Renovation is the activity of renewing a structure. It is where you restore a structure to a desired shape and form. It can also refer to the changes that occur when you rebuild a structure. Many people renovate their houses or specific rooms in the house. A renovation done well is very satisfying. There is the right way to conduct renovation and there are also mistakes that one can make when renovating. These mistakes are described below.
1. Not investing time to plan your renovation
You should always have a plan on how you are going to conduct your renovation. You should spend enough time to plan how you are going to conduct all the activities in it. If you do not spend time planning your renovation, it is very likely that you will end up spending too much money. In addition to that, you will spend more time on your renovation than you had earlier planned. You should put aside enough time to plan your renovation. This time should be ample and free of any other activity.
It is not advisable to plan your renovation in between work shifts. This will result in a haphazardly planned renovation and will spell doom for the entire activity. The losses will be in terms of money and time. When planning your renovation, it is important to have a list that shows the activities that are going to comprise the renovation. These activities should cover the specific renovations that you desire and the prices of all the renovation items and expertise required. When you have a list of activities that will comprise your renovation, you can create a fabulous and attractive final structure. Also, you will be cost effective because you will have accurate prices for your entire renovation. In addition to that, you shall be able to monitor the entire process effectively.
2. Not thinking about the long term location of your house
Before you renovate your house, it is important to know if the current location where you are is the best one in the long term. It is important to determine this before you begin renovation so that you do not invest in renovating a house that you will eventually move out of. The exception to this is if you are renovating the house to sell it. However, if you are renovating it with plans to stay in it, you should first of all determine if you want to live in your current location in future. If you conduct this investigation and see that you would like to move elsewhere due to reasons such as closeness to your kids’ school, then you should wait until you move to conduct the renovation.
3. Not renovating with the intrinsic value of the house in mind
When you are renovating your house, it is best to take an approach that boosts its intrinsic value. Its intrinsic value is the capital value of the house plus the feel of living in it. When renovating your house with the purpose of selling it in future, choose improvements that make it easier to live in and around the house. For example, you can renovate the inside of the house and improve the garden as well. You can also tarmac the driveway and install fittings that add to the charm of the house. Thus, after the renovation, you will be satisfied by the better quality of the house as well as the knowledge that you have increased the intrinsic value of the house as well.
4. Copying other people’s renovation ideas
You can see a renovation done on the television shows and like it. You can also visit a friend and see a renovation they did and like it as well. After seeing these renovations, you can decide to implement the same renovation ideas to your own house for example use the same construction materials, colors and fittings. This is not an advisable route to take with your own renovation.This is because your house is as unique as you are. You are working with a different and unique location, style and budget. Thus it should not be a copy of another person’s idea. It is great to research other people’s ideas of renovation and implement them in your own thought process. However, make sure that you own your renovation by ensuring that your ideas are its foundation.
5. Not observing the changing prices of renovation materials and expertise
A renovation can take a long time to complete. If it is large, it can take up to 2 years to finish. Therefore, the price quotations that you determined at the beginning of the renovation can change over time. Therefore, when you are making the initial price quotations, make room for inflation in prices of materials and expertise. Also, you should carefully observe the market for these increases and factor them in as the renovation goes along. If you can secure a contract with your contractor that he or she will not increase the price over time, it will be very beneficial for you.
6. Not having a time plan for your renovation
Your renovation can take longer than planned to get completed. This is very detrimental to you. It is important to ensure that your renovation is completed in the projected time frame. To ensure that your renovation is completed sooner than later, you should know the exact changes you want for your property. Moreover, get very accurate prices of materials and expertise from reliable sources before the renovation process begins. Also, it makes sense to pre-order all the materials that you will require for the entire process and store them before the renovation begins. This will help you to avoid suffering from inflating prices of these materials.
7. Not knowing your target market if you’re renovating to sell
If you are renovating your house so as to sell it later, it is very important to know the market that you are targeting. This is important because this knowledge will help you to renovate in the styles and with the materials that your target market desires. If you are not sure which is your target market or what they desire, you can seek advice from reputable real estate agents or managers of properties.