Home remodeling is exciting. Deciding on direction, materials, and features is fun, and allows you to build the home of your dreams to your exact specifications.  

Unfortunately, if you’ve never been through the process before, there are going to be some speed bumps. To prevent these mistakes you should always work with an experienced Boston architectural design and remodeling firm to complete your home remodeling project. Still, there are some things to keep in mind as you embark on a reimagining of your home.

In this month’s post, we’ll go over some common home remodeling mistakes to avoid. Let us know if you have any questions as you read through by giving us a call at (617) 708-0676, or contacting us online. We’re always available to answer questions!

Not looking at the big picture

Make sure to fully consider the big picture before moving forward with any remodeling projects.

Does the new space fit in with the style of the rest of your home? Will future buyers find it as valuable as you? Will this work increase the value of your home?

Does the architectural design have a purpose?

Often, when undertaking an architectural design and remodeling project, the rest of the home is not considered. While the experience in a specific room may be great, if it doesn’t have a purpose within the larger design of your home, it will never fully feel at peace.

Put simply, the design of your remodel needs a purpose. Make sure any remodel design has a layout that will not only serve the room itself, but your entire home.

Any experienced architecturally-focused design-build contractor will take into consideration the entire layout of your home when designing your space. They’ll work to create a space that lifts your spirits that you’ll love living in for years to come

Thinking problems will solve themselves

One of the costliest mistakes you can make when remodeling your home is ignoring an issue you may find inconvenient, be it due to a constraint on your vision or because it’s expensive. Ignoring reality won’t make a problem go away; it will simply make the issue more expensive and problematic down the road.

The reality with home remodels is there are going to be some things you have to do that you don’t necessarily “want” to to do. If a contractor is telling you there is an issue with plumbing that needs to be fixed, or that your roof is leaking and needs work, it is better to address it in the moment. Don’t let these issues fester for years, eventually ruining the new room you just had built.

Find a Boston architectural design firm that can solve issues instead of just ignoring them.

Cutting corners on what you can’t see

Just because you can’t see something does not mean that it does not deserve your attention (and investment). The structural aspects of a home remodel process is what will make a room look great now and for generations to come. For instance, a membrane system in a bathroom remodel will help stave off mold, potentially saving a catastrophic issue down the road.

Make sure the bones of your home are taken care of so your new space stays a beautiful space for the long haul.

Looking for the lowest bid

A low bid doesn’t always mean a low price, or more importantly good work. With every bid you receive, consider:

• Is the bid realistic?
• Will the contractor possibly be able to deliver a quality remodel at the price quoted?
• If not, how much is the contractor going to go over?

When considering contractors, you want a design-build contractor who’ll be honest up front. Having a quote that’s as accurate as possible will go a long way towards preparing and budgeting. Just because a contractor offers you a lower bid does not mean you will pay less in the end.

New England Design & Construction lays out an itemized budget at the beginning of the process, and averages just a 3% change order rate, as opposed to the industry average of 11%.

Learn More About Our Design-Build Process

Not factoring in natural light

Natural light is one of the best ways to bring warmth and good energy to your home. Having a constant natural light source has been shown to make people more productive, happier, and healthier. It also makes rooms come alive, with natural shadowing and sunlight illuminating other features in your home.

Some top ways to introduce natural light into your home include:

• • Adding windows. You can simply change the size and shape of your windows, or even add an entire wall of windows to your remodeled space
• • Skylights: Adding a skylight to your home is a great option if wall space is unavailable or you want a natural overhead light
• • Glass or french doors: Utilizing a glass door is a great and inviting option to allow light to travel into a space
• • Mirrors: While mirrors don’t allow light in themselves, they’ll reflect the existing natural light into your space and present the illusion of space

Focusing on trends over timeless style

The development and emergence of new style trends in home remodeling is exciting, as is seeing old trends that were once popular decades ago rememerge.

That said, the trendiest option for your Boston home remodel is not always best for your space. While it’s easy to look at a magazine and see something you love, it may not be the right choice for you.

Timeless and functional design will always be in style. With any trend, consider:

• • Will I use these features?
• • Does this fit into my lifestyle?
• • Will this still be something I want in 5 years? How about 10 or 20?

Make sure these bases are covered before moving forward with any remodel trend.

Not using a architectural-design remodeling contractor

When it comes to home remodeling, having a design that actually works is the most important thing. While architects can be unrealistic with their designs and construction-focused contractors can lack imagination, architecturally-focused home remodelers execute functional designs that actually work.

Since architects don’t know the costs and logistics of actually building, their designs quickly become unrealistic. An architectural design-focused approach allows for accountability throughout the entire project. Their experience with construction informs the architectural design process and vice-versa, meaning that the end product is a beautiful, functional space that’s delivered on time and on budget.

Work with New England Design & Construction

When we work on Boston architectural design and remodeling projects we focus delivering spaces that fulfill our clients functional and aesthetic goals.

See Our Portfolio to See What Our Architectural-Design Process Can Deliver

Give us a call at (617) 708-0676 or contact us online to if you’d like to request an in-home visit or find out more about our remodeling process.