The Most Common Home Renovation Mistakes

 

The right home upgrades can boost your property's market value. House remodeling, on the other hand, might be costly. How do you know which modifications will increase the value of your property when you sell it? To uncover the answer to this question, I solicited the expertise of seasoned realtors and constructors.

 "Cost overruns are common," one contractor said. "Regardless of how well we budget, we always find something that complicates the job or the homeowner changes their mind about anything. Surprises abound, just like they do when designing a custom home."

 

"Are you advising a homeowner who wants to renovate to plan ahead?" I enquired further.

 

"Exactly. Do your homework before you come in. Many people get excited about pulling down a wall to open things up, only to find out that the replacement building is too expensive."

 

According to one real estate agent, "Homeowners should think twice before installing new wallpaper. Wallpaper lasts about three months before it starts to appear antiquated. When I see flower wallpaper on a walkthrough, I almost always hear prospective buyers say, 'Uh, we'll have to peel off that thing.' It's a stumbling block."

 

Another example is when a homeowner removes a bedroom next door to extend a master bedroom by eliminating a wall. "Although the master suite is lovely, you now have a two-bedroom home to sell instead of a three-bedroom home. Even if you have three baths, trust me when I say that this will lower the value of your home "The real estate agent went on to explain more.

 

According to another contractor, "Converting a two-car garage into a family room is an example of a renovation job that will cost more than you expect and add little value to your home when it comes time to sell. Most code inspectors will not allow you to use the new room as a bedroom if it is in a garage with no windows. Garages are also widely used."

 

As a home inspector, one of the most common mistakes I witnessed was homeowners who decided to do their own renovation work. I'm not suggesting that qualified people shouldn't pitch in and help with some or all of the work, but first and foremost, make sure you're qualified. People aren't always aware of their own ignorance. Home buyers may be put off by DIY renovations because they are visible and uninviting.

 

A bathroom in a home where the homeowner installed all of the fixtures himself is one example. The wrong plumbing traps, fittings, and couplings were utilized, the hot water line was mistakenly rerouted to the toilet, and three faucets were slowly leaking. The purchasers liked the house, but the $1500 cost of bringing the "upscale" bathroom up to code drove them off.

 

"People have spent a lot of money on a very nice and stylish kitchen. They had a terrific time, but when it came time to sell, only around 20% of their money was returned. This was because the house was not in that price range or in a neighborhood with comparable homes with similar upgrades. So, unless they plan to stay in the house, advise your readers to do their homework before investing a large sum of money in the kitchen."

 

The lesson here is to do your studies and plan ahead of time if you want to renovate. Before you start, figure out what your return on investment will be (the internet, contractors, and realtors may all help), and get at least three proposals.