8 REMODELLING MISTAKES

How to Get the Most out of your Renovation

Whether you've purchased a new home or bought an older home, remodeling your space is an exciting and sometimes daunting task.

Keeping up with current trends while trying to incorporate a sense of personal style is one of the more difficult elements of home renovation and remodeling. With the expansion of online help and the vast array of home renovation shows on networks like HGTV, renovation has become an exciting investment for many homeowners.

Although it is an exciting process, there are a few pitfalls and wrong turns to watch out for when remodeling your home.

Before you start your project, make sure your design is well planned, researched, and you have all your bases covered. Here are a couple things to think about before starting:

 

Be Careful Adding Square Footage

Many people assume that adding square footage automatically adds value to a home. Homebuyers tend to appreciate consistency. If their desired neighbourhood has smaller, one-story homes and ranchers, an elaborate 2 or 3 story home with lots of juts and additions can turn them off. Overdoing an expansion can make your home look awkward and out-of-place.

Find an appropriate balance - your home can "stand out" without sticking out like a sore thumb.

 

Budget Carefully and Leave Room for Error

Under-budgeting and underestimating the finances needed for your reno can leave you with bad feelings and ruin the experience. It is common for homeowners, even those experienced in remodeling, to underestimate their budget as much as 20% - 50%. Depending on your project, this can add up to a significant chunk of cash.

To protect yourself, don't be too optimistic with your costs. Assume higher costs than you think in order to avoid the budget trap. Make sure you can still afford the project if everything went wrong... cover your bases.

 

Incorporate Existing Style and Aesthetics

You might love ultra-minimalist design, but if your home is completely old-school country chic, turning your bathroom into an overly-simplified, contemporary oasis simply won't fit in with the existing aesthetic of the home.

Unless you plan on doing a complete design overhaul, try to keep any remodel in tune with the design of the rest of the home.

If you're remodeling to sell, be careful with what you alter. In many cases, such as with historical homes, homebuyers appreciate the original details. This is not to say that they want an "original" home that has been untouched for 100 years - they just want some of the more beautiful details left intact. In this case, your job becomes a challenge to create a modern and updated look that successfully incorporates original elements.

 

Hire or Consult a Professional

Homebuyers can have keen eyes - if a project was completed without care or experience, the results can look sloppy. Many renovations and projects are great to tackle yourself (paint, lighting, trim, bathroom/kitchen fixtures, window coverings, etc). However, some of the bigger projects require consultation with experts and professionals in their field.

Sometimes the cost of fixing a bad reno can end up costing significantly more than the original project would have been had you hired an expert. Projects like installing windows, flooring, countertops, drywalling, and restructuring layouts require significant construction knowledge.

Sloppy work during a reno can devalue your home instead of adding value when it's time to sell. Professionals can be well worth the investment.

 

Focus on Profit

Don't get over-enthusiastic with renovations if you're remodeling to sell your home. Not all renovations recoup their original investment. In general, MAJOR remodels rarely recoup their investments, while MINOR renovations tend to get you your money back and more.

One of the best things you can do is to repair and fix any obvious cosmetic issues. Figure out which repairs you can do the most economically.

Paint is the cheapest project. After that, focus on fixtures and lighting, as well as economic ways to add punches of colour and texture with fabrics, artwork, and decor.

 

Hiring the Wrong Professional

This is one area where it pays to do your research; ask around and get recommendations from friends and neighbours. Get recommendations to suit your needs. A paint store will be able to recommend a painter that fits your need: do you want someone who will do a perfect job for a higher price or do you want someone efficient and more cost-friendly?

The wrong contractor can negatively affect your design, construction, and financial investment. Look for a contractor with lots of experience IN THE FIELD YOU NEED and with plenty of valid references.

 

Build a Strong Plan

Before giving the green light, take the time to survey your house. Take your contractor through and point out your needs and wants.

Determine your long-term goals for the home. How will your lifestyle change over the next 5 - 10 years? How important are things like storage and more practical features?

 

Skipping the Permit

Some homeowners and contractors try to avoid permits. For minor projects, permits are unnecessary. For bigger projects, they can be helpful to guard against shoddy workmanship and hazards. In the case of major renovations, permits might even be necessary.

Check with your city planning department to see if your future project requires a permit.

 

 

You may also be interested in the following:

Most Valuable Updates; Examine which home improvements tend to generate the best return on investment.

Incorporating Sustainable Design; Learn more about "Green" cost saving measures.