Avoid These 8 Los Angeles Remodeling Mistakes

Due to the high cost of housing in Southern California, many residents are choosing to update their current space, rather than move into a new house. If you have found yourself in a similar situation, it’s important to avoid these 8 extremely common remodeling mistakes seen throughout Los Angeles.

Updating your home is overwhelming, and it’s easy to be worried about making mistakes. This is especially true if this is your first time doing so.

Don’t worry though, here are some of the most common remodeling mistakes that you can avoid, just by using this guide.

1. Trying to Rush Things

It’s understandable that you want the renovation done as soon as possible. Having work done on your home is messy, inconvenient, and a real upheaval while it’s happening. The quicker it’s done, the quicker that you’ll have your home back to yourself.

As tempting as it is to rush, don’t. When you try and get work done too quickly, you’ll see that corners have to be cut. That means you’re getting a much less polished final product, which will cause you problems down the line. In fact, if you hire good contractors, they’ll tell you that they can’t rush their work for this reason. It’s annoying putting up with the mess while the renovation is happening, but don’t rush it and you’ll have a home that’s perfect at the end of it.

2. Picking the First Contractor You See

Speaking of contractors, one of the biggest remodeling mistakes in Los Angeles is choosing the first contractor you come across. You have ideas for your home, and you want to get started as soon as possible. Before you dive in though, remember that not all contractors are the same:

• Some are detail-oriented people who will ensure you get what you need
• Others are just focused on getting the job done quickly and getting paid

Take your time researching renovators in your area, and see who’s best for you. You can check out potential contractors on the BBB site, to see what others have said. You can also ask friends and family to see if they have any recommendations for you.

It’s important to understand your price point as well. Depending on where you are located in Los Angeles, you will find a wide range of contractors with a wide range of pricing. Make sure you find the ones that meet your needs.

3. Following the Trends

Now, there’s nothing wrong with following trends as such, but you have to think carefully about how much you like them. If you incorporate that trend into your home, are you still going to want to keep it up a few years down the line?

For example, take the smart home installations that are becoming so popular in Los Angeles. These are items such as smart doorbells, fridges, and even washing machines. They’re a great idea now, but they will all need upkeep. Do you want to be dealing with that in a year’s time? Think carefully before you include them in your home.

4. Trying to Save Too Much Money

Of course, you don’t want to pay over the odds for your remodel. It’s an expensive process, and you want to save money wherever you can. You can do this in several ways, such as repainting cabinets rather than replacing them, or keeping your tiled floors and remodeling around them. These are good measures, but be sure not to cut too many corners.

If you do so, you’ll find your remodel isn’t going to come out as you wanted it to. You don’t want to find that your new bathroom or kitchen isn’t the way you wanted it, just because you didn’t want to spend the money. Spend it wisely, and ensure every job is done to the best of your ability.

5. Not Budgeting Enough

The budget for your renovation is a sticking point, and one of the greatest remodeling mistakes for many homeowners. How much should you budget?

It really does depend on which rooms you’re renovating, and what you want to do with them. For example, it’ll be cheaper to renovate a kitchen if you’re just focusing on cosmetic details, rather than moving cabinets or replacing appliances.

You can find calculators online to help you manage your budget, so you’ll know just how much to put aside for the remodel. You should also put aside a little extra, up to 20% of your budget, for emergencies. If any surprise repairs come up, you’ll be ready for them.

6. Not Paying Attention to Building Codes

Every state has its own building codes, and you’ve got to make sure that you’re adhering to them when planning a remodel. If you go ahead without checking the Los Angeles building codes, then you may find you’ll have to tear down all that hard work you put in because it’s in violation of them.

To avoid this happening, consult with an architect or another expert before you start work. They’ll have a full knowledge of Los Angeles building codes, so you can get started while being sure you’re acting within them.

7. Not Being Ready For Things to Go Wrong

It feels very pessimistic to expect things to go wrong. However, in the case of home renovations, you need to be ready for it. Life happens, and you may find you have a leaking pipe or mold problem that needs to be addressed before moving on.

If you’re not ready for this, it will trip you up. Having the money ready for such events, as discussed above, will help. Also, remember no remodel goes perfectly smoothly. Handle the problem before you attempt to move on, and you won’t have to think about it again.

8. Trying to Do Too Much Yourself

Remodels are expensive, as you’re seeing on this list. As this is the case, you’ll want to do as much as you can yourself. If you’re an avid DIYer, then there are lots you can do. You can paint walls, tile floors, and even restore furniture with the right guide.

However, if you’re not confident, you shouldn’t attempt to try these things. Work done by someone without the right skills isn’t going to hold up, and you don’t want to come away with less than stellar work on your home.

Know what you can do yourself, and what you’ll need an expert to do. Be honest about what you can do, and pay an expert to do the rest. You’ll get the best results this way.

Conclusion

Now you know which remodeling mistakes to avoid if you’re planning a remodel in LA. Follow this guide, and your renovation should go as smoothly as possible. Enjoy your new home style and get the look you want.