If you feel like you don’t enjoy the place where live in anymore or you’re simply bored with what you see every day, it doesn’t mean you have to move out and look for something that’s more to your liking. There are many things you can do to be satisfied with your surroundings again without spending all of your money on a new house or an apartment – renovations are always possible, but before you enthusiastically jump into action, you need to prepare yourself properly to avoid possible problems. What are the common pitfalls that many unprepared people encounter while doing a home remodelling?
Miscalculated budget
According to the experts in renovations, Australia, an unrealistic budget is one of the most frequent mistakes made by homeowners who look for a change. Unfortunately, in the case of remodelling, it’s very rare to spend the exact amount of money that one had assumed before. In most cases, the expenses tend to increase with time, so it’s better to build in extra money to your budget from the very beginning so that you’re not surprised by something like leaks, outdated wiring or newly-discovered mould later.
A well-thought budget plan may help you save money as well – think about all desired changes and needed materials, contact different contractors and look up various stores.
Overestimated skills
Although it may seem like a good idea to do everything by yourself, it actually isn’t if you’re not a professional renovator. You might think that it will save you a lot of money and it will leave you with a sense of accomplishment, but it’s rarely the case. Most often, people are left with a kitchen or a bathroom that needs immediate rescue, and in the end, this can cost you even more. It’s better to know your limits – you can do all the easy tasks, like painting, removing and putting on wallpaper or simple fixtures, but for the rest, especially those related to plumbing and electricity, it’s better to hire people who know what they are doing.
Also, with people trying to do everything by themselves, it’s very common to measure something incorrectly. You don’t want to end up with, for example, ill-measured kitchen furniture after you already spent money and wasted your time. Additionally, professionals have a trained eye so they may be able to see things that you might have overlooked.
It’s the same when it comes to home decor – it’s worth at least consulting with a designer. You may have the best taste in furniture, fabrics and colours, but only a professional will know what goes well with what, how to highlight the best features of your interiors or make something unattractive look better while keeping it all functional.
Focusing on appearance
It’s important to have a house that will please you aesthetically, but you shouldn’t sacrifice functionality for the looks – more like the other way around. After all, you’re the one who is going to live in that place, so think about how you and your family function in your everyday life to avoid things that will irritate you in the future.
Plus, think about things that you don’t see on a daily basis as well – don’t choose low-quality pipes just because they’re cheaper, because they surely will give you headaches in the future.
Also, don’t save money on very much needed repairs – remember that safety always comes first. If your electrical system needs an update or subflooring screams to be improved – don’t ignore it. It may not only pose a threat to residents, but eventually, it will stop working anyway, and then all your previous renovations will go to waste.
Following the trends blindly
Remember that fashion and trends are only temporary. Great design should be your priority because it will never go out of style. It’s good to look for fresh and modern ideas, but you probably shouldn’t go for bold choices – it’s a risky move. Not only your taste may change and you can get tired of the new looks, but it will also be really difficult to sell something out of fashion if you decide to do that after some time. So it’s better to forget about too many bright colours, shaggy carpets and motley fabrics – your designer may help you stay faithful to trends, functionality and timelessness, all at the same time.
Of course, these aren’t all of the problems that may arise while renovating, and not all of them are possible to predict. It’s essential to think everything through very carefully, from a budget to your likings and limitations. But even considering all of that, there’s a lot to be done and you still may end up in a much better place that will actually make you happy to spend your time in.
