10 Things You Should NOT Do During Renovation

Introduction

Renovating a house is no easy feat. Between the headaches of permits, hiring contractors, and making sure your plans are feasible...it can be overwhelming! But when you're on the right track and doing things right, it's all worth it in the end. So to help you out with this process, here are some common mistakes that homeowners make when renovating their home:

1. Don't start construction without drawings

If you're anything like me, you've probably spent a lot of time thinking about what your dream home would look like. You know what kind of house you want to live in and how it will feel when it's finished. But while dreaming is fun, actually building a house is hard work! It's easy for things to get messy and confusing when there are so many moving parts involved--and that's why having detailed plans for the renovation are essential for success.

Drawings can help communicate your vision clearly and effectively; they also help keep costs down by preventing costly mistakes from being made during construction (or even before). They'll also help prevent delays from occurring due to unclear instructions or missing information from contractors who aren't sure exactly what needs doing next on site.*

2. Don't ignore the costs of demolition, demolition and haul away, and backfill.

• Don't forget to include demolition costs in your budget. If you're renovating a house that was built before 1978, there's a good chance it has asbestos in its walls and ceilings. This can be dangerous to your health if you don't take proper precautions when removing it. Your contractor should be able to give you an estimate of how much this will cost, but don't assume they'll be able to remove everything on their own--you may need additional help from an expert who can safely remove hazardous material and dispose of it properly (which adds another few thousand dollars onto your bill).

• Don't forget about removal/haul away costs either! While many contractors will haul away debris themselves after demolition is complete (and even offer free pickup), some won't do so unless specifically requested by their clients--so make sure that this service is included in any contract for remodeling work done on homes with basements or crawlspaces underneath them because otherwise you might end up paying twice: once when buying supplies like drywall sheets from Home Depot/Lowe's etc., again when hiring someone else later down the line just so all those materials can be disposed properly without causing harm unto yourself or others around us...

3. Don't DIY electrical or plumbing if you are not a skilled professional

Do not take on electrical or plumbing projects if you are not a skilled professional. You will most likely end up spending more money than if you had hired a professional and could end up getting injured or electrocuted in the process.

Electrical work is dangerous because electricity can kill, so it's very important to know what you're doing when working with this kind of wiring. If there is any way that your project involves electrical wiring at all, pay someone else to do it for you!

4. Don't underestimate how much time you'll need for your renovation.

The best way to avoid this mistake is to estimate how much time you'll need for each step of your renovation. This can be tricky, but if you're not sure about the scope of your project, start by breaking it down into smaller tasks and estimating them separately.

Then account for delays: material delivery times, holidays and other things that may interfere with your schedule (e.g., rain), unexpected events (e.g., someone breaks their leg), etc.. If it's DIYing then factor in learning time as well!

5. Don't skimp on hiring a General Contractor

If you're thinking about renovating your home, there are a number of things you should NOT do. One of them is skimping on hiring a general contractor.

Hiring an experienced and trustworthy general contractor will help ensure that your renovation goes smoothly, and won't cost more than expected--or even less than expected! So what does a general contractor do?

• They manage the entire project from start to finish

• They hire subcontractors for specific tasks (ie: plumbing or electrical work)

• They oversee all aspects of construction so everything gets done correctly and on time

6. Don't forget to ask for references

Don't forget to ask for references.

This one is a no-brainer, but it's important to make sure you're getting good advice and not just what you want to hear. You can ask for references from previous clients in two ways: by phone or in person (if they're local). If at all possible, go and meet with these people so that you can gauge their reaction when talking about their experiences with your contractor. Do they seem happy? Do they have any complaints? Are there any patterns of dissatisfaction that emerge from talking with several different homeowners who've worked with this contractor? All of these things will help give you an idea whether or not someone is trustworthy enough for such an important job as renovating your home.

7. Don't use cheap materials to replace old ones.

It's tempting to go for the cheapest materials you can find when redoing your house, but this is a big mistake. Cheap materials may look good at first but they don't last as long and they're not energy efficient. They also tend to be less safe, which means that you'll need to replace them sooner than if you had chosen more expensive options. In addition, some cheap stuff can cause health problems like allergies or respiratory issues--and nobody wants that!

8. Avoid making design changes during construction

Now, I'm not saying that making design changes is a bad thing. Sometimes it's necessary and can actually improve the project. But there are certain things to consider before making any changes.

• It's expensive: Making changes to a construction project during construction will cost you money in several ways: the redesign of plans and specs; additional labor costs due to delays caused by changing things around; more materials used because of new layouts (and therefore higher material costs); etcetera ad nauseam!

• It disrupts schedule: If you're adding on an extra bedroom or moving some walls around, expect that there may be some delays while everyone figures out where everything goes again. These delays could have a domino effect on later parts of your renovation schedule--which might cause other problems down the line...like paying interest on an overdue mortgage payment because you didn't get paid by your contractor on time! That'd be terrible! So don't do it!

8. Don't forget about environmental issues during construction, such as noise control measures

Noise is one of the most common complaints from neighbors during renovations. Even if you don't care about how your neighbor feels, there are some good reasons to keep noise levels down:

• Noise can disturb people's sleep and concentration, which can lead to health problems like high blood pressure and heart disease.

• A lot of people work from home or have kids who go to school nearby, so it's important not to interfere with their lives by making too much racket in the middle of the day when kids are trying to study or adults are trying for a nap before heading back out into the world again after lunch break.

9. Don't paint over worn surfaces without priming first - it just won't last!

If you're going to be painting your walls, it's important to remember that priming is key. If you don't prime first, the paint will not adhere properly and will chip off within a few years. This can be a costly mistake as it means that instead of having an apartment that looks fresh and new when you move in (or even just three months later), your walls will look faded and worn-down from constant repainting.

Priming also makes for better adhesion of topcoats--this means less flaking or peeling over time!

10. Don't build without getting permits first

This is a big one. If you're going to be building a new addition or renovating your home, don't do it without getting the proper permits first. Not only will this save you time and money in the long run, but it also means that any structural changes made to your house will be legal. You don't want to end up with an illegal basement or addition that could be torn down by city inspectors at any point in time--and if they do find out about it later on, there could be serious consequences for you!

Conclusion

I hope you've learned a few things about renovating a house. The biggest takeaway is that it's not as simple as just tearing down the walls and building new ones. There are so many factors to consider when renovating, from environmental issues to costs and timelines. If you want your renovation project to be successful, then make sure not to take any shortcuts by doing things like painting over worn surfaces without priming first!