5 Home Remodeling Mistakes Many Homeowners Make

While remodeling projects can be fun and exciting, the over excitement and perhaps lack of knowledge leads many to make a few mistakes that can be easily avoided. Time and time again homeowners realize their mistake a little too late, after a lot of their time and hefty amounts of money have been invested. Following are the top five rookie mistakes you need to be aware of before you start your home remodeling project:

1.     Not Knowing What You Want

Although a clipping from a home décor magazine may be a good place to start, it is not enough to determine exactly what it is you are looking for. Don’t leave anything to the contractor’s imagination. You should know exactly where your sink needs to be placed and how big a window you require.  Be very sure about what you want before diving into the project. Changes along the way will not only confuse you and your contractor, but you will also risk the project looking incoherent and lacking flow.

2.     Functionality

Every household is different, and so are their needs. Simply because a glass roof looks good in a magazine, doesn’t mean it would work well for a region with over 100 degree temperatures most months of the year. You need a full analysis of what your needs and requirements are and the space and budget available before deciding whether or not a specific home remodeling design is viable.

3.     Hiring a Random Contractor

Yes, a contractor has more knowledge than yourself of how to remodel your house, but not every contractor is the best person for the job.  You should do a thorough background check, check the contractor’s portfolio, ask for referrals and references to select one that has previously delivered what promised. Also, make sure that the contractor is licensed and insured.

4.     The Lowest and the Highest Bids are the Best Bids

If you have a free budget, then the chances are you will go for the highest bid for your remodeling project, thinking that will provide the most value, or if you are tight on a budget, then you will likely fall for the lowest one. Ideally, you should get at least three bids before making a decision. However, this decision should be made as much on the costs as on the quality of the products and services offered. Shoddy installations and cheap materials can and will cost you a lot in the long run, so make sure you are on the lookout for quality and optimum value for your money rather than on price tags per say.

5.     Settlements

As much as you’d like to take the word of an honorable man, it is better to settle for a written agreement. Each detail of the contract should be settled and specifically stated in the contract. Experts suggest you have an approved plan of the project before starting so that any disputes can easily be settled later on. Also make sure you set the payment schedule with the contractor. Generally, 30 percent is paid up front, with periodic payments after specific milestones are met, with the last 10 percent paid after the job completion and satisfaction.