Your house isn’t just a place to relax after a long day. It’s also a source of pride and an investment in your family’s future.
Whether it’s been with your family for many years, which you inherited from your ancestors, or you recently bought it with your mortgage, you have to own it! What we mean is that fixing and decorating it the way you want. While homeowners have different reasons for making home improvements, you should not forget that they also increase your property’s value. But if you commit these common home renovation mistakes, you end up paying more, plus you can lose your potential buyers because they don’t feel the same way as you.
Learn more about these common blunders that many homeowners make so you don’t follow in their footsteps.
Common Home Improvement Mistakes
1. Not Hiring Professional Contractors from the Start
When it comes to renovations, always leave it to the professionals. They are always the right choice and for many reasons. Aside from being licensed and insured, they also spent many years doing the same job. Well, every home is indeed unique, but there are common threads among all renovation projects. Also, they have specialized equipment and tools to make the job right and more quickly.
2. Setting an Unrealistic Budget
Most homeowners underestimate costs for home renovations. If you plan for home improvements, expect that they will cost more and take longer than you expected. So, always add 20% to your estimates to be prepared for any surprises. If you don’t have the fund, cut the job back. If you really need the project for maintenance, you can do it through refinancing or loans.
3. Starting the Renovations Too Soon
If you are a new homeowner, live in your house for a while before deciding on any overhaul. Learn the best arrangements for your furniture, where the laundry goes, or put the groceries. This way, you won’t have to change works that were already completed all over again, which costs you extra expenses.
4. Being Too Trendy and Focused on Appearance
Fresh, trending, and updated looks are great, but resale value is also important. Trends don’t last, while good designs are forever. So, don’t hesitate to contact your local contractor or designers for expert advice.
Moreover, ensure to address any structural or safety issues first before considering the house’s appearance, such as the foundations, electrical system, or subflooring. Doing so can avoid destroying your beautiful finishes to fix potential issues later, which also adds to the costs you already paid for the renovations.
5. Compromising Function for Form
Think about how you will live in your home. Consider window, door, and outlet placement, as well as traffic patterns through your space. You don’t want to have another repair after your renovations because you realized your windows don’t serve their purpose.
6. Buying Furniture and Home Decorations Too Early
Contain your excitement to buy your dream appliances, furniture, flooring, and other materials. You have to wait until the project plans are finalized, and the job is far enough along for measurements to be accurate. Otherwise, you will risk buying the wrong appliances that won’t fit or the wrong quantities of materials.
Here’s a tip from us: if possible, consider redoing your flooring or carpet in November or December since this is the time when home improvement stores offer the best deals before the Christmas holidays.
7. Hiring Contractors That Are Not a Good Fit
It doesn’t mean that when designers or contractors are good, they are already a good fit. You must see eye to eye when it comes to your project goals. Do you have the same priorities? Also, if your potential renovation and carpentry team doesn’t ask what you want and need, it’s time to find someone else because listening is crucial during the process.
Talk to a Professional About Your Project
Are you ready for your project? Find the best and reliable contractors in your area. If you happen to be around Hamilton, Burlington, Stoney Creek, Ancaster, and the nearby locations, contact Gadoury Carpentry & Contracting Services. They offer a wide range of home renovation services, including kitchens, bathrooms, decks, fences, and outdoor structures, and basement renovations.
