If you’re a newlywed, you may be excited to start fixing up your new home. But it’s important to know what to avoid so that you don’t make any costly mistakes. Here are 10 home improvement mistakes that newlyweds often make. Read on to learn more!
Not discussing your vision for the home before starting renovations
Before starting any home renovations, it’s always best to discuss your vision for the project with your partner. Otherwise, you could end up spending a lot of money on renovations that your partner may not even want.
For example, you want a concrete driveway installed. You may not realize that your partner might prefer a decorative concrete driveway instead. Discussing your plans ahead of time can avoid making costly mistakes and ensure that both you and your partner are happy with the final result.
Underestimating the time and money it will take to complete renovations
Even a small project can quickly balloon in scope, and before you know it, you’re facing months of work and a huge bill. It’s important to do your research upfront and get realistic estimates from contractors before you start any work. Otherwise, you could find yourself in over your head – and in debt.
Renovating without a plan
A major problem is not having a plan. This seems like common sense, yet so many couples go into their first home improvement project without a plan and end up frustrated with the results. This frustration could have been avoided by simply spending an afternoon planning out the project.
The first step is to decide what your goals are for the renovation. What do you hope to accomplish? Is it simply updating the look of a room or two or are you hoping to increase the value of your home?
Once you know your goals, you can start to make a list of the specific changes you want to make. Not only will this help to keep you on track, but it will also be helpful when it comes time to get estimates from contractors.
Speaking of contractors, this is another area where things can go wrong without proper planning. Hiring a contractor without doing your research is a recipe for disaster. Be sure to get at least three bids and check references before making a final decision.
Not thinking about resale value when making decisions about renovations
One of the most common mistakes is failing to take resale value into account when making decisions about renovations. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of home ownership and feel like everything needs to be updated to suit your personal taste.
However, it’s important to remember that one day you may want to sell your home, and potential buyers may not share your taste. Therefore, it’s wise to stick with neutral colors and classic styles that will appeal to a wide range of people.
Forgetting to factor in maintenance and repair costs when budgeting for renovations
It’s no secret that home renovations can be expensive. In fact, most couples underestimate the true cost of renovations by 30% to 50%.
One of the biggest mistakes newlyweds make is forgetting to factor in the cost of maintenance and repairs. Even if you’re not planning any big projects, there are still costs associated with keeping your home in good condition.
For example, you’ll need to budget for things like painting, gutter cleaning, carpet cleaning, and appliance repairs. Homeownership is a big responsibility, and it’s important to be prepared for the financial challenges that come with it.
Making big changes right after moving in instead of gradually over time
Making big changes right after moving in can be a mistake. For one thing, it’s often difficult to know exactly what you want until you’ve lived in a space for a while. You may think you want an open concept kitchen but after living with your spouse for a few months, you may find that you prefer more privacy while cooking.
It’s also important to consider the cost of major renovations. If you just spent all of your savings on the down payment and closing costs for your home, you may not have the budget for extensive renovations.
Instead of making changes right away, it may be better to wait and see how you and your spouse actually use the space. You can always make changes down the road but it’s best to take things slowly at first.
Home improvement is a big part of married life but doesn’t make the mistake of moving too quickly on big changes. Work together with your spouse to come up with a plan and budget that will make your first home everything you’ve dreamed of without breaking the bank.
Over-customizing your home (or going too trendy) and not being able to sell it later on
While it’s great to personalize your home and make it your own, it’s important to avoid making changes that will be difficult or impossible to undo later on.
For example, painting an accent wall may seem like a good idea at the time, but if you later decide you want to sell the house, you’ll likely have to repaint the entire room to make it more appealing to buyers. The same goes for trendy fixtures or appliances; while they may be stylish now, they could quickly become dated and make your home harder to sell in the future.
So before you start making any changes to your home, be sure to consider how they might affect its resale value down the road. By taking a few minutes to plan ahead, you can avoid costly mistakes that could come back to haunt you later on.
Not having realistic expectations about what you can accomplish in a short period of time
Home improvement projects are a great way to personalize your space and make it your own. However, it’s important to be realistic about what you can accomplish in a short period of time.
Many newlyweds make the mistake of underestimating the amount of time and money that a project will take. For example, “It’s easy to decide if you’re getting a deck but not when you’re going to construct it”, adds Blake from Super Quick Carpentry.
As a result, they often get overwhelmed and end up abandoning the project altogether. To avoid making this mistake, it’s important to do your research upfront and create a realistic timeline and budget for your project. By being realistic about what you can accomplish, you’ll be more likely to see your project through to completion and end up with a space that you love.
Taking on too many projects at once
Overcommitting and going broke is a common mistake that many newlyweds make when they first move in together. They have all these grand plans to finally renovate the old house they just bought without considering the time, effort, and cost required to complete the project.
Home improvement projects are rarely as simple or inexpensive as they initially seem. It’s important to pick one or two projects that you can reasonably complete within your budget and timeline, otherwise you risk going broke and putting a lot of unnecessary stress on your relationship.
Closing Thoughts
So, newlyweds, before you start your next home improvement project, be sure to avoid these common mistakes. With a little bit of planning and some expert advice, you can have the beautiful home you’ve always dreamed of – without any of the headaches. Are there any other home improvement tips you would add?
