What makes a renovation expensive is not the estimate but the rework: one mistake in the layout, or saving on the wrong thing, turns into demolition and doing the work twice. Below are the 10 mistakes that happen most often, and a way to avoid each one.

The cost of a mistake grows with every stage. Moving a socket on a plan is easy. After the walls are chased, moving it affects the finishes, and after the tiles are laid, the covering has to be taken apart too. That is why the most expensive mistakes are made right at the start, when it seems too early to decide.

The 10 main mistakes

  1. Starting without a project, or at least a plan. "We'll decide as we go" is the most expensive scenario. When there is a plan of layout, wiring, lighting and materials, the crew works from a document, not from guesses.
  2. Buying furniture and materials before the layout is done. A sofa you liked in the showroom may not fit the niche, and tiles may not match the layout. Large furniture often cannot be returned.
  3. Saving on wiring and plumbing. They are hidden in the walls, so redoing them means opening the finishes.
  4. Saving on bathroom waterproofing. Doing it once is cheaper than paying for the consequences, including to the neighbors below.
  5. Planning too few sockets in the wrong places. People remember them when it is already hard to change. More about the kitchen: kitchen sockets: height, layout and number.
  6. Leaving a single ceiling light instead of lighting scenarios. Overhead light makes a room flat and casts shadows in work areas. More here: lighting in an apartment.
  7. Preparing the base poorly. Crooked walls and screed show through on the final finish: expensive paint will highlight the defect, not hide it.
  8. Laying tiles without a layout plan. Without a laying plan there is more cutting, and the joints run into corners as ugly thin strips.
  9. Closing up utilities without access. If a meter or a filter is sealed in, any check turns into taking apart a box. You need access hatches.
  10. Working without a written estimate, a schedule and stage-by-stage acceptance. Any dispute is then settled by a conversation on raised voices.

Mistakes after renovation: what people find after a few months

  • There are not enough sockets, and extension cords run across the room.
  • The light is flat, and there are shadows in the work areas.
  • A door hits the furniture or a handle, because it was not checked on the plan.
  • The bathroom has no storage, and towels hang on the radiator.
  • The bathroom has condensation and a smell because of weak ventilation.

Almost all of these mistakes are visible on the furniture plan and the wiring schemes, before the work even begins.

How to accept the work stage by stage

Acceptance is done after every stage, not only at the end. After the rough work, check the geometry of the walls, the waterproofing and the pipe and wire runs before everything is covered with finishes. Fixing this at the rough stage is faster than after the tiles are laid.

Photograph all utilities before the walls and floors are closed. A year later, when you need to find a pipe or hang a shelf, these photos will save both money and nerves.

What to write in the contract

  • the scope of work with a list;
  • deadlines by stage;
  • the cost and the way it can change;
  • responsibility for materials;
  • the acceptance procedure.

It is better to show the wording to a lawyer.

How much to set aside for unexpected costs

A budget reserve is always needed, and its size depends on the property. In older buildings it is usually higher, because worn utilities and uneven floor slabs show up more often there. We discuss the exact size of the reserve after inspecting the property.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell that a contractor is saving on materials? Ask for photos of every hidden stage and for receipts. A good contractor records the waterproofing, the chases and the screed before closing them, without reminders.

Can crooked walls be fixed without a full redo? Local defects are fixed spot by spot. If deviations are visible across the whole plane, it is leveled completely.

Where should I start a renovation to avoid mistakes? With measurements, a layout and engineering schemes. For new buildings there is a separate guide: where to start a renovation in a new building.

Want to go through a renovation without expensive surprises? Write to us or calculate a preliminary cost in the configurator.