Ten Common Home Renovation Mistakes

Here's a list of ten common home renovation mistakes made by homeowners:

1. Setting an unrealistic budget - Renovations invariably cost more than expected. Build an extra 20% into your budget to be better prepared for any surprises.

2. Sacrificing function for form - Think about how you’ll live in the space. That affects such details as doors, windows, and outlet placement. It also determines traffic patterns throughout the home.

3. Being too trendy - Fresh, updated looks are great but consider resale value, also. Trends are short-lived, while good design lasts forever. Don’t hesitate to consult a designer if you have questions.

4. Buying materials too early - Wait to buy the perfect appliances, flooring and other materials until the project plans are finalized, and the project is far enough along for measurements to be accurate. Otherwise, you risk buying the wrong quantities of materials or ordering appliances that won’t fit.

5. Not ordering extra flooring - Order enough material to complete the job, plus 20% to account for installation wastage and defects.

6. Focusing on appearance - Be sure to address any structural or safety issues, such as updating the electrical system or ensuring foundations and subflooring are sound. Taking this precaution means you won’t have to break through your new, beautiful finishes to fix potential problems later.

7. Ignoring the details - Consider specific features to make the renovation work for you even better. While details like pantry pullouts, toe-kick storage, and others are things, you could exclude to save costs on the initial remodel, adding them later could cause potential damage to what you’ve renovated. Installing them during your current home renovation can save you time and money in the long run.

8. Impulse buying - Consider the entire project, including the floor, wall color, cabinetry, lights, and other elements to assure all the pieces will work together to create a cohesive look.

9. Small doorways and halls - Check your plans to ensure that doorways and hallways are wide enough to allow appliances and furniture to pass through easily.

10. Using the wrong paint - When choosing paint finishes, you may need a different finish in each room, depending on what the room will be used for or exposed to. Matte finishes usually are used for ceilings to make them seem to recede. Satin finishes work well for walls to reflect some light. People typically use semi or high-gloss for trim for easy cleaning.