Buying a new house is an exciting milestone for many people, representing a significant step towards full independence. After buying your home, making it your own through renovation or redecoration is undoubtedly vital. Statista data estimates that about 6 million new homes were sold in the US in 2019. New homeowners typically make certain mistakes during this personalization process that affects them negatively in many ways. Here are seven of these mistakes, so you don’t follow in their footsteps.
Beginning your renovations too early
Several home renovation experts agree that many new homeowners make a critical mistake with their renovation plans by renovating too soon. Bruce Irving, a renovation consultant, advises that new homeowners must adjust to their homes for a while before making any renovation plans. It is necessary to familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of your home’s functioning, paying attention to critical areas and details that you would like to change going forward. This way, you can make informed choices and avoid making any hasty decisions that you might regret later on.
Ignoring your exterior
Siding, grading, roofing, and gutters often sound boring to new homeowners obsessed with sprucing up their interior space. However, your exterior is equally important as your interior because your house should have a solid exterior grounding to last for a long time. Don’t focus too much on interior design to the extent that you neglect the exterior. Some experts even recommend starting your renovation on the outside before focusing on the interior, as there would be no point in, for example, installing new flooring under a leaking roof. As such, prioritize installing new siding, giving your exterior a fresh coat of paint, replacing your shutters, adding fencing, etc., as critical exterior renovation ideas you should try out to increase your home’s curb appeal and boost its value.
Also, the roofing system is always essential to building renovations, as good roofing techniques give stability to your home’s structure and foundation. Quality roofs made from solid materials that are well installed last long, so consider using c and z purlins for building roofing that is more rigid and well supported.
Underestimating renovation costs
Not budgeting enough for the whole renovation project is perhaps the biggest mistake new homeowners make when planning home renovations. This underestimation is mainly due to overlooking some vital projects in your overall estimation, making you encounter extra costs down the road. Also, many new homeowners underestimate the time it would take to accomplish these costs. Consequently, it is vital to note that many jobs carried out around the house will likely cost more and even take longer than you expect. As such, some experts recommend planning out all your renovations in detail, right down to details like hardware and finishes. Also, add 20% to your individual projects’ costs to accommodate any unforeseen extra fees and prevent you from being alarmed about total renovation costs.
Not setting up a defined schedule
Many experts agree that before you begin any renovation work, it is vital to draw up a work or project schedule. A defined plan is necessary to streamline your entire renovation project. Operating outside a work schedule typically makes the whole process chaotic, with many tradespeople overlapping. Jobs that could have been executed simultaneously to cut down costs may also end up being undertaken separately, increasing your overall costs. Therefore, prioritize a schedule to list the entire work that needs to be done around the house in the correct order. Break this schedule into defined project phases like “kitchen extension” or “bathroom remodeling” and have sub-schedules for each. This way, you have a comprehensive and defined plan to undertake your renovation, so keep this in mind for the best results.
Trying to be your own contractor
General contractors remain an essential part of your home design process, so it would be best to consult one during your home improvement project. Contractors bring extensive construction experience to the table, helping you make vital decisions. You can ask a contractor to examine your plans in their schematic stage to assess whether the project is suitable for your home and budget. General contractors can also quickly secure essential materials, labor, and equipment necessary for the project. Additionally, they bring accountability to your remodeling efforts.
Contractors also have better control over subcontractors like electricians and plumbers hired to work on essential home areas. They typically have excellent professional relationships with these subcontractors, which often ensures that any work done on your property is done right. A general contractor will also perform a more efficient supervisory role than you, so consider hiring one to take charge of your project and make things run smoothly.
Picking the cheapest builders
IBISWorld estimates the US homebuilders’ industry’s market size to be around $95 billion. The housing market is always buoyant, as there is a high demand for building services. However, this makes it sometimes difficult to find good builders at reasonable prices, tempting many homeowners to pick the cheapest builders. Experts advise that if a quote is too cheap, this may be due to the exclusion of some critical costs. Or perhaps they just got their sums wrong. Consequently, your builder may walk off the job after realizing they are working at a loss, leaving you with a half-finished project. Therefore, always go for medium-range prices rather than hire a cheap builder who may do shoddy work to recoup their losses.
Leaving builders to make decisions
There are countless decisions involved in the renovation project, including which improvements to make, what fixtures to use, and how details should be finished. Leaving this decision to builders is risky because they may do what is quickest and most convenient for them, which may not always be the right thing. After the work is done, the cost of making any changes will require extra cash and extra time, which can frustrate your remodeling efforts. Therefore, prioritize making critical decisions regarding your renovation or design project before proceeding to reduce the tendency for shoddy and unsatisfactory work that may require redoing.
Thank you for the reminders! Glad I stopped by your blog!