There is nothing worse than trying to navigate a renovation and at every corner, everything seems to be going awry. Sure, there are going to be some minor setbacks and bumps in the proverbial road. Unfortunately, it’s a part of the renovation process. But while there tend to be some unexpected or unforeseen obstacles, there are a number of issues that can be easily avoided if you know what to plan for and avoid.

Here are a few of the biggest renovation mistakes to avoid when embarking on a new project:

• Underestimating Costs

Most projects will cost more and take far longer than you expect. That’s why it’s always recommended to add roughly 15% to your project budget to allow for overages and change orders. It’s a tale heard all too often that a project goes well beyond the original budget and homeowners are found frustrated, out of pocket and disenchanted with the project as a whole. A good architect and contractor will work hard to be upfront with you about expected costs, but it’s always a good idea to be aware of how any changes can impact costs.

• Not Hiring an Architect from the Start.

Renovating or building new is going to be one of the bigger ticket items you embark on in your lifetime. If you are going to spend big bucks on a project, you might as well ensure it is going to be for a correctly-designed space in the first place. Architect fees are usually a percentage of the overall project – a small sum compared to your total project costs – and even smaller still when you consider having to revisit the project mid-way through or even once you find out that it was poorly completed.

• Going for the Lowest Bid

Quality professional help is always well worth the money – this includes design as well as construction. You’ll never hear someone complain by saying “man, I wish I went with the cheap guy.” But you will often hear someone say “I wish I didn’t skimp out by getting the lowest bidder.” This is your home, don’t cut corners. And more often than not, the lowest bidder ends up being more costly as they are not accounting for many line items that more experienced professionals have already included in your bid.

• Making Too Many Changes Along the Way

It’s an age-old tale, homeowner gets started on the renovation project and decides to pivot and change course with the common phrase “while you’re doing that, let’s just do this too.” Well, sure. You have a team on your project and it seems simple enough to add a new change. The thing is, changes that seem simple to you may require a lot of work on either the design side, construction side or both. Even something as simple as moving a light switch a few feet can cost you more than a thousand dollars. Scary stuff.

• Splurging Where You Should Save

We actually have a whole rant on this we will share anytime you want to ask. As big fans of high-quality goods, we also know where you can save money on a project and we will certainly share that knowledge with you. There are key places to splurge – like brand-name faucets and appliances – and places to save – like ceiling fans and cabinet pulls. We’ve seen homeowners opt for cheapest hardware that ended up needing to be replaced within weeks.

If you have questions about how to avoid these scary mistakes and more when embarking on a renovation or new construction build – give us a call today.