A reform can become a nightmare if we have no one to advise and guide us in the construction of your ideas. Below is a list of 15 mistakes in the reforms that we should not make. Following these steps we will be able to turn a reform into something to remember for a lifetime. For good.
Stick to the budget we want, not the budget we have.
When we made the decision to renovate our houseone of the biggest mistakes we make is to prepare an unrealistic budget or, directly, not to close a budget. We must include in the budget all the materials, labor and accessories needed to complete the renovation. From the ceramics to the new doorknobs for the doors.
Another of the big mistakes in renovations is to ask for variations or accept modifications to what was previously agreed. These changes or variations negatively affect the delivery time and the budget. We must take into account all our desires and needs before closing the budget and start chopping.
Do not take into account just in case. Contingencies do exist.
A portion of the budget must be allocated to just in case. We know they exist; the Scott Brothers know it well. It is very easy that, when we discover the floor or the ceiling, we find a problem that was there, living with us, but that we did not know existed.
This type of unforeseen events can be very diverse with different costs of elimination or repair. We can find mold, pipes in bad condition, uneven floors or ceilings,…
If we are lucky and we do not find any unforeseen (we doubt it), that part of the budget can become a nice trip or that wood-burning fireplace that we have been wanting to buy for so long. This is one of the most common mistakes in renovations.
Prioritize aesthetics over functionality.
We all want the house of our dreams. We all want that big fireplace we saw in that American Christmas movie. We all want that porch with great views and a hammock to relax in. But we must be aware that, in the long run, what will make a renovation perfect is the focus on comfort.
Maybe we are in love with a material that is difficult to clean. Maybe that type of paint we want for the living room is not compatible with having children at home.
And, in addition to comfort, we must be realistic with our budget. We cannot forget fundamental details such as air conditioning and insulation to give prominence to aesthetics. With the passage of time, we will be grateful for it.
Pinterest is an unreal world.
And neither does Divinity. We must assume that the photos and houses we see on TV or on the internet are not real. They are all retouched and have long hours of preparation behind them. It’s great to get ideas : a staircase with glass handrails, open kitchen with island, large window for the living room… But sticking centimeter by centimeter to something we have seen on television is one of the biggest mistakes in the reforms.
Paying too much attention to deadlines.
“We’ll have this in a couple of days.” He arrived on the fifth day.
“By February you will be able to move in.” It is April and there are still no doors.
There is no need to be nervous. Reforms are not something exact like mathematics. Unforeseen events and obstacles arise that will put our nervous system to the test.
Not letting ourselves be advised and being too closed-minded.
We must look for a good contractor, quantity surveyor or architect and trust his professionalism. For him it is essential that the reform you fall in love and he will look for the best means to do so. The reform will bear his stamp and a satisfied client is a guarantee to get new clients.
We must heed his advice and be flexible with our preconceived idea. We must trust him.
Not being clear about what we want. And what we need.
It is good to ask for advice from our environment to give us their point of view and even avoid mistakes in the reforms that others have already made. But no one has the same habits as us nor has the same house as us. We must not forget this in order not to make one of the mistakes in the reforms.
You may be advised to put casement windows “because they insulate more than normal ones”, to put sliding doors in the living room “because they save space”. Accept the advice of your professional and your environment but without neglecting what you need in your daily life.
Throw away purchase tickets and warranties.
KEEP IT ALL. Tickets, guarantees, receipts, discount vouchers, EVERYTHING. We know that it is complicated to keep order during a renovation, but if a problem occurs once the renovation is finished, we will appreciate it.
Racanear in qualities.
“Cheap is expensive”. This is a great truth. We can be seduced by that tile that is half the price but shines the same. We can be guided by those electric windows that are worth the same as manual ones. But time will put everything in its place. The tile will stop shining and the electric window will not insulate as well as the manual one.
We must pay attention to the details and the quality of the materials, since everything we put in the reform we would like it to be for life. Or a large part of it.
Buying furniture ahead of time.
Let’s not run. Even if it is the bargain of the century, even if we fall in love at first sight, let’s wait. We don’t know what unforeseen events may arise, nor what final useful measurements the living room or bedroom will have, nor if we will finally be able to place a socket on that wall for the hallway lamp .
Let’s wait. Once the renovation is finished we will have all the time in the world to spend hours and hours looking at furniture. And it will be a joy when all fit perfectly in our new reform.
Not adapting the design to our way of life.
One of the mistakes in the most common most common. As we detailed above, the renovations of our neighbors or the Johnson family in Massachusetts may seem very attractive to us. But these do not fit our reality or our life plan. Let’s adjust every detail of the renovation to our routine and our day-to-day life.
Do not make designs before starting.
It seems obvious, but many of us overlook this step. Not having an idea of where we want the TV, the dining table, the bed or the cabinets will make us fall into mistakes such as not having sockets available or having to drill holes in the wall once the painting is finished.
Let’s enjoy the pre-reform time imagining and dreaming about our ideal house. Let’s think about where we want to get dressed, do the laundry or where we want to take a nap on Sundays.
Do not compare budgets.
We must request several estimates, compare them and then decide. It seems obvious but the rush and anxiety to start as soon as possible can play tricks on us.
Let’s compare materials, delivery times, the professionalism you convey and all the details of the budget, because once they start biting there will be no turning back.
Not to be on top.
It is not necessary to become a police detective or to be there every day during the renovation. Let’s trust in the professionalism of the workers and the contractor, but we must be there at key moments and be actively involved, especially in the first phase of the reformin which it is decided what the final aspect of the house will look like. home once finished.
Not enjoying the process.
Many experts compare the process of a renovation to a separation or a move. If we avoid all the mistakes in the reforms that we have detailed in this post and we arm ourselves with patience, we will be able to enjoy the process and we will remember all our lives the moments and the decisions that made us leave the house in the state it will be in after the reform.
It’s time to foster our creative side and build our new home from scratch.
Source: El País
