Renovation Regrets
24
Feb

5 Expert Tips to Avoid “Renovators’ Regret

Renovating your home for the first time can be an exciting and rewarding experience. But it can also be difficult to get right, as there is so much planning involved. So, what can you do to carry out the perfect renovation the first time and avoid renovators’ regret? Here we share some Queensland homeowners’ biggest renovation regrets and offer our expert tips to make sure this doesn’t happen to you.

5 Tips to Avoid Home Renovation Regrets

1. Identify your priorities

A major home renovation regret that we hear from homeowners is that they didn’t take enough time to plan before getting started on the renovation. You need to identify what your renovation priorities are before you can decide how to proceed. What do you want from the space? How can you improve its functionality? Which aspects of your home do you currently like and want to keep?

Remember, home renovation is not all about aesthetics. The space needs to be suitable for your day-to-day needs, so you really need to think about how you use your home. It often helps to have lived there for a while so you can find out what works and what doesn’t before you knock any walls down.

2. Set your budget

This is one of the most important factors when it comes to avoiding renovators’ regret. It is extremely easy to get carried away when renovating, tearing out features, adding new windows and updating every single room. However, unless you set a definite budget from the start and stick to it, you can find yourself in a financial bungle at the end, and sometimes, unable to complete some aspects.

Again, this comes down to prioritising. If you know you can’t afford to renovate the whole house at the same time, and your kitchen is in desperate need of an upgrade, maybe you can live with your outdated bathroom suite a little longer. This will help you avoid kitchen renovation regrets, as you can spend a little more money on the kitchen now and save up to renovate the bathroom in the future.

3. Be honest about your DIY skills

We’ve all seen those Instagram accounts of homeowners who have tackled their own renovations — and don’t they look beautiful? Unfortunately, real life isn’t like this, and most people lack the necessary skills to achieve a professional finish themselves. While you can save money with DIY, it is often a false economy, as a poorly-finished job will negatively affect the value of your home.

You should also be aware that a lot of renovation jobs are dangerous, and you shouldn’t attempt them yourself unless you have had proper training and plenty of experience. It’s far better to call in the professionals who have all the necessary skills and the latest equipment. This is our single best tip for renovation regrets avoidance

4. Don’t follow trends (too much)

Social media has made trends come and go more quickly than ever before — every week, a new home style seems to be trending. Of course, we are all influenced by fashion to a degree. It’s fine to want to copy something you really like, but please make sure you really like it and you aren’t just jumping on the bandwagon.

Your home should be a reflection of you and the other people who live in it. You should prioritise your own tastes rather than the latest trends. This way, you are far less likely to end up with renovators’ regret.

5. Include enough storage

One of the biggest renovation regrets we hear from homeowners in southeast Queensland is that they failed to plan enough storage into their new design. Storage is one of the most important elements of your home, particularly in rooms such as the kitchen and bathroom.

Working with a professional can solve this problem. We have carried out hundreds of home renovations, so we can identify all kinds of potential storage solutions you may not have thought of yourself.

Find out more about avoiding home renovation regret

If you live in southeast Queensland and are looking to renovate your home, please call the expert team here at McColl Cabinetmakers. We will be happy to discuss your project with you and make sure you don’t end up with renovators regret! Contact us today to book a consultation.

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Corey Cameron, Director of McColl Cabinetmakers, brings with him 25 years of experience in cabinetmaking and home renovations. This extensive exposure to hands-on work has ensured the highest standards in home and bathroom renovations.