Owning your own home can feel like having your very own blank canvas, with each room being open to amazing possibilities and designs. While this is certainly true and each year millions of homeowners do undertake renovation projects from refitting a kitchen to building an extension, there are a number of common mistakes that are made.
These mistakes can be costly, not only delaying the project and leaving residents living in a building site longer than they imagined but can also inflate the cost of a project and leave people without the necessary costs to finish the renovation they set out to complete. To avoid this, we’re sharing six of the most common mistakes and how they can be avoided.
Cost Cutting
If you fail to be realistic about the potential cost of a project and seek to remedy the situation by cutting costs, you are likely to end up spending more over time. Lower-quality materials, speedier processes, and a lack of attention to detail all amount to a renovation project that is unlikely to offer the quality or durability that homeowners would like to see. What’s more, down the line, it can even reduce the value of a property.
Scheduling
Certain renovation projects require more work than others and it is important to acknowledge these time scales before you begin.Log cabins can be built in a day or two but extensions can take weeks or even months. If you aren’t prepared or able to compromise your living space for this length of time, then it may be worth reconsidering the undertaking.
Consulting
Unless you have years of experience in the process behind a renovation, it is always worth consulting an expert, and even those who consider themselves experienced are often likely to consider a second opinion. This is because even small oversights can have drastic knock-on effects and health risks, especially if they are integral to a property, such as structural design and electrical wiring.
References
When hiring external contractors for a project, a great deal of time should be spent on searching for references. The value of a home is being placed in the hands of an unknown professional and the potential risk is substantial should things go wrong. Most contractors, certainly those worth their merit, will be more than happy to offer references of previous clients. If not, it may be a warning sign.
Flexibility
There are a number of reasons why it’s important to be flexible during the process of a renovation. Those who have completed similar tasks before will recommend responding to hurdles as they appear instead of expecting original plans to be pushed through regardless. This is an especially common occurrence when unveiling hidden elements of a home, such as behind walls and beneath floors.
Overstretching
There is a common habit for first time homeowners to renovate many rooms at once, wanting to tackle their property all at once. This is very likely to lead to overstretching oneself and one’s budget, with even a minor hiccup causing a delay in the entire home being finished.