5 expensive mistakes Calgary homeowners make while renovating

There’s something about spring that brings about a desire to complete home renovations. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and you’re preparing to tear out your kitchen floor or give your bathroom a facelift. Whatever your motivation, it’s important to know the do’s and don’ts of home renovation before you’re in too deep – and out thousands of dollars.

Rusch Design Build is an award-winning Calgary company that’s been delivering five-star renovations for over 20 years. The Rusch team has seen it all and cites these five mistakes as the most common and costly.

Hiring a designer and a contractor separately

Not all contractors can design, and not all designers can turn the vision into a successful renovation. Hand-offs between the two are typically where renovation budgets and timelines go sideways, which is why Rusch eliminates this problem by offering both interior services and renovation services under one roof.

Underestimating what a kitchen renovation actually costs

Not all renovations are built the same. A “kitchen reno” can mean anything from a $15,000 cabinet reface to a $250,000 full-gut, and if you saw something both beautiful and affordable on Instagram to use as a reference, chances are, you’re being misled by a page that’s just trying to hook you onto their content.

Quality over quantity is essential for a room you spend so much time in, so be sure to price out the kitchen renovation you want and be careful to avoid lower-grade materials, missing scope, and surprises down the line.

Not asking for references or video testimonials

Anyone can craft an aesthetically pleasing social media feed, so how do you know what the real deal is? Pro tip: Find a video testimonial where you can see real Calgary homeowners talking, or better yet, ask to speak to clients who finished projects within the last three years. If they’re still happy, that’s a win!

Starting demo before the design is finished

You may be hearing a tiny voice inside of you saying, “Let’s start tearing out the kitchen now and figure out the rest as we go.” It’s very important that you do not listen to that voice. Not unless you want your budget to balloon more than 30 per cent.

The fact is, every change made mid-build costs two to three times as much as that same change would’ve cost if it were in the finalized design first. Designer-build firms like Rusch can help you with this process and make a 3D render to give you a better idea of the finished project.

Choosing the wrong time to start

The Calgary climate is fickle at best, which means renovations can be a real pain during certain months. Think exterior work in February as the snow flies, big interior gut jobs during Stampede when trades are slammed, or in the fall when everyone is trying to get their projects done before winter hints.

Spring is the sweet spot, and if you want your choice of the best renovation companies like Rusch Design Build, the time to start talking to them is now. Book your free consultation today, and get started on turning your dream renovation into reality.

Kendall Bistretzan

Branded Content Writer

Kendall Bistretzan is a Calgary-based writer, reporter, and coffee enthusiast. In her spare time, she loves to read, have dinner with friends, and sing in her car. She is currently querying her debut fiction novel. You can find her on Instagram @kendallbistwrites.

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