wanted. Speak up and communicate any concerns you may have with your contractor. Any good project will have regular updates and discussion to assure the end results are exactly what you wanted when you undertook the project.
Final Thoughts
As the above list shows a home remodeling project is not to be undertaken lightly. Such projects are often a once in a lifetime event so careful planning is an absolute necessity. By taking your time you can meet your goals and create the home of your dreams.
Images source – SHED Architects
