Here are four of the most common mistakes to avoid in the home remodeling process.
Home remodeling is a journey, often marked by twists and turns. Whether you’re renovating just one room or your entire home, the remodeling process requires careful planning and consideration. Here are four of the most common mistakes to avoid in the home remodeling process.
Not Doing Your Research
The research phase is not the time to call a designer or contractor. This is when you should think about why you want to embark on a home remodeling project in the first place and what that might mean.
The research phase gives you time to clearly define what you want to gain from your remodeling project. Consider more than just the space’s aesthetics and set overall goals. Some questions you might want to ask yourself include:
- What are the major pain points in how the room functions?
- Is it too small?
- Is it too large?
- Is there enough storage space?
- Is there enough countertop space?
You should also consider how long you are going to live in your home. If you are preparing your home for resale, you might stick with neutral, appealing décor that appeals to a broad range of buyers. If you intend to stay in your current home, you can add a bit more personality to your remodel.
Research the costs of materials and labor, as well as how much time similar projects take to complete. You need to have a list of specifications for your remodeling project before you start calling contractors.
Not Having a Budget
The overall cost is one of the biggest initial misconceptions when remodeling. Evaluate your “must-haves” list to see whether the dollars you want to spend align with the work that needs to be done. If there is a significant disparity, you may need to consider financing options or delaying the project until you can save up some additional cash.
It’s critical to plan for the unexpected during the home remodel process. Many experts recommend keeping an extra 10 to 20 percent of the total project cost in a contingency fund for unforeseen expenses.
Hiring the First Contactor You Find
It is essential to get bids from several contractors. You and your contractor will work extremely closely throughout the project, and it is important that you communicate well. While you discuss plans, estimates, and budgets with several contractors, you will get a good sense of how they might perform and whether you will have a good working relationship with them.
Talking to several contractors also allows you to see how each will approach various challenges in your project and to hear different opinions on how to solve them. By providing each contractor with detailed specifications, you’ll see how each allocates your budget.
Make sure the contractor has the proper insurance and is licensed in your area. You can also ask for references and call them to check. You are making a significant investment, in both time and money, so don’t feel rushed into any decisions.
Straying from the Plan
Once you’ve chosen your contractor, you will settle on a detailed scope of work and plan for your home remodel. It is beneficial to stick to it as best as you can. Once your contractor begins demolition and construction, they generally have all the steps planned out in a specific order to accomplish your project on time and within budget. If you keep making changes to the plan or the materials you want to use, the budget and timeline will most likely creep up.
Of course, not everything will always go according to plan during the home remodeling process. If an unexpected problem arises, you need to address it right away. That’s what your contingency fund is for.
Contact Accessible Home Builders Today
Here at Accessible Home Builders, we’re proud to say we’ve been building and remodeling homes since 1994. We’ve serviced Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Selbyville, Millsboro, Georgetown, Laurel, and more communities within Delaware in that time. We work to guarantee a high level of professionalism, dedication, and the use of quality materials to ensure our customers have the homes they deserve.
To get in touch with us, give us a call at our office at 302-663-0464, send us an email at info@accessiblehomebuilders.com or visit us in person at 28412 DuPont Blvd, #103 Millsboro, DE 19966. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, and YouTube to stay updated on what we’re up to next!