Kim, Fix My House!
How can I avoid making mistakes when renovating my
home?
RENOVATE THE RIGHT WAY Instead of
YOU DON’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU
WANT Fast. Cheap. Good. Pick one! The old
adage is true so make sure that you make
wise choices. Don’t cut corners and buy
cheap materials or try to do it all yourself to
save a dime. Jobs that are done quickly or
improperly always end up eating into any
savings and will cost you more in the long
run to fix mistakes. Think long term and resale
potential. Bargains are great but if it’s not
something that fits into the design of your
space, then it’s not the right deal for you.
PUT THE CONTRACT IN CONTRACTOR
Home renovations should only be
undertaken by a reliable contractor who has
the experience to deal with all of the issues
that arise when changing something major
in your home. A licensed professional is a
necessity when dealing with any electrical,
plumbing, HVAC and structural issues
that are an integral component of most
renovations. A good contractor will be
familiar with permit requirements, building
codes and insurance requirements. These
details are time consuming to figure out on
your own, as well as costly and dangerous
if overlooked. The reality is that if you have
work done on your home without a permit
and something serious happens, your
homeowner’s insurance will not cover it.
Additionally, if you have plans to sell your
property in the near future, unprofessional
or sloppy work of any kind will scare off
potential buyers.
DON’T DIY DESIGN It always pays to hire
a great designer who will guide you in the
planning, preparation and execution of
your renovation. A good design scheme
can transform a property’s value and is
worth every penny. Not only can a designer
figure out a creative way to include all of
the elements on your wish list but they also
Photo by Stephani Buchman
bemoaning mistakes after a costly renovation,
sidestep retrospective regrets and prevent
disaster. A clear understanding of the most
common reno pitfalls will help you plan
ahead and stop them from happening. These
tips will help you position yourself for a
successful renovation project with minimal
stress and costly mistakes.
serve as a go-between with your contractor
and other craftspeople making sure that the
details of the design are closely followed. A
professional designer knows how to manage
a budget and will source items that fit into
your price point. They are also often able to
bring you discounts from stores or services
based on their long-standing relationships.
DELAYED GRATIFICATION This one is
tough. Though it can be very exciting to pick
out all of the small design details and focus
on the cosmetic aspect of the reno, it will
benefit you in the long run to wait until the
appropriate time to pick out your knobs and
pulls. Good deals are tempting especially
when you know that you need a new
dishwasher and see one for a great price. But
unless you have finalized the floor plan of
your kitchen and measured out every square
inch with your contractor, that stainless
steel fridge that looked so gorgeous in the
showroom will end up being returned if it’s
the wrong size for your space. Take it slowly,
research and find items that you love on-line
and then make a list to take with you once
you are ready for the shopping stage of your
renovation. - Text by Kim Bartley
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