You must have come across many articles that educate you on things to keep in mind while doing your home renovation. But what about the common mistakes you should be avoiding? Knowing what you should be doing and how is not enough. What you need to learn first is what not to do. Read this to know the mistakes most homeowners are likely to commit and how to avoid them. But first things first.
Tips To Understand the Scope and Potential of Your Home Renovation
An interior renovation project requires arranging capital, planning a budget, hiring an interior designer and deciding a timeline. But once the process begins, you will find the need to determine the scope of the project based on your house’s potential, your requirements and your budget. Some of the properties in Malaysia even require a permit for home renovation, so you will need to be prepared for that as well. But don’t work yourself into the ground; read our tips and come up with a realistic plan. And don’t forget to always get a second opinion from your renovation contractor.
Tip 1: Scope of a New Versus Old Home Renovation
The biggest difference lies in space management. Starting from scratch allows you to plan every nook and corner your way. New apartments come in a cookie-cutter layout, giving you little to no room for major alterations. However, there is still scope for hacking walls or floors to fulfil your unique requirements. On the other hand, structural evaluation of old buildings is a job for the experts. So get a renovation contractor to figure out the potential of your old home.
Tip 2: What to Consider before House Remodelling
If you are somebody with a tight budget, consider doing your home renovation in stages or phases. But do so in a way that it doesn’t undo your previous work or cause any other inconvenience. Identify the areas in your new or old home that need to be immediately renovated and the ones that you can remodel later. For instance, if your bathroom is semi-furnished already, consider omitting it from the interior renovation this time. Use the money allotted here for other more urgent parts of your home, like the kitchen perhaps. Make sure that all the hacking happens the first time itself.
Tip 3: Budget of a New Versus Old Home Renovation
Design your budget in tandem with your requirements. We suggest you keep a big part of it for carpentry, then allocate a portion for loose furniture, soft furnishings and so on. The interior renovation of an old flat is more expensive than that of a new one. Upcycling of furniture and dismantling built-in units will raise the renovation costs.
Common Mistakes That Can Sabotage a Home Renovation
Now coming back to what’s important. What are some common mistakes that homeowners are likely to make while deciding to renovate their homes? Check this out and bookmark this page to be better prepared.
#1: Setting Unrealistic Budgets
The first step in every house remodelling project is to determine the budget. While you plan your expenses, make sure you account for everything and keep a portion aside to chance. Oftentimes, home renovation costs more than you expect, so assign at least 20 per cent of your budget to miscellaneous expenses.
#2: Following Trends Blindly
Excitement for a new home is natural but it can make us take some unfortunate decisions. While looking for home renovation ideas, try not to confuse your taste in design or forget your home’s potential. Staying on-trend will be good for your house, sure, but also check out the timeless interior designs. They might accommodate your taste better than fast trends.
#3: Blowing Your Budget on Carpentry
Yes, a major chunk of your budget does go into carpentry but this doesn’t mean that you blow all of it in one place. Most storage units like kitchen cabinets and wardrobes are custom-made and make up 40 to 50 per cent of your expenditure. But, you shouldn’t let them eat too much into your home renovation budget. Carpentry is a part of your home design, not all of it.
#4: Buying Furnishings before Choosing a Design Vocabulary
Impatience is bad for your home renovation and you must be aware when it causes damage to your interiors. While you wait for your project to finish, your eagerness might make you buy furniture simply because you came across it and liked it. Wait to buy that nightstand until your designer gives you the relevant measurements. After all, what’s the point in buying a piece of furniture that you cannot even use?
#5: Not Considering Convertible and Modular Furniture
It is recommended that you invest in space-saving and multipurpose units as they are the most lucrative aspects of home renovation. This is especially true for homes where space is tight and every inch matters. A smart design will overcome utility and space limitations. Therefore, consider having custom-built or modular storage units that can fit into any corner. Or, you can go for convertible furniture if they save you some renovation costs.
#6: Working Without Permits
In Malaysia, not all home renovations need permits but since the rules are rather unclear, you must try and get the permits anyway. If it is only cosmetic remodelling that you are doing, you may skip this step. It depends on what kind of property you live in to find your relevant authority to approach for this purpose. And if it is too much, a renovations contractors can guide you through this process.
#7: Choosing Your Contractor on a Whim
Don’t rush your decision on a contractor or a designer for your home renovation. Check out their reviews and make an informed decision. Reach out to their references and previous clients to see the quality of their work. Don’t hesitate to ask them questions about how they work, materials they use, processes they follow and so on.
And if you can’t seem to find your compatible design partner, know that Livspace will always come through for you!
How Can Livspace Help You?
Want stunning interiors? Livspace can help you! All you have to do is book an online consultation. If you prefer meeting in person, you can also find Livspace designers at the IKEA Damansara store. Hurry up and get quality home interiors from the best in the industry!
