Home renovations allow you to upgrade your living space and potentially increase the value of your property. However, undertaking a major renovation also brings ample room for expensive errors. Refrain from derailing your project and busting your budget with these top mistakes to steer clear of on your next home reno.
Set Your Home Renovation Up for Success
While remodeling projects promise gorgeous outcomes by updating tired rooms or adding new wings, they require immense coordination. Myriad details, from managing costs to material decisions and contracting specialty trades, can sink renovations fast without diligent planning and oversight. “Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid During a Home Renovation” aims to safeguard your investment against pitfalls from unexpected overages to permitting paperwork delays. Let’s examine how to strategically set your upcoming remodel up for timely and beautiful success.
- Budgeting Blunders: Not Estimating Costs Accurately
Many homeowners need to budget more for inevitable surprises, changes in plans, and hidden issues inflating project costs. Sets clear expectations upfront by:
- Gathering detailed scope outlines from contractors
- Sourcing quotes from 3+ companies for comparison
- Researching accurate material/labor costs beyond quotes
- Including 20% contingencies for unexpected overages
With padding for unforeseen expenses, you avoid expensive financing fees or delays waiting on more funds. Savvy homeowners prevent budgeting mistakes with
Thorough Quote Breakdowns
Ask prospective contractors for finely detailed quotes listing all materials, corresponding prices, labor charges per task, fees, and tax rates itemized. Compare bid breakdowns side-by-side, noting variances in products quoted.
Online Cost Calculators
Use free renovation budget calculators, entering your project specifics to estimate pricing ranges per type of renovation and location. Compare your quotes against averages.
Expense Tracking Spreadsheets
Create a renovation cost tracking sheet noting projected costs per category from flooring to electric. Update actuals as you go to catch swelling numbers.
Staying on top of accurate budgeting from the start prevents shortfalls from sabotaging your vision.
- Permit Penalties: Overlooking Approvals
Skipping permitting during renovations seems tempting for practicality, but don’t risk fines by avoiding proper approvals. Local municipalities mandate permits for most structural renovation work involving:
- Load-bearing wall changes
- Electrical system updates
- Plumbing additions/alterations
- HVAC equipment upgrades
- Major kitchen/bath overhauls
Failing inspections or lacking proper permits altogether leads to consequences like:
- Stop work notices halting projects
- Hundreds in fines from code violations
- Mandatory costly revisions to pass inspection
- Inability to sell home legally without closing permits
Work directly with your contractor and local building department to take care of all required permitting paperwork. Pay permit fees without delay to avoid needless budget headaches or construction delays.
- Hiring Headaches: Choosing the Wrong Contractor
Vet any renovation contractors thoroughly beforehand to avoid shoddy work or financial disputes from insufficient licensing, insurance coverage, or experience. Red flags include:
- No Fixed Business Address – Use PO boxes to hide inaccessibility
- No License/Insurance Paperwork – Unwilling to provide copies upfront
- Vague Pricing/Timeline Estimates – Sign you may get price gouged later
- Bad Online Reviews – Hint at problematic communication or poor-quality results
Protect your investment and sanity by:
- Checking your state license board for active contractor licenses
- Calling references from at least their last three project
- Reviewing examples of their renovation work (portfolios help)
- Interviewing multiple companies before deciding
Renovation horror stories often stem from homeowners selecting the wrong contractor. For more tips on hiring the right contractors, you can also read 10 Essential Questions to Ask Before Hiring a General Contractor. Do your due diligence!
- Planning & Communication Pitfalls
Many remodels spiral into delays, tear-outs and revised designs from clients needing to convey needs/wants adequately upfront. Before work begins, prevent headaches by:
- Compiling a highly detailed scope of work covering all finish selections, products, layout specifics, etc., to guide work
- Notifying contractor(s) immediately of any changes from material swaps to shifting completion target dates
- Touching base regularly as build-out progresses to provide feedback and answer questions right away rather than letting issues compound
Leave all details addressed across initial quotes, approved work scope documentation, and ongoing dialogue with your contractor. Updates or tweaks mid-projects always prove more expensive than deciding on details before demolition work launches.
- Cutting Corners: Opting for Cheaper Products/Labor
Aiming to cut costs, some homeowners give in on things like:
- HVAC Devices
- Fixtures for Plumbing
- Systems of Electricals
- Materials for Roofs
However, taking short cuts to save money frequently results in long-term quality or safety problems that demand costly future repairs. Before replacing high-end finishes or products that are mentioned, take into account the following:
- To what extent does each aspect demonstrate functionality and durability?
- What additional upkeep do less expensive materials require over time?
- How soon would less expensive options need to be replaced again?
- Do sub-swaps that save money void work warranties?
Spend money on essential infrastructure first, not on fancy finishes that can be quickly changed out later.
Conclusion
Make Your Upcoming Home Improvement a Success Avoid making your planned home improvement a stressful nightmare by avoiding errors related to improper budgeting, neglected permitting requirements, incompetent contractors, inadequate planning, and cost-cutting compromises. Establish strong groundwork for a seamless makeover by carefully screening contractors, collecting necessary permits, securing a defined scope of work up front, closely monitoring expenditures, and allocating funds towards durable structural components rather than fancy finishes to reduce expenses. Use these expert suggestions to easily create your ideal house!