We’ve all heard the horror stories about renovations gone awry, and they can most certainly make homeowners feel a bit apprehensive about beginning their own project. The good news is, there are some fairly common reasons why renovations fail. By looking more closely at the common reasons, you can better your chances of avoiding mistakes with your own renovation project. Let’s dive in:

Not Enough Research

A successful renovation requires a significant amount of research. Getting the design inspiration and selecting all the right details. But likely the most important area you need to research before diving in is your contractor. Choosing a contractor and not vetting them properly can lead to major challenges. You can actively work to avoid this by diving into all the information you can find online, asking family and friends, for referrals, and talking with your top choices before making the final call.

Lackluster Communication

Once the renovation is in progress, it’s important to maintain frequent communication with your contractor, designer, and anyone else who is involved in the project. When communication starts out poorly, it often continues that way. This mistake can lead to frustration and strain the relationship with the contractor. Let your contractor know how you prefer to communicate and the type of updates you want to receive. If you have questions along the way, do not hesitate to address them as they come up. The more open the lines of communication, the better.

Unclear Expectations

One of the most important topics you’ll be communicating with your contractor about is your expectations. This means you need to define your expectations early in the process. When homeowners fail to do this, they can’t share those expectations with their contractor, and they can wind up disappointed. So first, get clear on your own expectations for the project. Then, talk with your contractor. You may need to adjust some of these based on what’s possible or what fits within the budget, so be prepared for some dialogue.

Not Sticking to Your Budget

Finally, a major renovation regret is failing to stick to a budget. This is why it’s incredibly important for homeowners to spend ample time building this out before jumping into the renovation process. It’s wise to give yourself a reasonable range and set a ceiling. While you’ll try to come in under that ceiling, you’ll at least have a clear guide to keep you from pouring money you don’t have into a renovation. It’s also important to discuss the budget with your contractor and to leave room in your budget for anything unexpected. While unexpected expenses can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars and can be challenging to plan for, considering this when you set your budget range can help you manage any potential difficulties if and when they arise.