Home renovation is an investment that is not for the faint-hearted. You will have to tolerate prolonged deadlines, construction dust, and many unseen prices. Apart from that, there is the complicated part of managing the entire workforce, which could include architects, contractors, designers, and subs. A home renovation can be time-consuming, and you always want the result to be worth all the hard work. However, just a few mistakes are enough to turn the home renovation process into a nightmare. Here are some mistakes to avoid during renovation.
MISTAKES TO AVOID DURING RENOVATION
SETTING AN UNREALISTIC BUDGET
You really don’t want to run out of cash in the middle of a home renovation project. Running out of money in the middle of a renovation venture means that you may have to live with an unfinished part of your home for a long time. When setting and planning your budget, don’t forget to include some extra money for unavoidable surprise renovations. To get a precise amount of money to set aside, add up all your expenses before beginning the project, and then add 10-20 percent to the total to tolerate cost overruns. Contact various contractors to get written estimates.
HIRING UNLICENSED CONTRACTORS
When it comes to renovation projects and mistakes to avoid during renovation, some things are best left to the professionals. You will have to hire a contractor. It can be tempting to get the local handyman to help you with the renovation, but this will cost you a lot of money if they are not licensed. Unlicensed contractors cannot get a building permit; therefore, their work may not be up to the local code. Hiring a licensed contractor has a lot of benefits.
NOT APPLYING FOR PERMITS
Most contractors will secure building permits for you. However, you might have to do the form-filling all by yourself if you have decided to go the DIY way. Filling the required paperwork for building permits can be a difficult task, but it is necessary. Typically, building permits are needed by law for public safety measures. The license will make sure that the renovation is done in agreement with the local codes. Starting your home renovation without a building permit comes with many consequences. For instance, you can see a penalty if an inspector comes by, and you fail to produce the permit. Also, there will be a problem when refinancing comes up. Always submit the paperwork in advance. The time the permit takes up, and the cost will depend on the licenses required.
CHANGING YOUR MIND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RENOVATION PROJECT
When it comes to mistakes to avoid during renovation, decision making is one thing that you need to control during a renovation project. Changing your mind when the renovation is in progress can cost you lots of money as well as your time. Additionally, changing plans in the middle of a renovation process might require a new permit. The renovation will then be halted to do so. You might think that it is not a big deal to switch a material with another. But, you might end up damaging your financial plan and timeline for renovation. Make up your mind on the explicit materials you will use for improvements and stick to it.
NOT CORRECTLY DISPOSING OF CONSTRUCTION GARBAGE
Renovating your home is both exciting and stressful at the same time. Apart from all the budgeting, overseeing the work and shopping for materials, you will have to know what you will do with the leftover materials. Regrettably, construction wastes cannot be picked up together with your weekly trash. Construction debris is not all the same. When it comes to working with it, contractors have to consider any dangerous materials. Wastes materials from renovations might contain possibly hazardous materials. Many of the wastes are not that dangerous to handle; however, some can impact the environment if not properly disposed of. Consider using a garbage collection company to pick up any of your bulk waste.
EXPECTING A RETURN ON THE HIDDEN RENOVATIONS
If you are planning to sell your home after the renovation, make sure that you concentrate on renovation projects that can give you a good return of your money. Buyers love seeing upgrades and don’t expect buyers to pay for hidden renovations like plumbing or electrical wiring. Address any serious structural problems that your home has before putting in on sale. If you are not sure about the exact amount of return you might receive from a home renovation, call a local real estate agent and ask for their help in evaluating the home.
CONCLUSION
Before starting a home renovation project, it is always recommended that you do proper research on the materials. For example, when choosing a roofing material, you need to consider your household lifestyle, the cost, and the installation requirements. A home renovation project can enhance your home’s aesthetics as well as the market value. Therefore make sure you use high-quality materials and research contractors to avoid expensive pitfalls when renovating.
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This has been a collaborative post. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are not my own
