Top 5 home renovation mistakes to avoid

Remodelling a home takes a lot of time and hard work, especially for homeowners who have never done it before. Property owners cum investors who are thinking of flipping a home or renting it out have to be extremely careful when choosing and deciding on the renovations and fittings that they want to put into a property.

Always plan well and source for the right materials and expertise, otherwise it could turn into a waste of time, effort and money! Kuala Lumpur-based property agent Freeman Woo from MIP Properties Sdn Bhd points out to TheEdgeProperty.com some of the top renovation mistakes he has seen property owners, especially those looking to rent out their property, make along the way, while giving his two cents on how to avoid them.

Mistake #1

Too many built-ins and wallpaper

If you’re not an occupant of the unit, do not splurge on built-in furniture and wallpaper, simply because each person has different preferences and not everyone might like that built-in wardrobe or wallpaper that you have installed.

Not only that, built-ins and wallpaper are difficult to remodel. For instance, if a tenant wants to repaint the wall, he has to spend a lot of time scraping off the wallpaper first. In short, built-ins and wallpaper are not for the commitment-averse. Basic fittings and furniture will do.

Mistake #2

Succumbing to ‘fashion’ architecture

Jumping on the trends bandwagon may not always be a good thing. Being heavily influenced by trends could bring disaster because those trends may not last very long.

So, do not renovate based on what you want but based on what most tenants or buyers would find acceptable.

Mistake #3

Going for cheap or overpriced stuff

Sometimes, less is more. Woo says the common perception when renovating a house or apartment is that with expensive, top-notch materials, you can ask for higher rentals or prices.

One tip is to look at the property’s location and demographics of the area.

“You have to study the location, look at the potential tenants that you are going to attract, then only consider the interior design/décor concept that you should go for,” says Woo, adding that everything should add up at the end of the day.

However, this doesn’t mean that you should just go for the cheap but bad quality stuff just to save cost.

“Plan your renovation according to the value of the property,” adds Woo.

Mistake #4

Breaking the law without realising it

One of the many things that homeowners tend to leave out when renovating their homes is obtaining permits for their renovation works. You should check with the relevant authorities and the project’s management committee to obtain the right approvals before you begin renovation.

Besides permits, homeowners should also take the building’s structure into account especially strata properties.

“For strata units, the plumbing is usually connected between floors so before you ask your contractor to remodel the toilet or bathroom, it’s important to study the unit’s plan and building’s structure so that your action won’t affect your neighbours who are living upstairs, downstairs or beside you.

Mistake #5

Just winging it

This is the worst mistake of all because dear homeowners, it is very important that you do your homework and research before you start on any renovation.

Spend some time to think about the concept that you’re going for, based on your budget and, most importantly, speak to the experts or even your local negotiator or agent to understand more about the property itself, the neighbourhood and the property market before engaging a contractor. Either that or you end up wasting time and money.

This story first appeared in TheEdgeProperty.com pullout on Nov 25, 2016, which comes with The Edge Financial Daily every Friday. Download TheEdgeProperty.com pullout here for free.