If you’re unsatisfied with your home’s exterior, consider a home remodel. However, before you embark on a home remodeling project, there are considerations you need to make first. As you make decisions, there are also some mistakes to avoid. Here are a few home exterior mistakes to avoid with your next remodel:

• Mistake #1 – Not having a budget in mind.
• Mistake #2 – Using your budget as the only guiding factor.
• Mistake #3 – Mismatching design elements.
• Mistake #4 – Not considering the age of your house.
• Mistake #5 – Not working with an experienced home improvement contractor.

Mistake #1 – Not Having a Budget in Mind

A budget is always necessary when planning a remodeling project of any kind. Plus, it’s one of the questions you should ask yourself before starting a home remodel. Having a budget in place can help guide your decisions and alleviate some stress. You should have a good idea of how much money you plan to spend on your project before you even meet with a home improvement contractor.

Once you meet with a few home improvement contractors, you need to compare home improvement quotes depending on your budget. Once you’ve chosen a contractor, they can help you make any changes to your budget or offer any advice. They can also help you figure out how much to allocate for any unforeseen obstacles, any proposed upgrades, and things like long-term maintenance and repairs. This will also help your contractor give you a more accurate, finalized quote.

A clear scope of work, project cost, and more are things that should be in a home improvement quote. Once the building process begins, your contractor will use your budget as a guiding resource. This should help minimize any surprises and extra spending. It will also keep your project running as smoothly as possible.

Mistake #2 – Using Your Budget as the Only Guiding Factor

Using a budget is important when choosing materials. However, choosing materials simply based on cost isn’t always a good idea. You need to take into account certain factors like durability and efficiency, because these things can actually affect a budget in the long run.

Choosing cheaper materials upfront might seem cost-effective now, but they can break down, warp, or fade much quicker than higher-quality materials. If they are less energy-efficient, you also run the risk of higher energy bills over time, which can cut into any initial savings you may have had. If you have to replace these materials in a few years, you’ll actually spend more money than if you had just gone with the upgraded options in the first place.

Work with your home contractor to decide where it makes sense to spend a little more money for a higher-quality product or an upgrade. When evaluating materials and upgrades, you also want to take into account things like warranty, long-term maintenance, and the climate where you live. Some materials are fine in mild weather, while a harsher climate might damage them, leading to expensive repairs.

Mistake #3 – Mismatching Design Elements

Usually, the goal of a home exterior remodel is to improve the way your house looks. When choosing materials like siding or adding new features, you need to think about how they complement existing features and architecture. If your choices look out of place, your home won’t have a cohesive design.

Having choices or design elements that don’t work together greatly affects your home’s curb appeal, so it’s important to make sure things match or work together. Your contractor should be able to help you look at a variety of materials and curb appeal ideas to pick the right ones for your home.

Mistake #4 – Not Considering the Age of Your House

There are a lot of ways to bring life to an older home, but you need to be aware of how old your home is. This is important because you need to understand how your home was built and what materials were used, especially on the exterior and foundation. Because of the age, there may be some infrastructure challenges to take into account as well. These infrastructure damages could be due to a weather event, fire, or simply different building techniques.

You should also be aware of building code violations. Building standards may have been different when your home was built, so your renovations need to meet current building code standards. This is one of the reasons to use a whole home improvement contractor. Whole home improvement contractors understand building codes and regularly handle things like permits, which can help the process move more smoothly.

If your home was built before 1978, you will need to use an EPA-certified remodeler. Depending on how long ago your home was built, it could be considered a heritage home. Some areas have regulations on heritage homes that regulate what kind of updates can be made to a home’s exterior. Before you begin any exterior renovations, you need to make sure any updates are approved for a heritage home.

Mistake #5 – Not Working With an Experienced Home Improvement Contractor

To help your home renovation project go as smoothly as possible, it’s highly recommended that you work with an experienced home improvement contractor. Home improvement contractors have years of professional experience and can help guide you in the renovation project. This experience is one of the biggest benefits of working with a home improvement contractor.

A home remodeling contractor can also help your project move much more efficiently. They have experience with timelines and making sure projects go smoothly. Professional home improvement contractors can help you pick the right materials, take care of things like permits, ordering materials, and lead a team of builders and other professional contractors. This eliminates a lot of stress for you as a homeowner, making a home renovation project seem much more attainable.

These are just a few home exterior mistakes to avoid with your next remodel. If you think you’re ready to begin a home remodeling project, consider working with Zephyr Thomas. Zephyr Thomas has over 60 years of experience serving Lancaster County, is EPA-certified, and would love to help you with your next home improvement project. Call us at 717-399-4708 for a free estimate on your next project or stop by our showroom to get inspired!