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Us Kiwis love a doer-upper. There’s something about having the ability to turn an old, worn down property into a home that has been designed specifically to your own needs and taste. If you’re in the middle of home renovations or planning to get started, you’ve no doubt considered DIY-ing some or all of it. For many first-timers, the mistakes made when renovating are learned the hard way! There are plenty of renovation horror stories, but many of these mistakes can be avoided if you plan carefully and use the right equipment to get the job done.
We’ve pulled together 10 common renovation mistakes and tips on how to make sure they don’t become a reality for your home reno project.
The strategy behind buying a fixer-upper home is simple; buy an average home in a nice neighbourhood and then spend time and money working on the property to bring it up to scratch. This may mean the property costs you less than a newly built or renovated home, sparing you some money to put towards renovations. That said, you may wind up spending more overall if you don’t budget properly for renovations.
The cost of renovating can be expensive, and blowing the reno budget is a common occurrence. Getting ahead of yourself by splurging on materials you don’t actually need and rushing the renovation process are recipes for budget blow-outs.
Firstly, make sure you set a realistic budget from the outset and avoid cutting costs in areas where you really shouldn’t — unless you’re a certified plumber or electrician, it’s wise to hire a professional to help you in that space. Windows, insulation and doors are also crucial things to install correctly the first time (you’ll be grateful in winter!). Any work you do on your home will need to comply with the NZ building code and local council guidelines, so make sure to call in the pros to avoid getting caught out later.
Also, make sure to allocate budget for project creep. Having a contingency in your budget will be a blessing if something unexpected happens as you’ll have a budget set aside to cover it. It’s easy to forget about costs such as the shipping of materials, simple hand tools you don’t already have and cleaning supplies.
Make sure you have adequate cash flow to pay your reno bills on time. You'll avoid paying interest in the long term by not using credit cards or loans to complete the renovation. Of course, for some people paying in cash isn’t realistic, so if that’s the case, always outline these predicted costs and account for interest in your initial budget.
And finally, be sure to look out for fees and hidden costs. Whenever you’re in the market for an appliance, materials or just about anything you need for the reno, ask for a quote first. Check that quote for anything that seems to be hiking the cost up and see if you can find a more competitive price elsewhere, without compromising on the quality of service and finish.
The classic Kiwi ‘she’ll be right’ attitude won’t help you when it comes to renovations, and a lack of detailed planning can lead to stalled projects and design decisions being made last minute.
The budget is one consideration, but planning out what needs to be done and visualising this is really important. The fun part? Scrolling Pinterest and home design magazines for inspiration, of course. But working out the logistics and how you can bring that inspiration to life in your home is the next step.
Don’t shy away from detail! Firm up timelines and the exact order you’ll work through the renovation tasks — detail is key. Another benefit of this is it will help you identify jobs that may require a contractor, and you can be really clear on the time and cost involved in getting that help.
Changing your mind can cost time and money. This is a tricky one to avoid as changing your mind is a natural part of renovations. Some things are easier to change than others; you could repaint down the track, but regretting removing a wall isn’t exactly a simple fix. Proper planning and thinking it through in the beginning can help you avoid costly changes throughout the project.
Write up your renovation plan and make sure everyone is across it. There’s no point forming a plan if the other people involved in the renovation aren’t working to it. Share any relevant plans with any suppliers/contractors you’ll be working with to uncover any issues at the get-go.
You can check out various resources to help you plan a renovation online.
The excitement of renovating definitely comes in choosing the visual elements of the room. Selecting paint colours and new appliances fuels joy! While it can be tempting to rush straight to this point, don’t forget about assessing and fixing the basics first. The foundations, roof and structure of your home can come back to haunt you later if they aren’t considered first.
Getting the basics sorted will let you get to the fun bits with the peace of mind that everything is structurally sound. It’s important you don’t skimp on costs here as having a home that is structurally sound, dry and secure is the first piece to take care of. It’s probably wise to get a professional in for this part, both from a cost and legal standpoint (mistakes in this part of the process can be very expensive).
Some things to check for are:
The foundations
The structural elements of your home such as load bearing walls; this will also show you whether it’s going to be possible to make structural changes in the renovation
The roof and gutters
Plumbing and electrical work
If work is required in these areas, tackle that first! And another piece of wisdom: generally speaking, not tampering with the ‘footprint’ of your home will really help save on costs too. Moving sinks, walls, plumbing and electricals can be expensive work.
There are many small renovation jobs, such as relining a room or repainting that you don’t need building consent for. However, all building work done in New Zealand must comply with the New Zealand building code and will need building consent before the work begins.
You can check whether your renovation requires building consent on the New Zealand government building site. You’re breaking the law if you carry out work that doesn’t have consent and may be hit with hefty fines, so it pays to check. A dodgy building or renovation job can also impact the resale of your home down the track when the new buyer will likely complete a property inspection prior to submitting an offer. This is also another reason why it’s important to work with a certified builder or master builder. This ensures the person completing the work is across our building code of compliance.
Handy Hirepool Tip: New building consent exemptions introduced in 2020 mean there are a number of smaller building jobs that no longer require consent. Read up on what they are before you crack on.
It also doesn’t hurt to let your neighbours know if any noisey work will be taking place for a period of time. That way if lots of people, vehicles or machinery are at the property, they’re aware why.
You can certainly do a lot of the home renovation yourself, in fact that’s a sure way to save money. However, buying new tools and equipment to do those jobs can be a costly exercise, cutting into your renovation budget and leaving you with tools you may rarely use again. But failing to use the right tools for the job means your reno may take longer and the finish might not be as good as it could be.
The great news is you don’t have to buy all of the tools first hand, you can hire them from Hirepool. We provide commercial-grade equipment, which can be hired online or ordered from your local Hirepool branch.
From painting and decorating equipment, to landscaping equipment, Hirepool has all the tools to help you smash your reno projects at the fraction of the cost, all while saving you time and effort. If you’re renovating your kitchen or bathroom, it’s likely you’ll need to do some work on the flooring. Or maybe some power tools are just what you need for that DIY laundry renovation. Our local experts are able to offer great advice on the best equipment for your job, just get in touch.
When searching for renovation inspo, it’s easy to get sucked into all the latest trends. Many people forget that trends change all the time, so your renovation can look dated quickly if it lacks good design principles, plus, you can’t always retro-fit a specific design to your home.
Hiring an interior designer is a wise move for many homeowners, as they have an expert eye and experience bringing a vision together. It’s a great idea to consult a designer in the early stages to get their thoughts and opinions on the direction you plan to take. If budget is a concern and you don’t fancy forking out for a pro, make sure to do your research and take advantage of the online tools and resources available to help you plan and map out a space.
It’s important to think about the age and style of your home. If your home is older, there’s nothing wrong with modernizing it, but perhaps think about how you can find the balance between modern and classic.
There’s always the future to think about too — just because you love the home renovation plans, doesn’t mean the next homeowner will. This is fine for things like paint colours, but could be more problematic when it comes to remodelling kitchens and bathrooms.
If you’ve bought yourself a true fixer-upper, then it can be tempting to want to work on the whole house at once. The thought of living in the finished product is very exciting! However, sometimes the better approach is to tackle one room/area at a time so you actually feel like you’re making progress, and this means you can live around the renovation more easily. This is also best from a budget management perspective.
Have a think about which areas of the home you spend the most time in and start there. The living room is often a good place to start and will be a haven while the other jobs happen around you. The kitchen and bathroom offer the best return on investment for resale value (if you’re renovating for profit), but they can be the most expensive and the most disruptive. Make sure you have the capital and maybe some temporary accommodation before you start.
Once you get the chunky projects sorted, finishing off other rooms such as bedrooms or the study will seem like a piece of cake!
If you’re working on a renovation project that requires professionals, choosing the wrong crew can be the undoing of your careful planning and budgeting. So, it’s worth spending a bit of time looking into your options before you make the call.
It’s completely reasonable to ask lots of questions so you feel you have all the information you need to make a decision. It’s a wise idea to ask to see their previous work and you can also ask for references from previous customers.
Word of mouth is your best friend — ask around for recommendations from friends, family or colleagues who have completed a renovation; people are generally always open and honest about their experience.
Safety first, always! Not taking the appropriate safety measures when renovating can turn your dream home renovation into a nightmare. Injuries can really slow you down, and no reno is worth risking your health and safety for.
Never start a job without assessing the safety risks and putting measures in place to prevent anything going wrong. You should:
No matter the size of your renovation project, taking your time and doing the work properly is key if you want to achieve the best results. Rushing increases the likelihood of injury, missing important steps or risk a sloppy finishing job. In many cases, you may end up spending more time and money going back over the work later on!
Set a realistic timeline with all of the parts of the process. Factor in time for breaks so you don’t feel like the renovation has consumed your life! Remember that things always take longer than you expect (don’t use renovation reality TV shows as a guide!). Not giving tradies or contractors enough time to do their best work is sure to end in disappointment, so work out a realistic timeframe with them and be patient.
Your home renovation may take a bit of time and can bring all sorts of stress, but do your best to embrace and enjoy the process. You may only do one home renovation in your life and it can bring many learnings and memories!
Now that you know the most common mistakes to watch out for when renovating your home, you can be confident approaching your home reno project. There are lots of jobs you can tackle inside and outside your place with the right knowledge and equipment. Get in touch with your local Hirepool branch to chat about your next job and hire all the gear you need to make your DIY easy or if you know what gear you are after just jump online and get it booked!
