So, you’ve finally made the plunge and picked up a wonderful fixer-upper property that you feel you can renovate into a lovely home for your family. However, restoring an old property isn’t always as cut-and-dry as you might initially think.
There is much more to a successful DIY property renovation project than what meets the eye and it is often so much more than a coat of paint or a few new roofing tiles. If you are about to embark on a total property restoration, these are the most common errors to avoid.
Proper Planning and Cost Assessment
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to jump in head-first. Instead of just randomly picking and choosing areas of the property that you want to renovate, it’s good to make a detailed plan on just what you hope to accomplish.
Yes, the paint is peeling everywhere and there are several tiles missing on the roof, which probably means there’s a leak somewhere. The concrete drive is cracked with several holes deep enough to cause concern for your vehicle when pulling up to the garage. Make a list of everything that you see down to the finest detail and start your planning from there.
Mistakes in Sourcing
Another huge mistake so many DIYers make is to source their materials and equipment from a local home improvement or hardware stores. This can be a mistake on more levels than one. While those stores, for example, might have concrete bags you can mix to patch those holes in the driveway, do they carry professional grade concrete products?
It is imperative that from the concrete to the sealer, you find a concrete construction products manufacturer that supplies materials that would be used by the pros if you were to contract them. While this is a DIY restoration project, you don’t need to settle for inferior products.
Expecting Overnight Results
As the old saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Altogether too many DIYers get frustrated at the length of time it is taking to complete their projects which, in turn, leads to rushing jobs that should be carefully handled. A job half done isn’t going to provide any satisfaction, so take the time to do it right the first time around.
Why would you want to restore the restoration you already put time, effort, and money into? Being in a hurry is a common mistake, so plan your project so that you can take the time to do things right the first time and you won’t be wasting time and money.
There is so much to consider in a property restoration project that just might be a bit overwhelming in the beginning. However, if you take the time to plan and organize in an orderly manner down to the finest detail, you will be able to see a ‘picture’ emerge of the finished project.
Don’t be in too much of a hurry and if possible, do it in stages so that each step can be inspected before moving on. Remember, haste makes waste, so take your time!