Home Renovation: Mistakes to Avoid

Renovating your home not only improves the overall appearance of your house but it also increases its value. Unfortunately, renovation mistakes are not uncommon, especially for novice home renovators. Thankfully, the following tips will help you avoid renovation mistakes that can actually lower your home’s value and ruin your budget.

Improper Cabinet Measuring
Mismeasuring your kitchen cabinets is one of the most costliest mistakes that a homeowner can make during a home renovation. Too often, people will purchase and have installed cabinets to only find out that their fridge just doesn’t fit. The best way to prevent this from happening is to measure and remeasure several times.

Choosing the Less Expensive Contractor
Just because the bid is low, doesn’t mean it will be the best job. In fact, you often get what you pay for and choosing the contractor with the lowest bid could mean you end up with a shoddy job that will cost twice as much to fix. You should get written estimates from at least three contractors. You can even get a free quote today just by filling out a simple form.

A Budget that is too Low
Surprises that pop up during a home renovation are not uncommon. For example, you’re replacing the backsplash and accidently damage the wall, which will require drywall replacement, During the replacement you find dangerous electrical issues that you need to immediately deal with, which will throw off you budget. Because of this, you should set aside about 15-percent of your total budget to help cover any unexpected expenses that could arise during the renovation.

Going for Granite and Nothing Else
While granite countertops are a popular option, it isn’t the only one out there, nor is it always the best choice. In fact, choosing something other than granite can save you a lot of money while still improving the look of your kitchen. Plate steel, nice laminate and butcher block, for example, are some other less expensive options.

Not Budging on Hardwood Floors
Like granite countertops, hardwood floors may be the most popular option but they aren’t always the best one. Hardwood floors can get damaged very quickly by kids and pets’ nails. A better, more durable and less expensive option is to go with single-board laminate which gives you the same high end look as real hardwood floors. You should also order extra flooring as well. Flooring are prone to breakage and cuts during installation, and you should purchase about 20-percent extra to account for this.

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