Whether you are planning a minor or large-scale renovation project, home renovation mistakes can be extremely frustrating, with serious consequences that result in the wastage of time, money, and effort. For most homeowners, remodeling your entire home or a section of your home is something that you only do once in a decade or even in a lifetime.
Avoid These Common Home Renovation Mistakes
The first mistake that homeowners make when planning a full-scale renovation is not identifying the common pitfalls of the undertaking and, thereby, not taking measures to avoid them. So, here are some mistakes to watch out for:
1. Wrong measurements
Mismeasuring your space, cabinets, and other areas can be a very costly mistake especially if you’re planning to change the layout of your space. For instance, buying larger cabinets can prevent your fridge or other appliances from fitting in the space. Recommendation: measure and remeasure.
2. DIY-ing everything
If you have the time and some technical knowhow, you may research how to do some of the remodeling work and do-it-yourself. Things like repainting your home, installing new flooring, or replacing an entry door seem pretty basic. But without a proper plan, the right tools, and even extra manpower to assist with the heavy lifting, you are likely to cause more damage than good – damaged materials and surfaces, injuries, delayed projects, etc. Recommendation: seek professional help from the onset to get the job done right the first time.
3. Choosing the least expensive contractor
Cost is a major factor when choosing a remodeling contractor. But the lowest bid will likely equate to low quality job. Some contractors give cheap quotes in order to get the job, but then begin to cut corners – use low quality materials or skip some services. Recommendation: get written estimates from three or more contractors you want to work with, and make sure it includes detailed information, like the cost of materials, permit costs, contractor fee, insurance, waste removal plans, job warranty, etc.
Lastly, don’t lowball your budget. When the project starts, you are likely to encounter certain problems or reveal other areas that need fixing. For instance, when installing a backsplash, the wall might get damaged and reveal some faulty wiring that will eventually need fixing. You need to be prepared to deal with such issues that arise unexpectedly. Recommendation: increase your project budget by at least 20 percent to cater for emergencies.
Contact Fidelity Builders & Design
Fidelity Builders & Design is a general contracting company serving the Southern California region with over 18 years of experience that you can trust. Contact us for a FREE in-home estimate.