One of the most satisfying and rewarding activities is home remodeling. Witnessing as you update your home into a more modern and practical space gives you a great feeling, especially when you do it on your own. However, there are several things that can go wrong when you are remodeling, particularly when you are trying to do it yourself. Here are some common mistakes that plague homeowners as they remodel, and how to avoid them.
Pinching Pennies
This is one of the biggest setbacks that many homeowners face. Many people want to get a great new kitchen for cheap. Who wouldn’t? However, the most important thing to realize is that home remodeling is not cheap. If you want to increase the value and appearance of your home, you have to make an investment. As many homeowners do, if you don’t invest into your remodel, it is unlikely that you’ll appreciate the results.
It is important to not pinch your pennies when you are investing in materials or hired contractors. When you contract out to a person or company, it is important that they are very experienced and won’t cut any corners. You’ll get the best result this way. Additionally, cheap materials will wear out and cause more headaches than any sort of financial benefit they may have provided.
Under-budgeting
Many homeowners don’t take into account the full cost of their remodel. Not setting an adequate budget ties directly in with the previous mistake. Your budget is the most important aspect to establish before you start your remodel. However, when you start your budget, you have to account for everything that may pop up. Once you have everything calculated, you should add a percentage of this total to your budget. This cushion, between 10-20%, will leave you room to fix a problem you didn’t foresee happening. It’s almost a guarantee that you’ll find something that you weren’t expecting, so it’s best to plan ahead.
Rushing
Many homeowners find themselves rushing in their remodel. Whether they are on a timetable, or they just want to get the project done, many will find themselves making mistakes in their desire to be done. In order to avoid any set-backs, it is important not too rush your home remodel. You want to work at a steady, efficient pace, but you never want to rush. This goes for every step of the remodel process. In the previous section, budgeting was discussed. Never rush in to a remodel if you don’t have the funds set aside. It’s better to save up instead of paying off credit.
When you rush in the construction phase of your remodel, you can make some grave mistakes. A single ill-placed cut, or the wrong type of fastener, and you’ve found yourself in a bit of a pickle. Take your time, and make sure that everything is going the way you want it. Remodel when you have time to focus on the project, and you should succeed.
Inaccurate Measuring
The old saying “measure twice, cut once” certainly has a prime stance in home remodel. When you are planning a space, it is imperative that you have the measurements down to the centimeter. This will ensure that everything fits where it is supposed to go. When making cuts to trim or flooring, measuring is important. Not only will you save yourself a headache, you won’t lose any money on wasted material!
Doing your own home remodel can be very rewarding. It can also be pretty complicated, and you may face some setbacks. However, if you take your time, budget correctly, and stick to your goals, you should see the results.
