Gainesville Restoration and Remodeling

Archives November 2020

Home Renovation Mistakes to Avoid

Home Renovation Mistakes to Avoid – Today’s guest blog is by Cavalier Estates. The opinions expressed by the author in this and all guest blogs are not necessarily those of Gainesville Restoration and Remodeling.

Home Renovation Mistakes

Home Renovation Mistakes to Avoid

Two things homeowners have on their mind when renovating their home are saving money and maximizing value. The reason a lot of owners do a home renovation in the first place is to improve the look and function of the home and make it more valuable to potential buyers.

But at the same time, owners are often motivated by financial constraints to try and cut down on the cost of the home upgrade. Basically, as Cavalier Estates LLC explains, homeowners often have two objectives when renovating their home: to improve the value and to save money. This can lead them to make mistakes during the home renovation process.

To help you avoid this, we have created this list of the most common home renovation mistakes that homeowners make. The list can help you be more careful about the choices you make during the planning and execution of your home renovation project.

 

1.     Renovating before you live in the house

If you are not a building professional, it is hard to fully understand the shortcomings of a house until you have lived in it. Living in a newly bought home for at least two months before renovating will help you avoid unnecessary upgrades.

 

2.     Failing to consider long-term needs

Many renovation efforts are based on what catches the homeowners’ eyes or the latest trends in the market. Homeowners often fail to adopt a big picture approach or take into account what the users of space will need in 5-10 years.

 

3.     Mistakes in design choices

Common mistakes homeowners make when choosing designs for a renovation project include:

  • Using a design that does not compliment the home’s original architectural style. Doing creates incongruity in the design and this devalues the home.
  • Failing to think of function, how spaces are actually used, and thinking only of form and how the place will look.
  • Being overly trendy and failing to recognize that trends will always change but a good design will never lose its appeal.

 

4.     Doing too much at once

In their eagerness to create a space that is uniquely theirs, some homeowners will take on too much. Rather than renovate the home piecemeal, they attempt to overhaul the whole house. This often results in too much disruption, lots of change orders, and wasted money.

 

5.     Underestimating costs

Renovations budgets are intelligent estimates at best. A good contractor may give you an estimate that is just a little above the eventual cost, but the estimates will rarely be your exact costs. You can avoid underestimating by building an additional 20% into the budget.

 

6.     Choosing the wrong contractor

Some homeowners choose their contractor without asking for recent references from the company. Yet others will choose a contractor who does not have a proper warranty or is not bonded. Another mistake that homeowners make is to choose a national firm that does not have local experience.

 

7.     Going DIY when you shouldn’t

Due to the explosion of DIY videos on YouTube, many homeowners are fooled into thinking they can successfully undertake their home renovation themselves. This often ends in damage to the home and injury to the homeowner.

 

8.     Settling for the lowest estimate

Some homeowners make price the main criteria for choosing their contractor. But this often results in them eventually spending more money than they were trying to save. That’s because the contractor may cut corners and they would have to redo the work.

 

9.     Working without a permit

Getting permits for a renovation takes time but proceeding without one is not an option. If a renovation project requires permits and it is done without one, that part of the building may be torn down. A good right design-build company can facilitate the necessary building permits.

 

10. Not anticipating problems

Every renovation project has its fair share of problems. For instance, when drywall is torn down, you may discover that the electrical system is in bad shape. There may also be incidents that do not inflate the budget but delay the project. Anticipating these problems helps to reduce stress.

 

11. Not doing prep work

Prep work is the foundational work that must be done before the renovation itself. Depending on the part of the home being renovated, prep work can be anything from priming walls, to sanding or the structural work that goes before re-flooring. Proper prep work prolongs the life of a renovation.

 

12. Not following the proper workflow

Every home renovation project has a workflow that guarantees the best outcome. The right workflow saves time, materials, and money. It ensures that you do not go back and forth on the project by tearing up finished work to install new components.

 

13. Installing appliances last and buying furniture or décor too early

If furniture and décor are bought too early, they may not fit into the overall design of the home. They should be bought when the project has gone far enough to give you a clear idea of what things will look like at the end. But choose appliances early enough to make sure the design will accommodate them.

There you have it, renovation mistakes to avoid if you are thinking about renovating your home.

 

Home Renovation Mistakes to Avoid

How to Prepare for Major Home Repairs

How to Prepare for Major Home Repairs – Today’s guest blog is by Parenting with Kris. The opinions expressed by the author in this and all guest blogs are not necessarily those of Gainesville Restoration and Remodeling.

Home Repairs

How to Prepare for Major Home Repairs

Major home repairs never come at a good time. Whether it’s a broken-down water heater or a roof that’s caving in, they seem to always sneak up and do their best to wreck your budget. That’s why it’s so important to prepare for the unexpected. Gainesville Restoration Roofing & Remodeling wants to help, so explore these practical ways you can prepare as a homeowner for the inevitable major repairs, from knowing about common repairs to paying for them once they arise.

 

Common Major Repairs

 

The first part of preparing is to learn what kind of repairs to expect. Below you’ll find a few of the most common major fixes homeowners often face, though you will also want to learn about additional types of repairs as well:

 

Roof replacement. The roof is one of the most important structural aspects of your home, and it protects the inside of your home from outdoor elements. Roofs typically last 20 to 30 years, depending on the material of the shingles. The best way to avoid having to do a full-on replacement out of nowhere is to have your roof inspected annually for leaks and wear and tear. Then, repair the roof as needed.

 

HVAC. Heating and air conditioning units are known to stop working suddenly, and it’s usually during the hottest or coldest days of the year. Regularly change out your air filters, and have your HVAC regularly inspected and maintained if you want to prevent a sizable replacement bill.

 

Water heater. Like HVACs, hot water heaters tend to quit with no warning. You’re enjoying a relaxing shower, and the next thing you know, you feel like you’ve taken the polar plunge and you can’t breathe. Sometimes, however, there are signs of failure before it happens.

 

Siding replacement. Siding can last forever, but sometimes it needs replacing after 10 to 30 years — depending on the material. Wood siding will typically last the longest, especially if you treat it (i.e., pressure wash, caulk, paint/stain) every few years. Vinyl is the cheapest of siding options, but it also needs to be replaced more often than other types. If you have vinyl siding, pressure washing it once a year can help it look good for longer.

 

Saving Up for Repairs

 

The best way to pay for major home repairs is to do it without acquiring any debt. Consider starting an emergency repair fund, in which you allocate a portion of your income each month to a savings account. A general rule of thumb is to put in 10 percent of your monthly mortgage payment; so, if your mortgage is $850, you would put $85 into your emergency fund each month.

If you need money for a repair before you have your fund built up, consider borrowing from a family member or friend, or applying online for a personal loan. If you have time to prepare for a significant repair, you can always refinance your home and use some of the equity you’ve built up, but this process can take as long as four weeks.

 

Those who have debt holding them back from assembling necessary funds have opportunities, too. With a debt consolidation loan, settlement, bankruptcy, or other solution, you can get your finances back on track and find breathing room.

 

Hire the Right Help

 

Once you have your problem assessed and funds assembled, make sure you connect with a high-quality contractor like Gainesville Restoration Roofing & Remodeling to help put your home back in order. Gainesville Restoration Roofing & Remodeling can assist both commercial projects and homeowners, transforming bathrooms, rebuilding roofs, clearing water damage, and much more. And if you’re looking elsewhere, be sure to get recommendations, assemble a list of interview questions, and review the portfolio of anyone you’re considering for your project.

 

Big repairs are part of being a homeowner, and it’s important to be prepared when these problems come up. Research what major home repairs can arise and how to avoid/delay them through inspections and maintenance. Be selective when you’re choosing a contractor, and start building your emergency repair fund today. Being prepared even a little can soften the financial blow of an unforeseen major home repair. And if that older home is proving to be too much, a newer home can be the better choice for your family and bank account.

 

Contact Gainesville Restoration Roofing & Remodeling for more information on how they can help you with your home project!