We have all seen the amazing before-and-after renovation photos online, with everything looking absolutely perfect. The perfect picture of perfection. The reality, as is often the case, is that those curated photos do not tell the whole story of how your home may look six months later.
This is when, all of a sudden, the paint started to bubble, or your brand-new addition. That unfortunate reality is the downside of renovation that no one wants to talk about—regret. It happens way more typically than you would think.
Nearly half of homeowners admit they unintentionally wish they hadn’t done something, or think some things had gone differently. Rather, to provide you with the knowledge of the most common mistakes so that they don’t happen to you.
Understanding the pitfalls of renovations is the best way to make sure your reno truly improves your home and life.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Make sure that the new plan works for you practically before doing the demo.
- Avoid using trendy finishes on permanent fixtures.
- Timeliness and trends are important for daily life in your home, but monotony is a theme that can quickly make a home feel out of style.
- Choose experienced and licensed contractors based on the best value overall for the completed project, not the low bid.
The Most Common Renovation Regrets
No matter how excited you are, every project can turn into a great number of “Man, if only I had known that sooner” moments. Most of the time, these memories fall into the same few categories, and they do not really have as much to do with bad luck as with misunderstandings and decisions you make in a rush.
Here are a few elements that could make you end up kicking yourself over.
Poor Space Planning
The part that’s most exciting is how the space will look, so it’s no wonder this is where so many people start.
But the most devastating regret almost always comes down to how the space works. You may have always been dreaming of having a kitchen island, and it might look great on paper, but does it really work for your kitchen?
Will it block the way to the fridge? Will it overwhelm everything else? The same goes for bathrooms that have impressive tiles but no space to hang a towel.
To avoid this, take some time before the demo starts to walk through your plans, literally.
Grab a tape and map out your organizational arrangement on the floor to see how it all works together.
Following Trends Instead of Choosing Something Timeless
Matte black glazes and bold peel-and-stick wallpapers look amazing on Pinterest. They also feel very current, which is problematic.
Trendy choices have a temporary shelf life, and in a few years, they feel old and awkward. That implies that you will either live in a home that feels dated, or you may need to remodel your house again pretty soon.
It’s quite impressive to stick with the classics for the things that are hard to replace, such as flooring or cabinets.
You can save the trendy stuff, like dimensional paint and art, for things you can easily swap out, making the house look appealing.
Hiring Contractors Based Only on Low Bids
Renovations are not cheap, and it’s tempting to go with the initial offer, but that’s often the absolute worst thing you can do.
Contractors aren’t your buddies, and they are in it for the money, not to help you out. So, in case they are underbidding, you can expect them to go around corners or even disappear in the middle of the project. A price that’s too low is typically always a red flag, as are vague project timelines and no written contract.
Don’t consider selecting the lowest bid; aim for the best value.
That suggests that you will want to hire someone licensed who has plenty of experience and good reviews.
Not Considering the Local Climate
This is one of the most undervalued parts of renovation planning, yet it plays a huge role in how satisfied you are with it in the long run.
Here’s a comparison so that you get an idea of exactly why it’s important:
Living in a humid and warm city such as Greer (South Carolina), you know that every evening (especially during summer) brings insects like wasps (scary!), mosquitoes (annoying!), and roaches (ewww!), making staying on your porch not ideal.
That’s why, in these cases, you want your garden terrace fully screened. This way, you have the uninvited visiting party people on one side and your family on the other; safe and protected. A screened-in porch contractor in Greer, SC, will have their hands full of such cases.
Bugs won’t be an issue, on the other hand, you can take a windy place such as Denver (Colorado), but the strong wind will sometimes make it uncomfortable to sit outside. Plus, if you live around a road, your porch will be filled with road dust/grime – not nice.
A screened porch won’t do, since it could not protect you from wind, but completely enclosing the porch will do the trick.
However, residing in Colorado, bugs are not that big of a deal, but dry air will, so you’ll need to use engineered wood and composite materials, or you will hassle with cracking and shrinking later on.
Not Budgeting for Surprise Costs
Renovations are full of surprises, and not all of their consequences are pleasant.
Let’s say you have planned everything out and then, in one case the walls come down, there’s water damage or asbestos. Problems that include these can tank your budget and cause a lot of stress.
This is why every contractor worth their salt will tell you to build in a 10-20% safety margin, just in case.
Conclusion
Why learn about renovation regret the hard way when you can stop it altogether?
You need to slow down occasionally to ask questions and check if your entire system will truly work the way you want it to. And if that means busting out the tape measure and making your floors look such as a crime scene, so be it.
Keep in mind that a renovation is not supposed to make your home better. It should have a positive influence on your life in general.
What is the best way to ensure you don’t regret the space planning when you are finished?
Re-create the new plan on your floor using tape to be sure all the fixtures and furniture work and fit into the location effectively.
How much should you add to your renovation budget for unforeseen costs?
It is common to add 10–20 %, allowing for anything that might come up during a renovation.
Why is hiring the cheapest contractor often a mistake?
Cheaper bids may indicate that the contractor intends to use less expensive labor or materials, which may result in subpar work or future mistakes that require mitigation, ultimately costing you more in the long run.
How to decide between a trend and timeless?
Opt for neutral and classic materials that are permanent, for your floor and basic cabinets, and then use the trendy ones very temporarily to swap decor pieces.
