Must-Have Tips to Avoid Mistakes When Remodeling Your Cedar Falls Home

Are you thinking about a home renovation for your Cedar Falls home? House remodeling is something that shouldn’t be rushed into without learning how to avoid the most common remodeling mistakes—mistakes that could cost you thousands. Here we are going to give you tips for avoiding the most common home renovation mistakes. A few minutes of reading could end up saving you thousands of dollars in remodeling mistakes and change orders.

We are also going to discuss how to deal with contractor mistakes, in what order you should remodel your house, what renovations increase home value the most, and more.

What to Know Before Renovating a home

Before you begin any home renovations, there are several things you need to know. First and foremost, you need to know your budget, then research and fully vet a contractor. At that point, you will also need to know what you might want in your new home renovation.

But what if you don’t know exactly how you want your home remodeled?

Well, that’s where having a contractor with a design and build team becomes priceless. They will help take your wants and needs and turn them into a design that will work for you.

Another important factor before renovating a house is to make sure your design along with all the materials and colors work together. This can be extremely hard to do especially if you are having to drive from one design or home improvement store to another.

The best way to make sure your home renovation comes together without any renovation mistakes is to have the ability to shop for all your supplies in one place. If you find a contractor that has everything you need under one roof, then you will be able to select the materials and be able to physically see them all side-by-side to make sure they all go together. This will also help you see if you actually like the look before buying and installing any given facet of the project.

And one last thing…unless you already have smart locks on your home, you might want to invest in a key lock box so you don’t have to be home to give access to your contractors throughout the project.

What Should you Not Do When Remodeling a House?

Even if you are handy with tools and are used to the DIY scene, you should never assume you know what all needs to be done when renovating a house. The next thing many people who are trying to cut corners do is to have their friends and family help them. This usually leads to costly mistakes, the potential for injury, damages, and other issues that could lead to your home remodel not passing inspection, etc.

Another area of concern is your budget. Don’t assume you won’t go over your budget. There is always the chance for unexpected expenses once the home renovation is underway. The same goes for your house remodeling timeline. Things happen so don’t assume your project will be finished as scheduled.

Additionally, you need to be aware of the local building codes and regulations for your area. Your home will have to pass a safety inspection after the remodel. And if it doesn’t, you will have to spend more money correcting what needs to be fixed.

If you don’t fix said issues, you won’t be able to sell your house until those corrections have been made. Or, if your home experiences any type of disaster, your homeowner’s insurance probably won’t pay the claim. This is just another reason that it’s always best to hire a professional who knows what they are doing and makes sure everything is done per your local codes.

In What Order Should I Remodel My House?

If you don’t want to have to deal with full house mistakes when renovating, you should learn the proper order in which each part of the construction should be done. Here is the order for interior remodel.

• Planning and design

• Obtain necessary permits

• Demolition and structural repairs

• External finishes

• Electric and plumbing

• Framing and drywall installation

• Painting

• Cabinets and fixtures

• Cleaning

• Flooring

• Trim and finish out

• Final clean

Renovation Without a Permit a Costly Mistake

Most laws regarding permits are local and vary from one city or county to another. So always check your local codes before beginning your home renovation.

Unfortunately, though, if you don’t get the necessary permits for your home renovation, you could end up paying some hefty fines if your local government finds out. How might that happen you ask? Actually, it happens all the time, and here’s how.

1. Selling Your Home After Renovating It

If you decide to sell your home after renovating it, you will need a certificate of occupancy to complete the sale. So, someone from your government locality will need to inspect your home to confirm it’s suitable to live in.

2. Periodic Property Assessment

Sometimes a property will be reassessed. This involves a property assessor inspecting your home, its features, and condition. If that inspector sees upgrades that require a permit and there is no permit on file, this is another way to get caught.

3. Homeowner’s Insurance Claim

If any kind of damage occurs to your home resulting from the renovations you completed without a permit, those illegal home renovations could cause your insurance claim to be denied.

What Are the Worst Construction Mistakes to Avoid

Renovating a house is a huge endeavor and one that could be full of regret if you don’t know which construction mistakes to avoid. So here are the worst construction mistakes to avoid when remodeling a house.

• Not considering your long-term needs

• Purchasing the cheapest possible materials

• Having unrealistic expectations

• Going with the lowest bid

• Not getting contractor references

• Hiring separate contractors and designers

• Underestimating the renovation costs

• Working without a permit

How to Deal with Contractor Mistakes

How to deal with contractor mistakes begins with keeping a level head. You then need to identify the mistake and how it happened. Then collect and document the evidence.

Next, you need to talk with the contractor with your documentation in hand then listen to his or her side of the story. You never want to place blame even if you know they were at fault. This is because you want to minimize any additional costs that might possibly be assessed to fix the issue and because you need the issue fixed.

Work with the contractor to come up with a plan to resolve the issue. You might also file a claim with your insurance company. Most insurance companies won’t pay this type of claim. However, your contractor’s insurance company should. If all else fails, check the contract you signed then seek legal counsel. This can lead to mediation and arbitration or some other method of resolving the issue.

What Renovations Increase Home Value the Most?

Some home renovations increase your home’s value more than others. Here are the top five home renovations that will increase your home’s value the most.

• Finished basement

• Kitchen remodel

• Bathroom remodel

• Opening up the floor plan

• Create a home office or add a deck

My Renovation

Once your renovation has been completed, make sure you talk with your insurance agent. It’s quite possible you will need more insurance to cover your new home renovations.

What’s Next?

If you want more information about remodeling a house, fixing full house mistakes, or other issues, please Contact Home Indeed today. Everything we do is centered around making your home remodeling experience extraordinary, and we promise to put what matters to you most—first. We look forward to serving you!