Common Mistakes New Homeowners Commit When Renovating

New homeowners are often eager to do renovations on their property. However, being that they are new, they often make mistakes that are highly preventable and could be avoided. In this article, we’re going to take a look at the common mistakes new homeowners make when they want to renovate.

Failing to Plan and to Communicate Plans with Contractors

You don’t want to be stuck with an ugly, poorly planned space for years, do you? The number one reason why people who don’t plan for space are stuck living in their homes is because they think they have a lease on their home. As the saying goes, “When you don’t plan for a space, you plan for failure.” This is especially true for property investors who buy and renovate houses. The same rule applies to a homeowner who’s trying to renovate a property.

You might think it’s a good idea to hire a contractor to perform the renovations on your house, but if you don’t think it’s important to think about it on your own, you’re planning for failure. You should plan for what you want, and communicate with your contractor to make sure that it’s followed. Of course, the contractor will be the ones responsible for the technical aspects of the work, but all in all, you want to communicate what you need and want. 

Never Underestimate Your Potential Costs

Be ready to accept the possibility that your project won’t be done on time or within budget. Hiring a plumber, electrician, or any other utility professional should always be factored in, especially if you’re looking to make significant renovations. And finally, get all of your work permits, licenses, and approvals before starting your project.

You’ll see many people say they don’t get any permits for whatever reason and have to come up with the money to get them after they’ve started the project. The cost of permits and approvals is part of the risk of a project, so try to factor that in before you start.

Understand the Flow of Your House Before Renovations

When you live in a place long enough, you’ll find patterns. You may notice certain habits that get reinforced in your house, even if they don’t make any sense. Maybe you have a spot in your house where you always feel comfortable, but you can never seem to be there when you want to be. Maybe your closet is always jammed and your cabinets are always full. When you live in a place long enough, you’ll find patterns that are born out of efficiency. It’s wiser to make your plans around this as this will help you create a better laid-out house.

Not Focusing on Safety

You are responsible for the safety of your workers. That includes you. If you are performing a dangerous task, you should know what the risks are. Is it possible that a worker could fall and become seriously injured? You should know the potential consequences of your work. Will you be required to indemnify your workers for an injury or illness? If you are required to indemnify them, what will you do?

Will you carry workers’ compensation insurance? These are just some of the things you need to know to ensure the safety of your workers. The renovation work may involve hazardous materials. You need to know what you are dealing with and how to protect yourself and your workers. Recognize the potential for an accident or chemical spill and know what to do in the event of a spill. Just focusing on the results might lead to trouble, especially if you go in without regard for safety.

Putting Roofs and Gutters Aside

If you’ve got a leaky roof and gutters, it’s probably a good idea to fix the roof before you worry about gutters. But it’s also important to fix your gutters since chances are that leak is coming from the gutters because it’s probably the only thing that’s keeping the rain from pummeling your house. But, if you’re not willing to put in new gutters, you’ve got to make sure you’re doing everything you can to reinforce.

In many cases, gutters are held up by a gutter guard or some kind of support underneath. If you don’t have the means to install them or you don’t want to, you can still take measures to stop the rain from coming through.

It’s always best to take it one step at a time and not rush. Make sure that you’re well-prepared and have planned everything so that the renovation flows smoothly.