Are you planning to remodel your kitchen, bathroom, or your entire home? Starting a remodeling project can be daunting but luckily, with a solid plan and hard work, you can make it a success.
Before you start planning a home remodeling Charleston SC project, though, there are some things you should avoid before you start.
Keep reading to discover 10 common home remodeling mistakes you might be making and how to avoid them in the first place.
1. You Don’t Have a Proper Plan
Every home remodeling Mount Pleasant SC project begins with a solid plan. You need to know exactly what goes into the remodel, how long it’ll take, how much it’ll cost, and who’s going to do what.
With a plan, you’ll be able to move through the project quicker and finish on time. Without a plan, you risk going over budget, miss the deadline, and get stuck halfway through.
2. You Don’t Have a Set Budget
One of the major home remodeling mistakes you could make is not setting a budget. Without a budget, you may end up overspending and spend way more money than you planned.
Even though with all remodeling projects there will be unexpected or sudden expenses, you can include them in your main budget. You should set a budget before you start any work. Calculate the cost of your materials, furnishings, electrical and plumbing (if installing new), and contractors.
3. You Buy Cheap and Low-Quality Materials
In an attempt to save more money, many homeowners buy cheap or low-quality home remodeling materials. This can hurt your home and budget in the long run because these materials don’t last long and you’ll need to replace them again in a few years.
If you want a quality remodel, you need to get quality materials that are durable and can take all the wear and tear of the space. For example, if you’re remodeling the kitchen and want new flooring, instead of peel-and-stick floors, choose sturdy tile or hardwood floors.
This is a high-frequency area that gets a lot of foot traffic so if your floors can’t take this, you’ll need to replace them, which costs a lot of money and time.
4. You Don’t Follow The Home’s Natural Style
Every home has its own distinct style so each remodel should follow this style. For example, if your home is a Victorian Era style and you want to add modern interior and exterior remodels, you may end up with a weird mix of styles that don’t go together.
This is why following the home’s natural architectural style is essential for a successful remodel. If you have wooden beams that give character to your home, modernize your appliances or furniture instead of hiding the beams to modernize the ceiling.
5. You Don’t Obtain The Necessary Permits
Before you can start remodeling, you need to obtain a permit from your local building department. Without this permit, you’re building illegally, which can lead to costly penalties and stopping all work until you have a permit.
For example, for a home remodeling Charleston SC project, you can go to the official Charleston website and apply for the necessary permits online. You can also visit a Permit Center in person, apply for a permit, and pay the necessary fees.
6. You Don’t Hire Professional Contractors
If you feel like your home remodel project isn’t going the way you planned, it’s time to hire professional contractors. You’ll save tons of time and effort and you’ll get the best results you could hope for.
You and your contractors will discuss the best materials for the project, your budget, timelines, and what works best for the space. They’ll make sure your vision becomes reality, so don’t postpone hiring contractors for your big remodel.
7. You’re Changing Your Mind Too Often
Are you changing your mind way too often during the remodeling process? If you started off with an initial plan but want to add or remove things constantly along the way, your home remodeling costs will go through the roof.
If you’re not sure what your style is, what your home needs, or how to choose a remodel that’ll work for you, talk to an interior designer or hire contractors.
This way, you’ll get professional advice as well as renderings of what the remodel will look like in the end. Having a visual representation can help you understand if your remodel ideas are right for the space. If they’re not, you can work on new ones and avoid changing things once work has begun.
8. You’re Following Trends
If you want to follow every new home design trend under the sun, you’ll end up with a mish-mash of styles that don’t belong together. Finding inspiration in the trends is one thing but following them to the T can lead to more expenses and an end result that’ll be outdated next year.
From each trend that you like, find one thing you’d like to implement in your remodel. This can be a lighting fixture, a home decor item, a cupboard style, or even just a rug. It’s important to keep all items and renovations in the same or similar style so your home is unique but cohesive.
9. You’re Rushing The Job
There’s nothing worse than missing a deadline but if you’re rushing the job, you’ll end up with low-quality work as a result. This is why planning is essential to finishing the work on time. A rushed job, whether by you or your contractors can end up costing you money and time for repairs and re-dos.
Despite what you’ve seen on TV, most remodeling jobs don’t take only a week. You should expect a few weeks or even months for bigger projects.
10. You’re Buying Furniture and Appliances Too Early
Buying furnishings and appliances should be your last step in a remodel because you’ll know the exact measurements for everything. You’ll know what the space looks like, what will fit, and the type of decor to get.
If you buy everything beforehand, you risk getting the wrong size, color, or style of furnishings, so it’s best to buy things as the project is wrapping up.
Avoid These Costly Home Remodeling Mistakes With the Help of These Tips
Whether you’re dreaming of remodeling your house or already have plans for home remodeling Mount Pleasant SC, these tips will help you avoid the most common home remodeling mistakes.
Not ready to do everything on your own? That’s why we’re here! Contact us today to learn how we can help turn your vision into reality.