Some mistakes are worse to make than others when it comes to home renovations but if you can avoid following in the footsteps of some other homeowners who have already discovered to their cost where they went wrong, it could allow you to get maximum ROI on your investment.
There are some tasks that are best left to a professional like Simple Bath, for instance, and others where you could apply your DIY skills to do a decent job yourself.
Here’s a look at some classic renovation mistakes to avoid if you can.
A good job can take time
It’s easy to believe that you can get a job done as quickly as the people you watch on thos home improvement shows but the reality is that rushing to get a DIY project rarely ends well.
You might have deadlines to meet but aim to give yourself enough time and allow a few extra weeks on top, just in case.
Not trusting your instincts
Even when you are home renovation novice you can often sense when something is not right and far too many people ignore these instincts, and it ends up costing them.
If you are going to use a contractor, take your time picking the one you feel comfortable with and if you don’t experience good chemistry with that contractor during your meeting that does not bode well for the relationship if something goes wrong or the project overruns.
Budget errors are a major source of stress
When you only have a limited amount of available for the renovation work any overspend is going to cause you some financial headaches.
Setting an unrealistic budget is a common error, or not calculating the total cost at all, is a dangerous strategy.
Generally, a good guide would be to work out your budget and add 20% to that figure so that you have a buffer to fall back on.
Knowing your limits
There are all sorts of helpful YouTube tutorials online to help guide you through a DIY project but you still need a certain level of competency to ensure that the job is done to a decent standard.
If you really don’t know anything about plumbing, for example, you could end up spending more if you have to get someone on to fix your mistakes.
Think before you act
If you are fired up with enthusiasm for the renovation project you might decide to start work straight away with a few simple tasks such as stripping old paint or removing old bathroom fittings.
Older properties might have lead in the paintwork and you don’t want to disturb that without getting advice.
Stripping your house back ready for renovation could cause damage if you are not careful, so think before you act.
A clash of styles
The age of your house is relevant to the style of renovation work that will look good there.
What you don’t want is for your new kitchen or bathroom to look out of place with the rest of the house. Think carefully about style and aesthetics before you start.
Allocate your budget correctly
Last but not least, it should be noted that a classic renovation error is to spend too much of your budget on the wrong things or use your money too disproportionately.
It would be better to try and afford hardwood floors rather than laminate, for example, and if that means spending less on the kitchens that is not a bad compromise.
If you can avoid these typical renovation mistakes it should help you spend your budget more efficiently and will probably avoid a few headaches along the way.
