Common Reno Mistakes to Avoid

You don’t want your new renovation to be one that leaves you with regrets. There are many common reno mistakes that can trip up home owners but these mistakes are all avoidable. When it comes to your renovating any room in your home, you don’t want the upgrade you have been saving for to be one that leaves you with headaches, frustrations and worry. You want it to be a smooth and enjoyable process that leaves you with a smile each time you enter your newly renovated space.

Here are some helpful tips we have picked up to help you be aware of mistakes you can avoid before you even start.

Communication

Quality communication is a key part to any renovation going smoothly. Whether between you and your contractor, your contractor and his sub-trades, or between you and your partner; clear communication on all fronts will speed the process up while helping steer it clear of hiccups.

When looking for a contractor, consider if they are someone you will be able to communicate clearly with during the project. Throughout the process of the renovation, your contractor is who you will be in constant contact with, so choose someone who prioritizes clear and honest communication.

When moving forward with starting a renovation, make sure you have clear ideas about what you want, and be sure that you and your partner are on the same page. Changing your mind throughout the process will slow everything down and likely incur extra costs, especially needs to be redone to accommodate your changes.

Cutting cost

When investing so much into a renovation there can often be an urge to find ways along the way to save money. While there are smart ways to go about this and lower the cost, there are also ways that include cutting corners and affecting the finished product you are left with.

The first place we see people try to cut cost is by going with the cheapest estimate they get from a contractor. Unfortunately, this can leave home owners unhappy, as you often get what you pay for. It can be tempting to go with the lowest estimate to try to save some money. However, there could likely be corners cut or important services left out that would be worth the extra expense. It is better to pay a bit more and have everything done correctly the first time, instead of having to have things done a second time down the road.

Fixtures and materials is another area where choosing the cheapest option can be a negative in the long run. Being realistic about what you can afford doesn’t mean you have to scrimp on quality. Going with the cheapest also means the lowest quality and while they may not look similar to the more expensive options, they are much more likely to wear quicker and break causing you to have to replace them, therefore costing you more.

Trying to tackle aspects of the jobs yourself as homeowners can be a great way to save some money. But, be realistic about the time it will take and if it will actually be worth the money you may save. For example, if you will be doing the demolition phase yourself, will you be able to get it done as quickly as you anticipate or will you end up holding up the sub-trades on the next phase? If you are handling finishing and painting yourself, are you willing to prolong the finish date of your renovation, as you try to complete it in your evenings and weekends?

When renovating your house you want to love the finished result. After all, you’ll be living in it! Getting yourself there starts long before the work on your space actually begins. Know what your budget is and know what you want. Get estimates from contractors. Hear from them what your budget will allow, particularly the level of quality your completed project will have. Take your time to make your decisions beforehand and enjoy the process!