You're starting a new home renovation project. How can you avoid making costly mistakes?

As an architect, I did a number of renovations and restorations. They always involve extra costs as unexpected conditions arise during construction. For renos a contingency fund of 25% is not excessive. Do everything possible to know the existing conditions before you start. Go up on the roof, go up in the attic, go down in the basement or crawl space. Check the foundation - especially if floors are not level. Know the structure completely - which walls are bearing, which are not. Check suspicious areas for rot, mold and insects. Break through walls if you can. Know where plumbing and HVAC run. Check incoming electrical and plumbing services for capacity. Use your consultants. WARN YOUR CLIENT ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT!

When you think of doing your home renovation. Do your due diligence on the FF: 1. You need to have a budget and before you start; its advisable for you to have your funds ready. Do your research and hire an experienced Building Designer or Design Architect; Call ARDP we'll help you the rest of the process.

in my experience, these are the necessary steps -Set a Realistic Budget -Define Your Goals and Priorities -Research and Plan Thoroughly -Hire Reliable Professionals -Avoid Scope Creep -Communicate Effectively -Source Materials Wisely -Address Problems Promptly -Inspect Workmanship Carefully

Before you even get started.. Look at the big picture … . Upfront costs can hurt your budget. Site work.. Hills & valleys Local municipalities may require engineering plans for Such things as runoff, storm water management, drainage and soil movement.

El cliente, lo primero que debe hacer es ponerse en contacto con un estudio de arquitectura para que realice un proyecto exhaustivo donde se definan con precisión la propuesta de distribución, los materiales y todos los elementos necesarios para la reforma así como una medición de las unidades de obra completa En esta etapa, el técnico tendrá que tener la suficiente experiencia para orientar al cliente sobre la estimación de costes reales de cara a acotar la propuesta. Con esta base, se deberán solicitar varias ofertas a contratistas sobre la que finalmente se elegirá la más optima. Si el proyecto se ha realizado definiendo y valorando todos los elementos, no existirán errores durante la reforma que conlleven gastos extraordinarios.

Detailed Contract and Scope of Work: Ensure all aspects of the project are detailed in a contract, including the scope of work, timeline, costs, and payment schedule. A clear contract can prevent misunderstandings and unexpected costs. Obtaining Necessary Permits: Ensure all required permits are obtained before starting the project. Failure to do so can result in fines, delays, or the need to redo work to meet local codes and regulations.

While knowing your budget is important, also account for contingencies, add an emergency find to your budget to cover unexpected expenses. Renovation can come with surprises sometimes, having money for emergencies can help you navigate unforeseen challenges without derailing the entire project.

To sidestep costly errors in a home renovation, meticulously plan the project, establish a realistic budget, and conduct thorough research on materials and contractors. Seek advice from experienced professionals, anticipate potential challenges, and secure all necessary permits. Regularly communicate with your contractors to ensure alignment with your vision, preventing misunderstandings that may lead to expensive corrections. 🏡🚧

Let's delve into an example to illustrate this point: Setting a Budget Example: Imagine you're planning to renovate your kitchen. You assess your finances and decide that you can allocate $30,000 for the entire project. To ensure you're prepared for unforeseen costs, you add a 15% contingency fund to your budget. Base Budget: $30,000 This is the amount you are willing to spend on the renovation, covering costs like materials, labor, permits, and design fees. Contingency Fund: 15% of $30,000 = $4,500 You set aside an additional 15% of your budget for unexpected expenses or changes that may arise during the renovation process. Total Budget (Including Contingency): $30,000 + $4,500 = $34,500

Refer and study the old Blueprints of the house. In case the owner do not have a copy go to the local Building Department where you can acquire a copy. You can make the new renovation plan together with the client's approval from that point. Never start a construction without planning.

It's important for Clients to do their research and have a clear vision of what they want. Creating idea boards or even selecting simple style ideas for the next Kitchen Renovation or Bedroom Makeover this makes it easier for us as Designers, Architects, etc when developing designs. It also allows us to specify exactly to the clients design requirements.

- Research and Gather Inspiration Explore home improvement websites, magazines, and social media platforms, create a vision board or folder to help communicate your preferences to contractors & designers.

We alway recommend clients to build Pinterest boards with inspiration features, and then rank the top 3-5 must have elements. Some of the best projects use lower end branding without eliminating higher end style yet maintaining budget

As an interior designer, I typically inquire about the following from all my clients: a collection of mood boards consisting of 5-10 images, their budget, the timeline for the project, a list of essential items, and a wishlist of their dream additions. Choosing the right professional and maintaining open communication are essential aspects of the design process. The smoother the communication, the quicker we can transition from the design phase to finalizing pricing and obtaining permits and move to construction. Communication is the key.

Before you even buy a property, be it land or an existing dwelling for rehab. Check the zoning! Even if you’re only going straight up, if the existing house is non-conforming, you cannot extend an existing nonconforming use. You will require a variance. Always check the following: 1. Flood.. Even if you’re out of the flood zone …. if a flood event were to occur, you could be sitting high and dry and not be able to get in or out. 2. Wetlands/ Highlands 3. Neighborhood value. 4. Underground Oil tank.. Always to a tank sweep! 5. Public water/ Well & septic.. (Sounds obvious, but some people don’t even know what a Septic is) 6. Be mindful of site work.. This can eat a big hole in your budget early on.

I have Pinterest boards, categorized by room, function, style and color. So many choices, it will take a while to find the top 5 must haves!

Get a solid recommendation of a contractor that will contribute ideas that are cost effective. Always get a written bid for every project.

Some important Key points in the research stage from my (POV) 1. Educate Yourself: Learn about the renovation process, materials, and terminology. 2. Gather Inspiration: Collect ideas and preferences from various sources to visualize your project. 3. Explore Options: Evaluate different renovation solutions considering factors like energy efficiency and durability. 4. Read Reviews and Testimonials: Check feedback on contractors and suppliers to assess their reliability. 5. Seek Expert Advice: Consult professionals for guidance on design, space planning, and materials. 6. Understand Regulations: Familiarize yourself with local building codes and permit requirements.

La investigación es una etapa clave del proyecto de renovación, sobre todo si no se tiene un conocimiento amplio del tema; investigar el mercado, los posibles mecanismos de contratación y las opciones para ejecutar la renovación es un paso que puede agregar valor al proyecto.

La tecnificación en la planificación del proyecto es un punto angular sumamente importante dentro de la segunda industria menos tecnificada (la construcción)de la industria global, el desarrolo de una idea se logra a traves de un trabajo de investigacion y desarrollo colaborativo dentro de un equipo de trabajo que debe ser cuidadosamente armado progresivamente a la par del proyecto que a su vez debe estar completamente desarrollado en su etapa de proyecto incluyendo la caracteristica de imprevistos, con el fin de obtener el mejor rendimiento del proyecto en si, sin sacrificar por un momento las características iniciales de calidad confort de la idea investigativa inicial.

Invest in getting a builder in early!! Right back in concept stage a builder is going to be able to assist with guidance in what is going to work and what isn't and if budget has constraints, will certainly tell you when your budget is going to be blown from your design decisions. All the other professionals needed will come up through these discussions and you won't be going in without a full understanding of what's in front of you.

- Engage different Professionals for the various stages of the project. Engage reputable & qualified professionals (architects, designers, contractors), for smooth sailing of the project.

Find a builder you can communicate well with and ensure the quote/contract you accept and sign is detailed and specific about what is included. A cheaper quote with poor detail or scope will likely become a big headache with extra costs once construction commences.

Finding a serious and professional contractor to execute the renovation can be the most difficult task. Ask to see reference projects in real, talk to previous clients and make sure they have a clean record. Secondly, you need to have a contract and a quote for the works and estimate on the material costs. The most difficult and time consuming for a contractor is to calculate how much time it takes , i e how cost, it will be to execute all the phases of construction. Therefore they often use standardised ways of calculating. If your project is complex they might not want to give a price, but insist on a quote before you sign a contract since you otherwise have no way of controlling your costs, and they will almost always go over budget.

Hire a quantity surveyor. Make sure you ask the quantity surveyor to provide a contingency amount of atleast N$80 000.00 on an amount of 1 million. Then ask for atleast 3 quotations from different construction and renovation companies. Negotiate if you need to and create some financial beneifits for your client. Manage your project through site visits and thorough inspections during the construction period. Keep your client updated of any and all financial implications at all times and get approval before proceeding with anything. Thanks for taking the time to read my two cents and good luck with your project. Cheers! Wayne Kruger

Realtors are a good source for reputable professionals. As a realtor, I often give referrals of persons that I work with. Whether you are a client or not. My reputation is everything and I only work with individuals who will give my clients the best outcome possible!

It has been said way too many times, you get what you pay for. Even if you want to DIY a renovation, your money will come back in spades if you get a little oversight from a paid professional. We all just want folks to be happy in their homes.

Esta etapa es crucial ya que con el correcto armado del equipo de trabajo, es decir el que el individuo perteneciente tenga una actitud he idea similar al del fin mismo del proyecto genera proactividad, sin sacrificar la oportunidad a personas con falta de experiencia o juventud, simplemente por serlo, pero si buscando unas características especificas que vayan acorde con la 'actitud' del proyecto y que genere una proactividad en el equipo de trabajo.

I couldn't agree more! Hiring the right professionals is absolutely pivotal. Imagine partnering with a visionary expert who not only understands your vision but believes wholeheartedly in transforming your space with the perfect blend of functionality and aesthetics. It's about finding someone who shares your passion for adding value to every square foot. That's the kind of collaboration that every client needs!

Yes hiring the right person for the right job is important. This includes services of a qualified and experienced Architect, civil, structural, electrical , plumbing and communication engineers alongwith the renowned contractors having skilled and literate manpower perferably diploma holders in theircrespective field.

Maintain open and regular communication with your contractors, discuss concerns, and address issues before they escalate. Stay involved as the client and professional but avoid micromanaging, trust professionals to be professional, also be available for discussion and decision making processes.

Investiga y conoce la normativa actualizada del terreno donde esta tu proyecto, las normativas cambian con el tiempo y es posible que algo que estuviera permitido antes (como por ejemplo balcones) ahora no este permitido-.

Avoiding unnecessary changes is again a factor to plan according to the requirement and available budget. Repitition of mis- coordination inbetween the engineering, contractors and their man power will result in extra expenditure and delay in the project completion targets.

Changing or adding scope after construction has started can blow out a budget quickly. Ensure the you're happy with the design and plans before site commencement or prepare for cost blowouts An extra drawing revision prior to building is ideal.

Cover all bases in your initial design and stick to them. Any changes are costly, be they inclusions or exclusions. Have a 10-15% factor in your budget. Don't be cheap!

Modes: Standard Detecting errors early in the design phase is crucial to avoid costly mistakes during construction. VR tools provide a detailed and immersive experience, making it easier to identify potential design flaws or clashes. By catching these issues early on, you can save valuable time and resources, ensuring a smooth construction process. Early error detection in the design process is essential to preventing expensive problems during construction. Virtual reality technologies offer an intricate and captivating experience, which facilitates the identification of possible design defects or conflicts. Early detection of these problems can help you avoid wasting time and money when building, assuring a successful outcome.

Ia agree but the first step in starting a project in my opinion is the discussion between each parts. Before staring a project you as an architect need to know for whom you are designing. For a single person for a family. Each type of “family” has is up or down in your design and some may need 1 room some 3 rooms. Some may need a specific type of furniture some not. Those are a few of things you need to know.For those I mentioned up top you need to do some research with the right question’s. Only after you find out all the information you need only just then you should start designing or else your in a lot of design fault which is going to cost time, money and your going to lose a lot of credibility. It’s just my personal opinion.

Al definir adecuadamente el alcance de la demanda intervención que deseamos hacer, podemos identificar todas las tareas que agregan valor a la remodelación y suprimir aquellas que son innecesarias o que no aportan valor; siempre es importante optimizar los recursos en las tareas que generan más impacto:

I personally believe to spend much time during the design process so as to save the random thoughts during the execution phase of the project. Adding or changing one element in the interiors gives out a completely different outlook.

Igual a mi comentario anterior, el cliente regularmente decide hacer cambios y que al profesional le guste o no, tiene que complacer al cliente, vienen los sobre costos y después no alcanza lo presupuestado.

Select Cabinets, Fixtures, and Appliances prior to project start. It's been my experience that the biggest mistakes happen when Cabinets, Fixtures, and/or Appliances are not selected prior to the start of the project. For example. If you are doing a bathroom reno, the location and height of the plumbing are dependent on the products that are selected. If you don't have the actual products or spec sheets of various products you will install plumbing and electric in the wrong locations and they will have to be redone. Change Order

Un error común tanto en obras grandes como pequeñas es que no utilizan la topografía para conocer bien la forma del terreno, luego vienen los cambios en obras por paredes descuadradas, edificios desplomados o simplemente el diseño no entra en el terreno.

Let's continue with the kitchen renovation example and focus on the timeline aspect: Planning and Permits(3 months): Work with a designer, finalize plans, obtain permits. Preparation and Demolition (4 weeks): Clear space, remove existing structures. Structural Changes and Rough-In (7 weeks): If needed, make structural changes; install plumbing and electrical. Inspections (1 week): Schedule and pass inspections. Finishing (9 weeks) Drywall, flooring, cabinetry, appliances, finish work. Final Touches and Cleanup (2 weeks) Address any outstanding issues, final inspections, and cleanup. Total Estimated Timeline: 6 months By streamlining the timeline, you maintain a clear overview of the project's progress and can address any issues promptly

Consider Long-term Resale Value: While personalizing your space is important, also consider the long term resale value of the renovation project. Totally avoid old fashioned or overly unique or unconventional design choices that may limit your home's appeal to potential future buyers.

Reusing existing materials or furniture is a cost-effective strategy for home renovations. Refurbishing cabinets or creatively using leftover materials can add a unique touch to your home and save money. Look for used furniture on online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace for good quality items at a fraction of the price. This promotes sustainability and gives pre-loved items a second life.

Think about why you really are doing this project. Is this to make it your dream home? Then invest for the long term and don't miss the opportunity to spend a little more to make it all you would want. Is this to flip or resell in less than 5 years? Then plan for classic improvements that appeal to just about everyone.

En general, puede emplearse el ciclo PHVA (planear, hacer, verificar, actuar) para enfrentar un proyecto de esta naturaleza, en la primera fase se diseña un plan para la ejecución de la remodelación, luego se realizan diseños, valoraciones, contratación y se inicia la ejecución; en la siguiente etapa se realiza una revisión o verificación de la manera como se está ejecutando el plan trazado; finalmente, se toman decisiones para corregir los elementos que presentan situaciones problemáticas y se proponen los planes de mejora para llegar al final del proyecto.

Don’t cut corners, make sure your contractor knows the proper installation methods and get referrals. You get what you pay for … Weather for your professional help or materials. Cheap materials are cheap for a reason.

Make sure you have a solid floor plan/design before starting your project. The most important part of your budget is the floor plan.