15 Home Renovation Mistakes To Avoid A Major Headache

Renovating a home is not an easy task to say the least! From kitchen renovations to bathroom renovations or both, it is not fun finding out the hard way that you made a few renovation mistakes that will cost you more money in the long run.

As someone who took on renovating their entire home without contractors, I know a thing or two about making mistakes and know what to avoid. Now that our home is completely finished, I am here to share with you exactly what to avoid when renovating your home and things to look out for when tackling your very own home renovation.

In this blog post, we will show you everything you need to know about renovation mistakes. Whether you are trying to avoid the worst renovation mistakes or want to learn costly renovation mistakes to avoid, we have got your back with tips and advice that I wish someone would have told me before our home renovation.

This blog post is all about renovation mistakes.

Renovation Tips

Here are some renovation tips you should know and consider before your project:

Plan: Have a plan of what you want your space to look like and what work you want done. Save some inspiration pictures on your phone so that your contractor has a visual of what you want your space to look like.
Budget: Agree on a budget for your renovation project. Take into consideration if you will need decor and furniture for your new space.
Prepare for construction: Have a plan of how you will navigate in your home during your renovation. Remember, there will be dust, noise, and people in your home so you may want to arrange to be away from the home.
Decisions: Make those harder decisions in the beginning like design choices, finishes, and paint colors to make the process go smoother.

Renovation Mistakes To Avoid

Don’t get me wrong, renovating your home can be exciting, but it’s easy to make mistakes that could lead to wasted time, money, and energy. Here are 15 common renovation mistakes that you should know about before you tackle your home reno.

Not Setting a Realistic Budget

Budget is one of the most important topics when it comes to home renovation mistakes. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you won’t come across issues during your renovation that will lead to unexpected costs.

TIP: Be sure to account in your budget at least 20% more than what you expect on spending for unexpected projects.

Underestimating the Timeline of Your Renovation

Renovations can definitely take longer than anticipated. Don’t assume everything will go just fine and finish on time because there can easily be delays that come up like additional projects, unforeseen weather, and back order on materials.

Not Hiring the Right Contractor

It is so important to do your research when finding the right contractor for the job. Be sure to read the contractors reviews, look a their work, and search on Facebook/social media pages for feedback before picking the right person.

TIP: Get at least two different contractors to give you an estimate so that you can compare prices, materials, and timeline with each.

Choosing Trends Over Timeless Styles

A common mistake that we have seen people make in their renovation is choosing trendy finishes that look great in the moment but are clearly from a time period. Trust me, I am guilty of falling in love with a home decor trend and now I have permanent finishes in my home that you can clearly tell are from 2019.

While trends can be very fun and look amazing, try picking trendy decor instead of finishes in the home because finishes like tile can be much more difficult to swap out then decorative items.

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR LIST OF TRENDS TO AVOID

Not Prioritizing Functionality

While making your home look pretty is probably high on your priority list, you want to make sure that your home looks pretty but is functional. You also want the space to make sense for your needs so that every part of your home is used wisely.

For example in our kitchen we have one drawer that we couldn’t even open because the measurements were taken incorrectly when we planned our cabinet layout. Even though the drawer looks pretty, it is not a functioning drawer which is money down the drain.

Skipping the Details

Make sure to think about all of the small details in your renovation process. Even if you have hired a contractor, make sure to look at their plans and touch base with them to make sure these small details are met.

RENOVATION DETAILS TO CONSIDER:

Tile: Is there a specific way you want your tile laid (herringbone, vertical, horizontal)
Lighting: Are there any wall sconces or special lights you have in mind? Do they need dimmers?
Plumbing: Do you want any special shower heads or faucets for your renovation? Let your contractor know ahead of time.

DIYing When You Shouldn’t

Doing some of the renovation yourself can save you money in your budget, but if done incorrectly it can end up costing you double the amount of money. It is important to know your limits and know when to hire a professional for jobs that are out of your scope.

TIP: If you are unsure if the task is too much for you to handle, it is safer to leave it to a professional to avoid redoing your mistakes and also making sure your home is safe.

Over-improving for the Neighborhood

If you don’t plan on this home being your forever home, it is important not to spend too much money on your home renovation project. It is always great to add value to your home with these projects, but too much value may cause you to actually lose money if your home doesn’t sell for the expected price.

Neglecting Your Lighting

Lighting is one of the most important components of a home renovation that is often overlooked. Good lighting is what separates a nice home to a beautifully designed one. Plan exactly where your lighting is going to go and make sure to spend money on those statement pieces.

TIP: Add lighting under shelving, cabinets, along your stairs to make your home feel more luxurious.

Not Creating Storage Space In Your Plans

Storage is very important in a home especially in a small home. Don’t forget to add clever solutions for added storage in your renovation plans. Tricks like having your cabinetry go all the wall up to your ceiling or creating a built in unit with shelving can really make your home look amazing and have the added storage areas.

Choosing Style Over Comfort

While making sure your home looks amazing is really important, you always want to make sure your home is comfortable for you. If a certain design material doesn’t feel right when you touch it or doesn’t give you a cozy vibe, you should consider switching it out for something more your speed.

Choosing Low Quality Materials

Many times people select the materials that are lower quality like carpets, tile, and paint. While it is great in the moment because you may actually save money with these finishes, chances are they won’t last for years to come.

One regret that I have in my home renovation process is not going for those high end finishes or spending the extra dollar for the tile I really wanted. In the long run, the extra feew hundred dollars added onto the budget wouldn’t have made much of a difference.

Picking the cheapest contractor

We know just how expensive home renovations can get and there are definitely ways that you can save some money on your projects but hiring the cheapest contractor should not be it. Often times the cheap price reflects their cheap work.

When we had our fence installed we actually went with the most expensive company because they seemed the most confident and qualified for the job.

Not Measuring Correctly

Measurements are crucial when it comes to renovating a home. Even if you have a contractor that is doing all of your measuring, it does not hurt to double check their measurements and plans to make sure it aligns with your vision.

We had an associate from Home Depot come to measure for our kitchen cabinets and found out later on in the ordering process that he actually measured the size of our kitchen incorrectly.

Cutting Corners

It can be very tempting to try to cut corners on a home renovation, but skipping important steps in a home project can lead to sloppy work or problems later on. It is always best to do the job correctly and entirely the first time around so that you don’t have to fix your mistakes later on.

This blog post was all about renovation mistakes.

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