5 Mistakes Most Homeowners Make When Renovating
Your home is important to you and how you remodel it can affect you in more ways than one. For example, it can instantly increase the value of your home, help you enjoy it more, be a sanctuary from life, and so much more. However, there are a few tips you should know before you start a remodel job on your home. From ignoring work safety to setting unrealistic budgets, a home remodel can take a lot out of a person (and a relationship) if you don’t plan ahead.
1. Setting Unrealistic Expectations
When you’re remodeling your home, it’s tempting to look at everything in your house as a potential project. Suddenly, you don’t want to stop with just installing hardwood floors – now the kitchen should be redone, or the bathroom needs a good once over – stick with one project at a time and make sure you stick to your plan.
2. Saving Money on Materials
The worst thing you can do during a remodel is buy cheap materials. A remodel should be done with an eye on the long-term. Any money you might save by using cheaper, lower quality materials will be lost when in a few years you’ll have to replace what you installed and have to do it all over again. Save yourself the time and effort by purchasing quality materials at the best price you can find. There are plenty of places on the internet you can turn to in order to find the best price.
3. Cutting Then Measuring
It’s an old piece of contractor advice, but it’s one of the best things to keep in mind when remodeling – measure twice, cut once. If you measure twice and cut once, you’ll save yourself time, money, and material. Think of how much is wasted if you measure something incorrectly and find that what you’re working on won’t work in the space you need it to.
4. Using the Wrong Tools for the Job
If your job calls for specialized equipment, buy or rent the proper equipment (for instance, if you’re installing tile in your kitchen, buy or rent a tile saw). If you use the incorrect tools, you may not only ruin the job, you can destroy the tools and even possibly injure yourself.
5. Foregoing Safety for Comfort or Fashion
This is the most important piece of advice you should take away from this. Use safety goggles, gloves, and ear protection to protect yourself during your project, even if they don’t look cool or are uncomfortable. If you don’t use proper safety equipment you can injure yourself, ruin you project, and end up in the hospital. That is not the way you want your remodel to end up – a half-finished project that lingers while you’re recovering in the hospital.
Remodels can be a great way to increase the value of your home, make your home more comfortable and more efficient. It’s important to know what you’re doing and set realistic goals for your project – if you don’t think you can handle something there’s no shame in hiring a contractor. There are many contractor management systems out there to help you control your renovation and get the home you’ve always dreamed of.
