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41 home renovation mistakes you should avoid

How to remodel the right way
Planning permission oversight
Not discussing ideas with your professional team
Trying to do too much yourself
Not paying for goods and services with a credit card
Forgoing essential ventilation
Renovating too soon
Neglecting natural light
Not having a lighting plan
Focusing on too many rooms at once
Not having a plan
Going with cheapest quote
Not considering neighbours
Running out of time
Cutting professional corners
Voiding your existing home insurance
Measuring wrong
Dishonouring a property's period
No contingency fund
Dismissing doorways
Underestimating drainage
Knocking down structural walls
Basement bloopers
Insulation impediments
Skipping storage
Ignoring the environment
Scrimping on outdoor materials
Spending too much, or too little
Ignoring regulations around wood-burning stoves
Forgetting loft limitations
Bi-fold door blunders
Shorting out on electrics
Exposing walls without proper planning
Not requesting a new insurance quote
Not following a flow
Impractical design choices
Not considering soundproofing
Terrible temperature control
Not ordering extra flooring
Forgetting fundamentals
Following fads
Not carefully considering open-plan living
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How to remodel the right way

Remodelling a house can be a great way to turn a tired building into a dream home, but taking on such a big project isn't always smooth sailing. There are always snags along the way, from delayed deliveries to unforeseen structural problems and design oversights.

Be prepared for the problems that might crop up by checking out these common home renovation mistakes before you start. Click or scroll on for more...

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Jen Grimble

11 March 2024

Interiors

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