Renovate a home can be stressful, from dealing with contractors to hunting down the best materials at affordable prices. On top of that, there are so many tips out there that it can be hard to know where to begin or what to focus on first. If you’re looking to renovate a home, it’s important to stay on top of this advice so you don’t end up spending money needlessly or encounter delays that get in the way of your remodeling schedule.

Plan your budget

Home renovation costs can easily get out of hand, especially if you’re hiring professional help. Hiring professionals for every task isn’t always necessary, though.

Talk to your neighbors

While you may want your home renovations to be done in private, talking with your neighbors can pay off. Houses are typically built very closely together, which means that if you’re renovating on one side of your house you’ll have neighbors on either side of you, so it makes sense to involve them in some way, says Andrew King.

Top tools for a renovation project

The first step in renovating your home is gathering up all of your tools, then learning how to use them. As with anything, you get what you pay for; therefore, it’s important that you purchase high-quality tools for any project.

The biggest design mistakes that new homeowners make.

⇒Starting renovations too soon
⇒Underestimating costs
⇒Spending too much on tech
⇒Not hiring a designer from the start
⇒Hiring a professional that’s not a good fit
⇒Waiting too long to consult a general contractor
⇒Pretending to understand a design scheme
⇒Making too many changes along the way
⇒Sweeping interiors under the rug
⇒Skimping on quality

 

Common mistakes when renovating your home

Home renovation mistakes can cost you lots of money. After all, when you’re dealing with a home makeover, you are taking on an enormous project that involves many different types of people, systems, and companies. However, there are some common home renovation mistakes that we see many homeowners make time and time again. Below is our list of must-knows before undertaking your next home renovation project.

Ways to make the house look bigger

Before you jump into renovations, there are ways to change up your home’s look that won’t break your bank account. If it feels like your living space isn’t quite big enough, try some of these tricks: keep furniture clean and clutter-free, use mirrors to make rooms seem larger, paint walls with light colors, choose large houseplants or planters instead of bulky knickknacks.

Tips for finding good deals on furniture, materials, etc.

If you’re planning on re-doing your kitchen or any other major room in your home, it can be tempting to buy everything new. But you don’t always have to go that route—there are plenty of ways to save money while still getting good-quality furniture and materials. 

Consider external changes.

Reshaping the exterior of a home will change its shape and the way you feel about it. And fortunately, there are ways to meet that budget.

But before you consider massive improvements, keep in mind that these are often small, seemingly insignificant details that can make all the difference in the overall look of a home, such as woodwork, Porch railing, or garden fence.

Finally… review your builder’s work

You may have paid for quality, but don’t be afraid to negotiate if you find a problem with something your builder has done. If you do spot work that needs correction, it’s best not to confront your builder on site. Take pictures of any problems as they come up (or before they are covered up), put them in an envelope, and hand them over when you meet with your builder. Keep all correspondence about your project in writing, so there is proof of what was said.