Common Home Renovation Challenges & How to Avoid Them

You’ve been dreaming of a home renovation project for months (maybe even years?) and now you’re finally moving ahead with those big plans. If only your excitement were enough to propel that project to the finish line! 

Home renovation challenges are inevitable for any project. From busy contractors who can’t fit your project in for weeks to delays in shipping materials to finding that those materials have been damaged during transit and must be reordered, homeowners must be ready to navigate some challenges along the way.  

Here are some tips on how to handle home renovation obstacles to ensure the timely completion of your project.   

Common Home Renovation Challenges and How to Avoid Them 

No home renovation project is the same, although there are plenty of obstacles in common. Even renovation projects with healthy budgets that are led by highly experienced home experts are prone to obstacles and delays along the way. Here, we discuss some common renovation roadblocks and how to handle renovation delays. 

Supply Chain Shortages 

Unless the materials you have chosen are in stock and can be delivered in a timely manner, both contractors and homeowners are at the mercy of the supply chain. Highly customized items always take longer to arrive, but delays can also occur with standard finishes. Depending on what is taking its sweet time to reach you, a project phase or even the entire project itself could see delays. 

At Great Day Improvements, we not only manufacture the products we sell, but we also manage the entire project from start to finish. You’ll never be left wondering about the status of your home improvement project.

Permit Delays 

An experienced contractor will know the ins and outs of securing permits for your job site, but even that’s not enough to speed up the actual process of getting those permits. Some municipalities have much longer processing times than others, so talk to your home expert team to see what, if anything, can be started in the interim so that things can get moving quickly when the permits are finally in place. 

Weather Conditions 

Exterior home improvement projects will especially be at the mercy of the local weather forecast. After all, you can’t start digging for an in-ground pool when the backyard is covered in snow.  

Even if your project involves interior remodeling, you might still experience weather-related delays with the delivery of building materials. With more extreme weather events happening throughout the country, it’s not unusual for road closures and other issues to delay the transport of materials — anything from your new kitchen cabinets to your dining room chandelier. 

Scheduling Conflicts 

You might hope to wrap up your renovation project by a certain date, but it will ultimately depend on the availability of the home experts you’ve hired. While availability does matter when hiring a professional, it shouldn’t be the only deciding factor. Ultimately, you want to work with a home expert who has demonstrable experience with your particular home project. Still, it will help greatly if you can plan for it in advance and be flexible with the work timeline because depending on scheduling conflicts, it could be a while before your home experts show up for work at your home.  

Poor Communication 

Agree On the Preferred Communication Method  

The digital age makes communicating easier, but not if you’re expecting a phone call when your contractor prefers texting, or vice versa. Establish the preferred method of communication early on so that neither of you miss important messages or updates. 

Get Things in Writing 

It goes without saying that you should have signed a contract or agreement for the scope of work before beginning the project. But you should also have written updates anytime the project changes or is extended. Do not assume anything, and do not assume that any conversations you had with your home expert team will be remembered precisely.

Especially when it comes to budgeting, timelines, and design choices, put everything down on paper (or in a digital document). It’s a good idea to keep a list or journal of the timeline so you can refer back to it at any time during the process. 

Ask Questions 

As the homeowner, you can and should advocate for yourself during the renovation. If there’s anything you’re unsure of or concerned about during the process, don’t hesitate to ask your team of experts. While it’s not their job to teach you how to do the work, you shouldn’t be completely in the dark about the nature of the work being done under your own roof. Should your contractor offer an app or other type of digital tool to measure progress on the project, take advantage of it. 

Be Specific About Your Needs and Preferences 

Talk to your team of hired professionals about your expectations for the space. While your renovation budget will dictate just how much you can realistically achieve for your home, know that communicating your vision will enable them to help you find alternate and perhaps even budget-friendly solutions. 

Planning ahead helps you stay on track—learn more about what to expect for the entire renovation process.  

Budget Overruns and Hidden Costs  

Budget issues during home upgrades are a common challenge for homeowners at any price point. It pays to have a buffer in your renovation budget — at least 5–10% extra, according to the experts at Great Day Improvements — for any hidden or “surprise” costs incurred during renovation. 

For example, when installing your new sink, your contractor might discover a plumbing issue. Unless you’re eager to have a pipe break in the middle of your brand-new kitchen, it’s a good idea to get the problem taken care of now — even though it will cost money that you hadn’t previously planned to spend.  

Some fixes are simple and inexpensive, while others can, unfortunately, be complicated and expensive. That’s why it’s important to make room in your budget so that your project might only be delayed rather than stalled because you ran out of money.  

Dealing with Design Disagreements and Making Compromises  

When it comes to things like choosing paint color and finishes, it’s your house, your rules. However, if you don’t see eye to eye with your partner or other household members regarding these design decisions, it’s best to work it out before the contractors get to work. 

While it’s entirely possible to repaint walls or swap out finishes, you’ll be footing the cost of those additional materials and labor costs. Avoiding renovation mistakes like these will help save money in the long run. And even if money isn’t the biggest detractor during your renovation project, know that walking back or even reversing design decisions in progress will only tack on more time to the project.  

What Do You Value?

On the flip side, a design decision you might have been quite excited about might not work well in your space for one reason or another. Let’s say you have fallen in love with a certain type of flooring, but your contractor is encouraging you to choose something more durable for your high-traffic household.

Consider this: Is your design choice worth having to pay more to fix or replace it sooner than you would with a more durable finish? While practicality is important in home improvement, so is personal preference. It all comes down to what you value more for your home. 

When Things Don’t Go According to Plan

Even if you’re the most organized homeowner working with the best home experts around, that won’t ensure smooth sailing for your project. The most carefully planned project can still hit roadblocks along the way. Here are some ways to avoid remodeling stress and solutions to keep the project on track. 

How to Plan for Unexpected Events  

While no one wants to dwell on worst-case scenarios for their home improvement project, it’s essential to have a Plan B — and sometimes a Plan C and D — when faced with the often-inevitable delays and budget modifications. 

Let’s say you were given a six-week timeframe for a project. It’s not a good idea to book a vacation or host an event immediately after those six weeks are up. This is not to say you must put your life on hold until your bathroom is redone or your floors are refinished, but it does mean allowing for extra time to wrap up your home improvement project with some breathing room. Plan ahead if you want work done in a certain time frame to avoid disappointment—or having to host the holidays in the middle of a construction site. 

What Happens When Renovation Projects Grow Too Large

Homeowners want to be happy with the results of their renovations, but they also need to be flexible with the outcome. There may be times when part of a project needs to be modified or even put on indefinite hold due to budget or time constraints.  

Clarify Your Needs & Wants

For many budget-minded homeowners, it helps to establish the difference between renovation needs and wants before the work begins. Consider this: You need a new refrigerator for your kitchen, but you may want a deluxe model you’ve had your eye on. However, resolving an unexpected electrical issue might have eaten into your renovation budget. To complete the job in a timely manner without going over budget, you may now have to purchase the lower-priced appliance instead of the one you really wanted.  

Clarify Your Timeline

Even a homeowner with an unlimited budget might come to realize that their dream project will  simply take too long to achieve. Do they want to enjoy their newly designed home, or do they want to live for months longer in an unfinished space? The answer is up to you: the homeowner. 

Understanding that compromises will be necessary to stay within your renovation budget and/or timeframe can help you avoid major — but perhaps not minor — disappointments. 

Great Day Improvements Supports a Smoother Experience

Great Day Improvements revolutionized the remodeling experience by minimizing the stress and risk for homeowners. We own the entire process from start to finish — everything from design to manufacture to installation. This seamless process offers you peace of mind because we take accountability should there be any challenges or delays. Our home experts will walk you through what to expect during a home renovation and communicate progress along the way. 

Find home remodeling services near you or request a quote to start your project with one of our trusted remodeling partners. 

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