Top Five Remodeling Mistakes

How to avoid potential problems and pitfalls.

Charm, character, and detailed craftsmanship are just a few of the qualities that make older or historic homes so attractive to buyers. Ironically, the very qualities that make these homes unique can present some uniquely difficult challenges when it comes to renovations. While DIY shows and social media make it look easy to turn a house from fixer-upper to fabulous, the fact is that bringing an older home up to modern standards typically requires much more than an interior design refresh. Preserving a home's integrity and “charm” while making it livable for today’s modern family is a process that, when rushed, can lead to some costly setbacks. It takes patience, planning, and preparation to successfully marry the old with the new. By doing your research, taking your time, and hiring the right team for the job you can avoid these top five mistakes people make when remodeling a historic home.

Mistake #1: Underestimating the Cost

One of the biggest mistakes people make when remodeling a historic home is that they tend to focus on aesthetics. And who can blame them? That's the fun part! Paint colors, flooring, and other finish-outs are the things that bring a home to life, and they can be as expensive or economical as your remodeling budget allows. These are the elements of your home that you, and your guests, see every day and you want them to be visually appealing. But all the perfect paint colors and custom cabinetry are a waste of money if they are disguising a faulty foundation, poor plumbing, or an aged electrical system. These less glamorous elements are the most important, and potentially the costliest part of an older or historic home renovation. Unfortunately, they are also some of the most overlooked and therefore not included in the original budget. Nothing is worse than getting into your historic home remodeling project and discovering that you’ve seriously underestimated the cost thanks to sights unseen. So how can you avoid it? Don't just rely on a report from your home inspector. Hire a contractor or structural engineer to give your home a thorough inspection, looking for things like old water damage, cracks in the foundation, and other potential budget busters so that there are no surprises.

Mistake #2: Underestimating the Time

When it comes to budgeting, the only thing people underestimate more than cost is time. When budgeting the time for a historic home remodel, you aren't just looking at the size of the home, you are looking at how complicated and intricate the work is. Older and historic homes require a level of craftsmanship not often found in newer builds. There could be seven pieces of trim along one doorway alone, and windows typically require that much or more. Unless you are completely transforming the home from its original design, you want to honor its original structure and integrity. You don't want a rush job, and materials sourced from big box stores might not be the best choice. When the sheetrock goes up, people start to get antsy, but that’s usually the time when you need to slow down and pay close attention to all the minute details that add authenticity to your historic home remodel.

Mistake #3: Lack of Communication

Often the above two mistakes, along with countless others, can be avoided with good communication between you and your contractor. As the homeowner, you should be involved in the entire process of your historic home renovation. Something as seemingly insignificant as where to place a light switch or which side of the sink to add a pot filler becomes a big, costly issue when you have to rewire the switch or reroute the plumbing if you aren’t happy with the decision. You should be consulted on every decision, and your questions and suggestions addressed. If not, you may want to rethink your contractor.

Mistake #4: Hiring the Wrong Contractor for the Job

Almost everyone who has ever renovated a home has a horror story about a contractor. That’s because there are not any real qualification requirements. Anyone can buy a nail gun and call themselves a framer, so you've got to do some research before hiring someone for your historic home remodel. Historic homes require an additional level of expertise. Your contractor must be able to think ahead and should be well-versed in the intricacies and issues that can arise with historic home projects. So how do you know which contractor is the right one for your project? Ask for recommendations from friends or neighbors. Interview several contractors and ask for referrals and photos of comparable, completed projects. Don't go with the lowest bidder, because you get what you pay for. Don't go with the highest bidder, because you might be getting gouged. At the end of the day, the project costs what it costs, so go with the contractor who is the most transparent. At Group KG Historic Renovations and Remodeling, we show you every invoice, and we include the discount we get on materials. You pay the actual invoice plus our predetermined fee. There are no hidden costs, and you approve every spend. You should never lose control of your project to your contractor when it comes to expenses, period.

Mistake #5: Not Doing Your Due Diligence on Your Historic District

You may have the grandest plans in your head for your historic home renovation, but unless you know your district's codes and rules, you could get stopped before you even start. Worse yet, you might have to scrap the whole thing and start from scratch, wasting both time and money. Most historic districts have rules regarding facades, paint colors, even the type of glass you can use in the windows, or where your can place your mailbox. Make sure your contractor has experience with finding these sometimes well-hidden codes and regulations and can provide you with accurate information regarding permission, zoning, and permits. Mistakes in this area can be disappointing when you have a vision in mind, not to mention costly if you have to redo the work or get additional permits.

Remodeling your historic home is exciting. You are creating more than a place to live, you are creating a place to make memories. This is not the time to leave things to chance by rushing through the process. From inception to completion, Group KG Historic Renovations and Remodeling will work with you to create the home of your future while preserving the structure's historic past. Let us help you make your dream home a reality.