Mistakes can ruin your budget and timeline when you’re renovating your house. Ken Spears Construction shares the top remodeling mistakes to ensure your project doesn’t fly off the rails.
Not Being Realistic About Your Budget
Costs for remodeling can end up costing more than you expected. When setting a budget, include an extra 20% to prepare for surprises.
Not Setting a Plan and Timeline
You have to have a detailed design plan in place. Your remodeling contractor will likely complete this, but you should have a design plan of your own. Ensure that the contractor includes a detailed timeline, so you’ll know what to expect. Make plans for your belongings and where you will stay during the renovation process.
Ignoring the Existing Architectural Style of Your Home
When you’re remodeling, you are not tied to the home’s original style, but additions should complement it.
Focusing Only on Aesthetics
Of course, you want your home to be beautiful, but you should consider how you’ll use the space when creating your remodeling plan. Function should always come first. Think about how the area works now and ideas that will improve the space.
Identify and address structural and safety concerns while remodeling. Don’t forget storage in the planning stage.
Going with Trends
It’s great to have an updated look, but don’t get too trendy. Good design will help your resale value; trendy choices won’t.
Choosing Appliances after the Design Plan is Set
Work your appliances into the design plan. You can hold off on purchasing them until you’re ready for installation, but you should select them during the planning stage.
Purchasing Furniture and Accessories too Early
Feel free to browse through appliances, furniture, and accessories anytime. But purchase them towards the end of the remodeling project. This will ensure your measurements are accurate.
Choosing Cheap Materials
Ensure that you select only durable, high-quality materials to make sure they last.
Leaving the Small Details for Later
You may be leaving features out of the plans to keep your project under budget, but you should include them from the beginning. Minor features that are useful and efficient could be more challenging to incorporate later.
Not Choosing the Right Contractor
Take your time when choosing a remodeling contractor. Don’t choose the first professional you find. Meet with at least three contractors, ask for references, and look through their portfolios.
Make a list of questions to ask them. Ensure that you feel comfortable working with them, and they listen to you to understand your goals. Determine if they see your vision and answer your questions thoroughly?
Ask them about their process and don’t choose based simply on price. Make sure they are licensed, bonded, and insured.
Not Planning Lighting
Don’t forget to consider the lighting in your plan. Remember to combine task, accent, and ambient lighting.
Going in Blind
You should understand that remodeling can cause inconveniences and disrupt your home for a while. Ken Spears Construction lays out the entire process for you to better understand what to expect.
Starting Without a Permit
While your remodeling contractor will probably obtain any permits you need, you should check with your local building department to determine what will be required.
Not Checking with Your HOA
Homeowners Associations can step in and shut down your project if they find you’ve violated the rules of the community. Check with your HOA to find out what you will need permission for when remodeling your home.
Not Thinking Long Term
Think about your life and your growing family five to ten years into the future when remodeling. Will you at some point likely have elderly parents moving in with you? Will your little ones need a larger bathroom as they age?
Hiring a National Contracting Company
When you choose a remodeler, select a local company. You’ll get more personalized service, and they know what works in your area. They also regularly work with the building department and possibly the HOA in your area.
Changing Things Up Mid-Project
Make all the changes and selections before your project begins and stick with them. While things may come up during the renovation process, too many changes can blow your budget and wreck the timeline.
Start Your Project with Ken Spears Construction
When starting your next home remodeling project, consider these mistakes. Prepare for the process and start with a solid design plan incorporating style and function. The pros at Ken Spears Construction have used the same approach for our remodeling projects in the DeKalb and Kane counties for over forty-five years.
We are a local remodeling company that is fully insured and licensed. We only work with qualified and experienced artisans and tradespeople. We invite you to look at our work, see what our clients have to say, and schedule your consultation today!
