If you’ve just bought a house, are looking to expand your current home, or just to refurbish your existing house, watch out for these beginner’s mistakes.
Serious renovations should be done by professionals who have passed their local requirements, like the Texas contractor license exam, or their area’s equivalent.
Read on and learn how you can avoid these common mistakes.
1) Not Hiring A Designer
Before you even start talking to contractors, contact a designer who can think “big picture” about your home.
Working with someone who understands how construction can lead to better living is essential. An interior designer can help you pinpoint your style and give clear instructions to the construction team. The ability to articulate proper design is a difficult and underrated skill that most homeowners cannot handle without professional help.
Those who skip this step often end up doing more renovations later on when they realize the end product was not what they had in mind. Help yourself and hire an interior designer before you even break any ground.
2) Installing ‘State-of-the-Art Appliances’
How often do you upgrade your phone? Get a new TV? Buy a new model of car?
It is impossible to keep up with the pace of technology. Always think long-term when installing new devices and tech in your home. Do not measure out an inset in the wall that is the exact dimensions of your current TV or you will be limited next time you want to change it.
There will always be people trying to sell you the next best thing, but often you can skip it without missing out on anything. Do you really need a refrigerator with the ability to send text messages? Are you sure you want to install a Bluetooth-connected speaker system onto your walls when Bluetooth technology is quickly becoming outdated?
Leave yourself space to grow, and you can slowly upgrade and replace as needed, without constraints or major new renovations.
3) Skipping High Quality Materials
Tabletops, hardwood floors, walls — these are the parts of the home we see and touch every single day. You want to have a tactile connection to your house that feels strong and sturdy.
Get good materials from the start, they will last longer and push off any further renovations. Treated lumber and reinforced concrete will keep your house in better shape than vinyl floors and drywall.
You can save money on furniture, decor, and all aspects of the home that aren’t nailed in and permanent. Its better to buy a new lamp than invest in re-flooring!
Make your house your palace, and don’t skimp when it comes to a solid foundation.
4) Rushing the Work
HGTV tells lies. You cannot complete any major renovation in just a week. Instead, you should always factor in more time than you expect the work to take.
Something will inevitably go wrong, the supplier may be out of your preferred wood, your contractor could get sick — no matter what it is, be prepared now.
The hardest part of the work is the planning stage. Start with a big idea, hire a designer to hone it in, get a bonded, licensed, and insured contractor, and carefully execute the plan together.
Conclusion
Consider these common mistakes now, so you can avoid them before you start your renovations.
It is exciting to revamp part of your home and truly make a space your own, but patience is key. A thoughtful and careful process with proper budgeting will give you a home you are proud to live in.
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