By: Jenny Zhang
The best part about owning a home is that you can do whatever you want to it. And with the flood of home buyers taking advantage of the tax credit, more new homeowners are realizing that home improvement is inevitable.
While it’s much cheaper to do the improvements yourself, projects can often become overwhelming – especially for new buyers who have little experience with construction work. Making mistakes can also quickly escalate the cost of the project, so it’s crucial that every project is thoroughly researched and well-planned.
Before you begin your new project, here are 10 basic home improvement mistakes to avoid:
1. Underestimating the project. Before you begin, it’s a good idea to make a list of all the steps you plan to follow; get a second opinion if you think you may be missing something or haven’t accounted for all unforeseen complications. Also, be sure to give yourself plenty of time in case the project runs a little longer than estimated.
2. Not shutting the water off for kitchen and bathroom improvements. Whenever you’re working near pipes and the water supply, it’s a good idea to not only know where the shutoff is, but to also turn it off before you take the sink apart. After all, no one wants to deal with a flood!
3. Not making room for all the debris. Demolition creates a lot of garbage and getting rid of garbage can be costly. Before you start your project, it’s a good idea to decide how you’re going to get rid of all the trash and debris.
4. Not covering surfaces. If you’re painting, you should cover the floor with a tarp. If you’re hammering and demolishing walls or cabinets, cover every finished surface to prevent scratching and damage. And if you want to avoid repainting, protect your walls as well.
5. Demolishing in a rush. While it may seem easy to just cut a hole here, tear down a wall there, or break a cabinet away from the wall – the truth is, you should always double-check the structure before beginning demolition. You wouldn’t want to pull a giant cupboard halfway off the wall when you realize that electrical components are still attached in the back. Inspecting an item before you begin demo will give you the chance to decide if it’s worth keeping.
6. Not finding the gas shutoff. When doing construction around kitchens, fireplaces and appliances that require a gas line, it’s important to turn off the gas. Also, be cautious when working near gas lines.
7. Not doing the electrical properly. While it’s easy to run a bunch of extensions cords and change two-prong outlets to three prongs with a converter – Your safest bet is to have a professional electrician do any rewiring.
8. Working from the bottom-up. With many projects, it makes more sense to work from the top of the room down to the bottom of the room because you don’t have to worry about the mess you’re making if the floors are being replaced too. Before getting started, determine in which order you’re going to do your projects.
9. Not protecting the floors during the move. Moving can really scratch up your floors, especially if you are moving appliances. Before moving, cover your floors.
10. Not being prepared for plumbing to take longer. Whether you’re installing a new sink or re-routing the plumbing, make preparations in case the work isn’t completed in a day. You don’t want to find yourself without running water or a toilet.
For more tips about your home, money and credit, plus free tools to help you make the most of them – including a free credit score, home value estimate and home loan recommendations – check out Quizzle.com.
Related articles:
- 7 Things about Money I Wish I Knew in My 20s
- Financing a Home Improvement Project
- 4 Reasons to Refinance Your Home Loan
- 10 Steps for the First-Time Home Buyer
- Improve Your Home Selling Potential on the Cheap
This article was originally featured on Quicken Loans Mortgage News, where personal finance writer, Jenny Zhang, specializes in writing about home buying, refinancing and money saving tips.
