1. Failing to Plan Ahead
A home remodel isn’t just a weekend project—it requires a significant time commitment. And while thoughts of your very own gourmet kitchen might have you drooling, if you don’t plan your remodel carefully, Sunday dinner isn’t the only thing that could get burned.
When planning a remodeling project, you have to balance the ideal and the practical. This requires your plan to be highly detailed and extremely realistic—separating the necessities from the luxuries. You’ll also need to establish priorities, with safety at the top of that list.
At the same time, while you want to make updates and upgrades wherever feasible, if the costs are greater than the value the project will add to your home, then you should find a way to mitigate costs and the necessary investment. Or, if the project is more of a want than a need and is going to require a heavy investment without much ROI, table the project and move on.
2. Hiring the Wrong Professional
You might be eager to get the party started on your project, but that could also mean jumping too quickly into the work. And without due diligence, you may end up with the wrong contractor—one who can’t or doesn’t deliver what they promise or simply doesn’t gel with you and your home. After all, a remodel generally takes a significant amount of time, and the last thing you want is to work with someone you don’t get along with.
So, you’re going to need to do a lot of homework before hiring your contractor. It is essential to find someone you can trust and who will give your project the attention it needs through completion. Investigate your contractor’s background and references before hiring, and remember that focusing on the lowest dollar amount does not tell you whether or not the contractor is trustworthy.
3. Not Preparing the Family (or Yourself)
Remodeling can throw a wrench in your day-to-day, but you can do some planning to make the transition as smooth as possible. For instance, if you’re renovating your bathroom, you can create a family bathroom strategy to keep the inconveniences at bay.
Temporarily repurposing rooms where no work is in progress can also help minimize the disruption of the family’s usual routine while also keeping kids and pets safely away from the construction zone.
In addition to failing to plan for the disruptions that remodeling can cause, you can also set yourself up for a tough time if you don’t anticipate the inevitable hiccups that will occur along the way. Maintaining a contingency budget and clear work schedules will also help you better manage this phase and prepare for any challenges or surprises.
4. Skipping Necessary Upgrades
You may be remodeling on a budget or looking for ways to cut costs, but that doesn’t mean you need to economize everything. One of the biggest mistakes homeowners can make is trying to reuse or repurpose old appliances and fixtures.
Tubs, sinks, and appliances can be repainted using epoxy or powder coating processes, but toilets cannot be refinished. For example, if toilets are not a 1.5-gallon flush, they cannot be reused.
Additionally, metals can be re-plated, but costs can sometimes equal a new replacement. This may work well for old door hardware or heat registers but not for faucets.
However, sometimes your budget won’t allow for new or refinished appliances. Be ready for the item to feel slightly out of place for the time being, and focus on enjoying the slightly eclectic look while you save for a replacement.