9 Homeowner Renovation Tips

Los Angeles and South Bay Real Estate Video Blog with Lenny LaRocca

Renovating a home is a huge undertaking that requires a lot of time and money. Today, I’ll give you a few tips on how to avoid some major renovation mistakes.

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When you renovate your home, you are committing a lot of time and money to the project. Renovating a home is almost like running a business! Since renovations can be overwhelming, I wanted to go over a few mistakes for you to avoid.

First, I want to offer a quick tip. Make sure that you take the time to prepare before you start renovations. Choose your contractor and meet with them as if you are hiring them to work for your business.

Now, here is a list of things to keep in mind when renovating your home:

1. Do your research. Again, make sure you are prepared.
2. Make sure your measurements are correct. Incorrect measurements can cost you a lot of time and money during the renovation, so make sure you have the right numbers.
3. Get the proper permits. Some people skip permits in order to save some money. However, cutting corners will cause you a lot of anguish in the future, especially when it comes time to sell your home. Make sure you get all of the required permits that you need.
4. Set a realistic budget. During home renovations, it's important to keep the scope of work in mind. Know that you will probably go over the budget when all is said and done. If you’ve ever completed a home renovation under budget, then I applaud you because that is very rare.
   Most renovation projects go over budget, so be prepared.
5. Don’t DIY the demolition. Sometimes it’s best to hire a professional.
6. Don’t go overboard. Don’t demo too much of the house.
7. Work with an electrician to make sure everything is up to code.
8. Don’t overload on current building trends. If you want to modernize your home, pick a few current building trends that you really like. If you go overboard and use all of the building trends, buyers may not be interested in your home when you put it on the market 10 years from now.
9. Pay attention to the quality of the materials you use. While you may be improving your home for your own enjoyment, remember that the quality of materials you use during the renovation will directly impact the resale value of your home.

Those are just a few things to keep in mind during the home renovation process. If you have any questions or if you are looking for a referral for a good contractor or electrician, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!