Things That Can Go Wrong When Remodeling Your Entire Home

Home remodeling can be beneficial in so many ways. For starters, the renovations you are making can turn your home into a more comfortable living space. You can also update your home’s design after paying for remodeling.

Long-term, those renovations can also increase your home’s value. If you ever decide to sell, the renovations could make your home more appealing to more buyers, and you will receive better bids as a result.

Investing in home renovations can turn out to be a good move. That said, more than a few things can go wrong during that process.

Prepare adequately for your renovation project by going through this article. Check out the potential stumbling blocks for the renovations and take precautions against them.

Working without the Required Permits

Do you like taking on DIY projects? That is a hobby for a lot of people, and it is a productive one at that.

Get good enough at woodworking or repairs, and you can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on furniture and labor costs. You may even start your own business after honing your DIY skills.

Becoming proficient at various home improvement tasks is a good thing, but you should not go overboard. Avoid trying to take on all those DIY projects yourself because you could run into trouble.

More than a few homeowners do not know that many renovation projects require permits. Working on renovations without the appropriate permits, and you may receive fines. The local government may even order you to remove a new addition if you did not secure a permit before building it.

Always check your local ordinances to see if they require a permit for the project you have in mind. You can also partner with a contractor so they can handle the task of securing the permits.

Hiring the Wrong Contractor

A whole remodel is a massive undertaking. You must work with highly skilled and experienced professionals to ensure they finish the project with no issues.

Partner with the wrong people and the entire project can quickly turn into a nightmare. Whatever money you saved from hiring that questionable contractor may go towards needed repairs in the future.

We cannot stress the importance of hiring the right contractor enough.

To find that contractor, Home Advisor recommends checking their current standing using their license, requesting proof of their insurance, and seeing what kind of contract they present. Good contractors will also work with you to fine-tune the contract if needed.

Setting the Budget Too Low

The budget can quickly turn into a point of contention for many home remodeling projects. You may feel as though you have already set the budget high enough. Because of that, you are unwilling to increase it any further, no matter what your contractor says.

By setting your budget too low, you may force the contractor to make some difficult sacrifices. They may forego certain features that are crucial for modernizing or improving your home. The workers may also grow frustrated with the budgetary constraints and decide to drop the project.

Not everyone has unlimited resources to pour into renovating a home, and that is fine, but you should mention that to your contractor. Say how much you can spend and formulate a plan from there. That will allow you to maximize the money you are spending.

Creating an Unrealistic Timeline for the Project

While working out the terms of the project with the contractor, you will inevitably discuss the duration of the project. You may already have an idea of how long the project will take and have arranged accommodations with that in mind. Planning is not an issue, but you should seek feedback from your contractor before finalizing your accommodation plans.

Some homeowners assume that renovation will be a relatively quick project. They may assume that the project will only take about two months at most.

Many remodeling projects require several months to finish. It is not uncommon for projects to require four to six months of labor.

Be realistic with your timeline for the project and adjust your accommodations accordingly. The last thing you want is to rush the workers into finishing the project because that can lead to serious issues.

Failing to Address Fundamental Issues Plaguing Your Old Home

Renovations are supposed to improve your home. However, do not use them to cover issues that are currently plaguing your household.

For instance, there may be cracks in your foundation you need to repair before they grow larger. There may also be issues with your electrical wiring or plumbing.

Before you spend on the renovations, you must address those fundamental issues first. Administer the necessary repairs because they will continue affecting your home otherwise. Do not let those issues fester because they can seriously compromise your home.

Renovations are important, but you should prioritize repairs above them.

Choosing a Design That Does Not Suit Your Home

Home remodeling provides you with a unique opportunity. If you are unhappy with your home’s current design, you can change it through the renovations to come.

It is up to you to decide what kind of design you want inside your home, but we do want to offer some reminders.

First, do not go with a specific style because it is super popular now. By the time they finish the renovations, the style you chose may already be outdated. That is fine if you like the style anyway but chasing trends for the sake of doing so will not turn out well.

You should also select a style that makes sense for your home layout. Doing so will allow you to maximize the features your household already has. That is an efficient building that will lead to better results.

Using Low-Quality Materials

We all try to save money when we can. Even if we are talking about home renovation, you may still be thinking of ways to keep your costs down.

That is understandable, and there is nothing inherently wrong with trying to save money. The real issue is when your desire to save money leads you to use sub-standard materials.

Building with sub-standard materials is asking for trouble. The additions you are building using those materials may be more susceptible to damage. You may save money now, but you will spend more on repairs later.

A good contractor will also strongly advise against using anything other than the best materials. Heed their advice because they are looking out for your best interests.

Prioritizing the Wrong Aspects of Your Home

Before you start renovating your home, you should take the time to list the project priorities.

What are the improvements your household needs the most? Identify them and then list them down. Put the most important improvements near the top and go from there.

Show the list to your contractor and tell them that they should use it as a reference. Tell them to use the list to determine which parts of your home they need to work on first.

Identifying the priorities for the project is important for proper resource allocation. Even if your budget runs out near the end, you can at least rest assured knowing that they finished the most important renovations.

Not Recognizing the Need for More Space

Many folks do not realize how important it is to have an abundance of space available at home. The available space allows you to do so many things.

You can accommodate more appliances and pieces of furniture using the available space. That available space can also be segmented and turned into separate living areas.

While designing your new home, see if you have enough room available for your family. Your kids may need separate rooms now that they are getting older. If you are planning to welcome relatives into your home, you will also need more rooms.

Build an accessory dwelling unit or add a second story to your home to create the space you need.

Do Not Replace Your Windows Right Away

How long have your windows been installed on your home? Have they been there for years?

After seeing those same windows for such a long time, you may get the itch to replace them.  However, do not act so hastily when it comes to replacing your windows.

Windows have a remarkably long lifespan. Even after sustaining some damage, they can be repaired and start working like normal again. The cost of repairing windows is also affordable.

In lieu of completely replacing your windows, you can install storm windows over them instead. According to the Department of Energy, low emissivity storm windows can reduce heating and cooling expenses by 10 to 30 percent.

Storm windows will be fine additions to any renovated household. Look into installing them on your home because the benefits they provide are useful.

Neglecting Your Lighting

Unlike your windows, you should strongly consider replacing your lighting fixtures. We recommend this if you still have old light bulbs working inside your home.

Installing new light fixtures can help you reduce your energy expenses. Some of them may even be brighter than your old fixtures.

Do not only focus on electrical sources of light. Natural lighting should also have a place inside your home.

Ask the workers to create openings that will allow more natural lighting to enter your home. With all that natural lighting, you may not need to turn on your new fixtures until nighttime.

Not Adding Features for New Appliances

Do you want to add new appliances to your remodeled home? If so, you should account for them during the remodeling process.

You should plan for those new appliances early on.

Carve out the required amount of space to accommodate those new appliances. Make sure there is enough room before you proceed with any purchases.

Remember that new appliances may also need specific electrical outlets. Ask the contractors to add those outlets to your home so you can use the new appliances without issue.

Taking Incorrect Measurements

Something as simple as taking an incorrect measurement can delay the remodeling project. So, how does that happen?

Picture this scenario:  You want a ladder added to your attic so you can access that part of your home easier. Following up on that, you take some measurements and write them down, so you know which ladder to buy.

Unfortunately, you did not measure the space correctly. It turns out that you were off by a few inches, and so the ladder falls short of reaching the ground.

Take the time to measure carefully because you do not want to make a purchase based on inaccurate information. You can also leave the measuring up to the professionals to ensure that the numbers are always accurate.

Leaving Your Outdoor Landscape Untouched

You can end up so focused on renovating your home that you forget all about your outdoor landscape. That is a big mistake.

Picture what your renovated home will look like next to your relatively lackluster outdoor landscape. The side-by-side view will be less than flattering for sure.

Improving your home also means making changes to your outdoor areas. You do not need to make grand changes if you do not want to but updating the design would be welcome.

Failing to Communicate Throughout the Whole Home Remodel

Lastly, a lack of communication can doom your home remodeling project. You must do what you can to prevent that from happening.

Communicate regularly with your contractor and the workers and ask for updates. Remind them that your line is open if they need to ask questions too.

Issues will inevitably arise, but you can resolve them through proper communication. If any tweaks or adjustments to the building plan are needed, you can discuss them with your contractor. Talk about how to implement those changes without derailing the project.

Renovating your home can be a stressful undertaking, but it does not need to be. The right contractor can make even a home remodeling project easy to manage.

Contact us at Eco Minded Solutions if you are interested in stress-free home renovations. We are more than happy to discuss building plans, so reach out to us when you can!