Things to Avoid When Doing Home Renovations
September 20, 2010
There’s a ton of advice out there on how to go about doing home renovations. Some of it is amazingly useful. Some of it will lead to a big mess if attempted. But has anyone ever seen instructions on what pitfalls to avoid? There are a lot and an inexperienced renovator can get into all kinds of trouble. So what are the main things to look out for?
The Buyer Is Always Right:
If one is undertaking home renovations because the house is being sold then it needs to be understood that the potential buyer’s taste is what matters. The homeowner may have a penchant for lime green. That doesn’t mean it’s a popular color and it certainly doesn’t mean that the house should be covered in it. The aim is to produce the result that is likely to be desired by the widest cross section of people.
Focus On What Really Needs It:
Too often people sideline projects because they believe that it’s going to be too costly or too difficult and concentrate on an area of the house that doesn’t need it. Home renovations should always be the answer to a problem. Is the kitchen outdated? Does the plumbing in the bathroom need to be overhauled? Identify what’s wrong and fix it. It’s not going to go away on its own.
Know Your Definitions:
Everyone is into saving money. Unfortunately not everyone is into recognizing how to do that. Renovating and repairing don’t mean the same thing. There are many cases in which a simple repair job would have sufficed as opposed to home renovations. Before undertaking any big projects, find out if the problem can’t be repaired first.
Know Your Budget:
Home renovations can be quite expensive. They can cost a whole lot more when items such as cabinets and carpets are removed and one realizes that there’s more to do than originally expected. It’s always a good idea to factor in an extra 10% of your budget as an emergency fund, just in case there are extra tasks that pop up. No one wants to be stuck with an unfinished job.
Do-It-Yourself Doesn’t Mean Cheaper:
The biggest reason why homeowners attempt to do their own home renovations is the cost that they imagine is involved. No one is disputing that it’s possible to save a bundle by not hiring a contractor, but only if one can produce a comparable level of quality. There’s no point to doing a job only to have it come out looking terrible. It’ll cost a lot more to have someone come in, clean up the mess and then do the work properly. It might be best to just hire someone up front.
