If you're thinking about starting a home renovation or improvement project, you're not alone.
According to figures released in July 2018 by Harvard University, home improvement expenditures are on the rise overall, due to various economic factors. In fact, U.S. homeowners are expected to spend some $350 billion on home improvements and repairs within the next year. Talk about a formidable number.
There's no doubt you want to spend wisely, while making your home the next better version of itself. Here are the five biggest mistakes professionals see homeowners make with their home improvement and renovation projects, to help you avoid them.
Mistake #1: Not consulting with professionals early on
Mark Zipperer, a broker/owner for RE/MAX EDGE in Chicago, has seen more than his fair share of homes that would have benefited from a professional consultation. "Everyone thinks they're a home renovation pro because of all those amazing home renovation shows on TV," says Zipperer. "Those projects all take multiple professionals to complete. They just make it look easy."
Consulting with pros early on can help you avoid costly mistakes with materials, designs, and ideas that don't fit the bones of your home, and that will cost more than they return to you in the long run.
Cheryl Cieko, an architect with over 30 years of experience with CCG + Architects, Inc.,also sees homeowners who skip a professional consult bump into completely avoidable problems with the structure of their home. "Neglecting an evaluation of existing conditions to incorporate into the design — electric, plumbing, roof drainage, heating and air conditioning systems — can be a costly mistake," says Cieko. "A thorough analysis of systems and potential maintenance items can go a long way towards protecting a homeowner's renovation investment."
Mistake #2: Going the DIY route without the DIY skills
Speaking of those home improvement shows, it's easy to think that everything is as easy as taking a weekend class or watching an online how-to video. Sadly, that's not the case.
“I can walk into a home and, nine times out of ten, tell if the tile in a bathroom or kitchen was professionally installed.”
- Mark Zipperer
Broker/Owner for RE/MAX EDGE in Chicago
While you want to spruce up your home and enhance its day-to-day functionality and livability, you don't want to spend more than you must. Projects like tiling, flooring installation, and drywall work are skilled tasks that pros might make short work of, but a mistake on your end could mean paying the cost of demolition, then paying a pro to fix your mistake. The bottom line? "Don't DIY if you don't have the skills," says Zipperer.
Mistake #3: Being in a hurry
You might want your next better home yesterday, but rushing a project can mean skipping important steps and settling where there's no need to settle. "If the highest rated contractors you're calling are booked-out for a few months, that's good. They're busy because they're good and it's worth the wait," says Zipperer.
Haste can also make waste. "Plan each phase of your renovation," says Cieko, "and make sure contractor specialties and local neighborhood and city code requirements are coordinated to avoid unexpected expenses, corrections, changes, and delays."
Mistake #4: Being completely uninvolved in the project
It would be nice to hire some pros and have your home renovations magically appear when you get home from work, right? Think again. A homeowner's lack of involvement in the renovation process opens the door for costly mistakes.
"We're renovating our new condo right now and I stopped by twice yesterday to check progress," says Zipperer. "We caught a tiling issue and were able to work it out with the contractor immediately. If more work had been done around that work before we'd caught it, we'd have been in an expensive situation."
Mistake #5: Not thinking about sale potential
Of course you're renovating for your own preferences, but both Zipperer and Cieko agree that not thinking about potential resale value is an oft-repeated mistake. "You never know when a job relocation or family situation is going to come along," says Zipperer.
“Don't forget to think about the costs of unwinding unique personalizations like murals and faux finishes if you need to sell.”
- Mark Zipperer
And, on a final note, Cieko advises homeowners to think about materials and quality throughout the renovation process. "Think towards the future and potential resale. Quality work and materials show, and will provide the durability needed to maintain the value of both the work and your home."
