Renovation Regrets: Learning from Common Home Renovation Mistakes

If you’ve never taken on a home renovation project before, you’re likely focusing on all the benefits that will come from the effort. And it’s true, redesigning your living space or finally finishing that bathroom project can be exciting and even add long-term value to your home.

However, many people new to renovation projects unfortunately take the wrong path which not only leads to lengthy project delays, but can also quickly drain budgets. The good news is, you can learn a lot from others’ mistakes to avoid them yourself.

Below, we’ll cover some of the most common mistakes homeowners make when starting their home renovation projects and what you can do to steer clear of them.

Common Renovation Mistakes You Want to Avoid

1. Underestimating the Budget

By far, one of the most common mistakes homeowners make when tackling a DIY project is underestimating exactly how much they’ll need in their budget. Even when things go perfectly, it can be hard to know the exact costs of a reno project, let alone when a project goes sideways—and they often do.

A good best practice is to always have a contingency fund set aside that represents roughly 10-20% of the total estimated project costs. This can be helpful if you run into unexpected surprises during larger renovations.

2. Skipping Proper Planning

While you might be tempted to start a home renovation project as soon as possible, it’s worth taking the time to carefully plan every stage. Far too often, homeowners think they understand the needs of a project before considering how each renovation element fits together. This, in turn, leads to unusable rooms in a home with extended timelines before a finished product is created.

Spending the time from the beginning to do careful research on each aspect of the project can save countless hours in the long run, trying to fix multiple little mistakes or trying to recover from much larger ones.

3. Ignoring Building Codes and Permits

No matter how small or large the renovation project, it’s critical that you have a clear understanding of any specific building codes or permits you need to obtain. Proceeding with major renovations without securing the proper permits not only can lead to fines, but it can also introduce safety hazards to you and your family, not to mention add structural damage to the home.

Before getting started, make sure you research all local building codes through your local city offices and follow all necessary procedures before beginning your project.

4. DIYing Beyond Your Skill Set

There’s nothing wrong with trying to save some money when completing a home renovation project and taking on some of the work yourself. However, if you’ve never completed certain DIY projects, it’s important to consider what’s actually doable with your current skillset. The worst-case scenario is starting a project that you’re unable to finish, and you need to hire a professional to fix a problem that never existed in the first place.

Be sure to leave the really critical work, such as electrical, plumbing, or structural improvements, to actual professionals while tackling the smaller tasks you feel most comfortable completing. This will not only save you some money, but ensure the finished product is something you’ll be happy with.

5. Choosing the Wrong Contractor

It’s important not to rush the process of choosing a contractor for your home renovation project. Contractors play an important role in not only helping you to execute a project flawlessly, but also helping you get the best price on subcontractor prices.

Try to avoid focusing too heavily on the lowest price when comparing contractors, as you often get what you pay for. Instead, spend more time checking references and reviewing testimonials from past clients. Another important element is to ensure you verify they have proper insurance before making any financial decisions.

6. Compromising on Quality Materials

The type of materials you choose for your project can have a significant impact on the quality of your finished product. Although there are a number of cost-efficient materials you can choose from, you want to make sure you strike the right balance between affordability and quality.

Choosing only low-quality materials will mean your renovations will likely require additional maintenance down the road, which reduces your possible ROI. It’s a good idea to budget for the use of higher-quality materials when refurbishing the home’s structural elements, while reserving your cost-cutting efforts for aesthetic elements. 

7. Neglecting Proper Ventilation

When most homeowners think of a renovation project, they are primarily focused on how a particular room in their home looks and feels. But while your aesthetic choices matter, you don’t want to forget about the importance of air circulation. Upgrading your home’s ventilation can be a great investment, as it helps minimize the buildup of airborne allergens and prevents mold from growing.

Whenever you're completing a DIY project, pay special attention to key areas like your kitchen, bathrooms, and living spaces. These areas have the highest foot traffic, and making sure each of these areas is properly ventilated is critical to ensure the health of all residents.

8. Failing to Plan for Future Needs

Another important thing to remember when planning a home renovation is that you may be making changes that either hinder or facilitate future modifications. Keep in mind that when you make larger structural changes to a home, it can limit how much flexibility you have in certain areas. While this may not impact your decisions, if your needs change over time or your family grows, it can result in significantly more expensive changes down the road.

To avoid painting yourself into a corner, try to consider your needs now and in the future. This is especially important if you’re considering reselling your home in a few years and want to maximize its value for potential buyers.

Make Smarter Renovation Choices for Your Home

Starting a new renovation project can be incredibly exciting, but it’s important to make sure you’re setting yourself up for success, not failure. By keeping these common renovation mistakes in mind and working to avoid them, you’ll ensure you’re not only able to keep your next renovation project within budget, but you’ll also be happy with the results you get.

Author Bio:

Michael Alladawi, CEO & Founder of Revive Real Estate, is a Southern California real estate veteran with a proven track record as a builder, investor, and respected home flipper. Michael created Revive Real Estate to share his industry knowledge and help homeowners maximize their profits when selling their homes. Michael's passion for his work is as big as his desire to create lasting partnerships. For Michael, it all comes down to how much value one offers, both in business and life relationships.