We’ve talked at length on this blog about costly mistakes that should be avoided in home remodeling. Some are fairly obvious mistakes, while others are harder to spot and can only be discovered through trial and error.
In discussions with some of our clients, we realized that some choices that seemed like good ideas at first turned out to be major regrets after the fact. For today’s post, we wanted to highlight some of those:
1. Rushing into a remodeling project.
Rushing into a major home improvement project can result in a design that isn’t exactly what you dreamed of…it is one of the top regrets we hear from homeowners who have gone through a recent project. Taking the necessary time to look around and determine exactly what you want is essential to avoiding costly mistakes. All too often we hear of homeowners who have charged into a home improvement project because of an unexpected windfall, such as a bonus check from work. This may lead to making home improvements that were not really budgeted. Unfortunately, these homeowners made decisions too quickly and ended up with major makeover mistakes nowhere near what they had envisioned.
2. Improper budgeting from the beginning.
Failing to set an appropriate and reasonable budget from the beginning can put homeowners in a position-to-fail from the beginning. Home remodeling projects can be costly – especially when homeowners fail to get a fully detailed scope of work, materials needed, agreement, and plan from their contractor. Having a firm budget that is communicated with the remodeling contractor and supported by a detailed agreement is critical to keeping project costs under control.
3. Vandalized Vision
Failing to get a detailed plan and drawing from your contractor prior to writing any checks will only lead to regret. One major challenge with home remodeling is clearly sharing your vision for a new kitchen, bath, or addition with your contractor. Miscommunication is sure to happen without a clear picture of your hopes, dreams, and expectations for the project. Many homeowners find their remodel heading way off-track because they haven’t clearly articulated their goals. They envision one thing, while their contractor envisions something entirely different. Make sure that you get a complete drawing, plan, and scope for the remodeling project that makes you comfortable so that there is less chance of a major miscommunication. As you select a contractor to help you create your dream home, make sure you are both committed to a project plan with a clear picture and purpose.
4. Getting burned by bargain shopping.
Choosing the cheapest-priced remodeling contractor may lead you to find their work quality was just like their pricing — too low. In a slow economy, some contractors discount their pricing to homeowners. While this can be a good thing for you, it can also be a really bad thing. Make sure that you do your due diligence in researching the remodeling companies you are thinking of working with to avoid choosing a contractor simply because they have the lowest price. Remember, you want to pay a reasonable price within your budget for the remodeling job you’re planning, not what the contractor wants to do for you for the bargain price of $XXX. At the very least, be aware of any fine-print details that come along with the discount or bargain price that may not align with the project you have in mind.
5. Overlooking design details.
Not considering the details of a design like lighting, ventilation, or even where to put the trash can, often leads to disaster. As you start to plan for a room renovation, small things can often be overlooked only to become serious eyesores once the work is complete. Make sure you use an experienced design firm for your remodeling project and get help with all of the “small” stuff.
6. Hidden damage or infestation.
We’ve seen lots of unexpected pest infestation and water damage discovered during a project. Over 10% of the remodeling projects throughout the United States expose hidden water damage alone. Couple this with common pest problems, foundational issues, and damage from summer heat and/or winter storms, and you could have yourself a whole new project. Make sure you perform as much due diligence as possible before starting your remodel project — expect the unexpected and budget for it!
7. Monday Morning Mayhem
Forgetting to make alternate plans for the things normally done in the project areas of the home during reconstruction can make for what we like to call Monday Morning Mayhem. When homeowners get excited about the new look that’s soon to come, they can easily forget to plan for their own restricted access to certain areas of the home during the project. There’s nothing like sitting up in bed on Sunday night as you realize that your bathroom will be unavailable to you all week because your remodeling project starts in less than 24 hours. Be sure to plan and coordinate your calendar accordingly.
8. Not properly protecting existing furniture.
Not properly preparing and protecting furniture from harm during the remodeling process can be devastating. One very common complaint we’ve heard from homeowners about other home improvement contractors is feeling disrespected by workers dripping paint or damaging furniture during the renovation effort. While certain remodeling projects may include new furniture as part of the plan, many others simply rearrange existing furniture. Either way, it’s important to hire a team that will respect your furniture and personal property for the duration of your home improvement project.
Regret is something that can destroy a homeowner’s enjoyment of a remodeled kitchen, bath, basement, etc. By doing proper planning and due diligence in researching what you want, and whom you are going to work with, you can avoid your remodel turning into regret. If you’re thinking about a remodel, be sure to contact the professionals at MDV Remodeling for a fast, free estimate!
*header image courtesy of Brock Builders/Flickr.com