When it comes to home renovations, I, Mark Roemer, know fall is a busy time of year; summer comes to an end, kids return to school, and you begin to plan for the holidays, when friends and family may be knocking on your door. With fall firmly behind us and summer just around the corner, it really is never too early to plan for that home improvement project.

To help you plan and prioritize, check out my list of the top ten home renovation blunders:

Ignoring Your Home’s Natural Style

You can typically get practically any appearance if you’re planning a house makeover. Still, unless you’re drastically altering your home’s natural architecture, you’ll want to make sure your style complements it. For example, it may be challenging to transform a Southern Plantation into a New York City penthouse. There are methods to integrate styles tastefully, and this is where an ASID Interior Designer can help. They can assist you in effortlessly incorporating your favorite design components into the existing style of your area to obtain the desired result.

Purchasing Low-Cost Materials

“The bitter taste of low quality lingers long after the sweet taste of a low price” — Benjamin Franklin.

Take this quote to heart when you plan your home renovation budget. It’s all too easy to cut corners and use less expensive materials. However, it would be best to select which aspects you remove or replace with less costly alternatives.

If you’re looking to save money, eliminate elements that won’t change the general style of the area and can be added later. A few examples are:

• A kitchen backsplash.
• Cabinet hardware.
• A hidden water bubbler.
• Superfluous built-in cabinetry.
• High-end marble flooring.

Don’t scrimp on the things that will last the longest, such as high-quality cabinet construction or hardwood flooring.

Avoiding the Rule of “Measure Twice, Cut Once”

Whether you’re painting a room or installing new high-quality hardwood flooring, you should constantly double-check your measurements. This is especially crucial with custom products or those that demand a minimum order since it will save you money on setup fees for future minor orders. Remember to account for appropriate cutting allowance if you’re ordering flooring. Depending on the type and grade of the flooring you’re choosing, a 10% allowance is usually reasonable.

Attempting to Handle Everything Yourself

Painting walls, hanging wallpaper, moving furniture, and even some light wood staining or finishing are all chores that are ideal for a DIY enthusiast. After all, it’s a fantastic method to save money and cut your renovation expenditure in half. However, some chores should be left to the pros.

Large-scale projects, such as structural improvements, electrical, plumbing, or roofing, are time-consuming and possibly hazardous. If not done correctly, it might lead to more significant, more expensive problems in your property. Spending money now to work with a professional is a better option.

Inadequate Space Planning

When renovating your house, space planning is essential—determining your room and furniture layout so you can get the most out of your new area. It could be something as basic as the size and location of your island or the size and location of your billiard table. Putting together a whole arrangement for your open floor plan can be more striking.

On Houzz.com, interior designer Natalie Myers discusses the most important factors to consider when creating a good space plan.

Be Timeless Rather Than Trendy

It’s too obvious to get caught up in current home décor trends, such as shag carpets, entrance chalkboards, and mint green appliances. However, the most critical question you must ask yourself is whether these goods will be timeless and trendy tomorrow, ensuring that you will adore all of your choices ten years from now. Bear in mind that while furniture and wall colors may be current, large objects such as your wood flooring, kitchen cabinets, non-painted walls, and other “hard surfaces” should be made of products that will not go out of style next year. The distressed hickory woodwork and white kitchen cabinets in this kitchen, for example, are ageless. Still, the island seating, pendant lights, and kitchenware may be replaced to modernize the design.

Expecting Your Home Improvement to Go Off Without a Hitch

The single best thing you can do for yourself and your sanity while planning a home improvement project is to assume it will not go smoothly. Some people mistake planning their venture down to the last day and then outlining other activities around it – think of a summer getaway, a birthday party, or a holiday get-together. “Plan for the worse and hope for the best,” as the phrase goes, and you’ll reduce your stress levels and enjoy your renovation more.

Green Products Should Not Be Avoided

According to the website Regreen Residential Remodeling, Americans spend roughly $200 million a year upgrading their homes. Green building goods were once equivalent to high costs, and homeowners may have bypassed them as a result. Alternately, green building goods have become considerably more common in recent years and are now available at various pricing points, making them more affordable. Green building materials are a terrific method to not only lower your carbon footprint but also your home’s operating costs. Simple things such as water collection and storage might help to reduce water consumption. Solar energy can reduce your electricity consumption, and you may even get compensated for it. Eco-friendly insulation might naturally keep your house colder or warmer depending on where you live.

Choosing Inappropriate Architectural Elements

Windows, doors, and floors are the most frequent architectural features you’ll choose for your makeover. You may want to invest in quality because these are difficult to alter in the future. You will want to choose high-quality types that complement the home’s interior and external decor when it comes to windows. They should complement the property’s natural illumination and provide easy access and functionality. Today’s construction technical knowledge allows you to purchase high-quality, energy-efficient windows.

When it comes to doors, you want to choose attractive and functional styles. Make sure they’re big enough to fit many people through, especially if it’s a main entrance or passageway. Make sure they’re as efficient and robust as your windows.

Consider the environment in which the floors will be installed and exposed before making your choice. Slate or tile, for example, may be appropriate for your mudroom and laundry room, while prefinished hardwood flooring is ideal for your kitchen and common rooms because it is so easy to clean and maintain over time.

Underestimating The Cost of a Home Renovation

According to Money.com’s real estate expert Josh Garskof, there is a formula you should use to ensure you establish the proper overall budget for your new space. It is founded on two pillars. The first is the room you’re renovating. The overall value of the home you’re remodeling is number two. You want to engage in a makeover that will raise the value of your property without making it out of step with the rest of the neighborhood. For example, in a $750,000 property, a new kitchen should cost between $75,000 and $112,500, or around 10-15% of the home’s worth. Your architect or builder will be able to assist you in creating a budget. However, you must include the most essential items to you and will provide the most value to your room. For example, picking the proper cabinets and wood floors will have greater long-term value; however, cabinet and sink hardware will be lower on the priority list, especially since they can be readily upgraded later.