The Top 10 Complaints People Have About Their Home Renovation Projects
Remodeling your house or apartment is challenging to say the least. Most people who’ve done a renovation project have some regrets and wish they’ve done some things differently. So, don’t you wish that someone could warn you as to what can go wrong during this process, and save you all the trouble?
That’s exactly the purpose of this article! We’ll talk about the 10 most common complaints that people who’ve done a home remodeling project have, and focus on the process, the budget, DIYs, and much more, so keep on reading.
Going With the First/ Cheapest Contractors and Subcontractors
One of the first mistakes a lot of people say they’ve made during their home renovation is not vetting the renovation team beforehand. The reason for this is usually eagerness to finally start the process, which is why they don’t devote sufficient time to choosing the team that will be working for them. They often go for the contractors they find first, the cheapest contractors, or contractors who’ve been recommended by someone but aren't the right fit for that particular project.
Before you start remodeling, the most important thing is to give yourself enough time to verify that the contractors you’re planning on hiring have the necessary experience for this type of project. Therefore, don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions, and even some examples of their previous work, like before and after photos or videos if they can provide them.
Not Signing a Detailed Contract
People often regret not signing a detailed contract once they decide on a contractor. That can often lead to the contractor asking for money before they’ve completed the work and increasing the wages for laborers due to the process taking longer. Having things in writing ensures a smoother home renovation process and that all your hard-earned money will be well spent.
Make sure that when drawing up the contract, you stipulate that all advance payments need to be put in an escrow account, so your contractor doesn’t end up using this money for something other than your project. Homeowners often pay in 3 increments, the first one before the contractor starts, the next one during the construction process, and the final one once the project is done. However, for larger renovations, it’s best to have a more detailed payment plan, a plan for the scope of work, and a clear construction schedule.
Feeling Intimidated by the Experts
The negotiation process is the most important part of the whole renovation project. So, don’t be intimidated by all the different experts and keep asking questions until you’re on board with how the whole process is planned to go. Go stage by stage and cover all the different aspects of the design process, the construction permits you’ll require, what types of materials suit the design you chose and whether they fit your budget. Continue discussing the construction stage and all the different subcontractors you may need and whether your main contractor knows experts that will work on each stage or whether you need to search for additional subcontractors. Finally, talk about the deadline for the project and make sure that this date is confirmed by both parties, you and the main contractor.
Talking about all this will prevent the annoying miscommunication that often happens during a project like this. Make sure that all the professionals you’re considering hiring for the project have the relevant expertise and verify that by discussing the work they did on previous projects.
Discuss who will be the point person, how quickly you’ll receive updates, and what would happen if things don’t go according to plan. And don’t forget to have everything in writing, just in case.
Losing Track of Important Decisions
As a client, you’ll make a lot of decisions during the home renovation project, so it’s important to understand the whole process, otherwise, you can lose track of important decisions. Remember to never leave the important decisions to builders as some of them might choose the quickest and easiest route, which is not always the best one and you might not be satisfied with the end result. Make sure that you stay on top of the project, visit the site regularly, and maintain constant communication with the architect and main contractor.
Focussing Mostly on Aesthetics
As Louis H. Sullivan said, “Form follows function", so remember that during your reconstruction process and consult your architect about the most important decisions. Functional decisions are the ones that will make your house a home and determine how well you’ll be able to use the space in the future. These are the decisions you need to focus on the most as they’re the most expensive to change later on. For example, the color of your kitchen cabinets can easily be changed, but if there’s a problem with the layout, it will cost you a lot more to fix it.
Buying the Cheapest Materials
Remember that quality and price often go hand in hand, so don’t always go with the cheapest option out there. Make sure that you take your time and research different materials, their properties, and which materials would be best in terms of your budget and their overall quality. Because, in the end, you get what you pay for, and you want to get quality before all else, so never skimp on elements and fixtures that will last you for years to come.
Bad Surprises Along the Way
Even if you plan everything out, you’re in for a few surprises along the way, as renovating can often yield a lot of unforeseen events. Maybe during the demolition phase the construction workers end up bursting a water pipe, or a problem with the foundation happens. It’s important to always be prepared for the unexpected and keep calm if anything like this occurs so you can think of potential solutions.
Taking on Too Much DIY
There’s a reason why some people are experts in their field; after all, they’ve taken the necessary time to study the field of their expertise and focus on developing the necessary practical skills. It’s important to remember this if you contemplate whether to hire professionals or do some parts of the project yourself.
While some of the work can easily be DIY’d if you have the proper skills or are willing to learn, some parts of the project are best left to professionals. For example, we advise you to leave groundworks, structural work, bricklaying, carpentry, electrics, plumbing, tiling, and roofing to the professionals and focus on smaller DIY projects instead, like painting.
Budget Continuously Increasing
It’s quite common for a lot of construction projects to have an increase in the budget once construction begins, so make sure that you have about 20 percent more than the budget you were planning to spend, just in case. You should also take into consideration that some of the prices of the materials or fixtures can change during the construction period. However, it's best to have a detailed contract before you start the renovation to prevent most of these unwanted additional costs, and save the extra 20 percent for fixing serious unplanned problems.
Poor Planning and Scheduling
As with every important goal that you have in life, adequate planning and scheduling are essential for reaching that goal, and the same is true for home renovation projects. Setting up a timeline for the whole home remodel that includes all the major milestones that each subcontractor needs to achieve is crucial both for achieving those and your peace of mind. Delays are never fun, but allocating some in-between time just in case there’s a delay will make sure that the next phase goes smoothly and you don’t have scope creep.
Final Thoughts
If you’re thinking about starting a home renovation project, we believe that keeping these things in mind will make the whole process easier. In the end, the most important decision you need to make is who to work with as a main contractor and architect. If you trust these people and their expertise, we guarantee you that the process will run as smoothly as possible.