When moving into a new home and beginning to remodel the property, credit card bills, to-do lists, and DIY projects can begin to stack up and feel overwhelming. It’s easy to get in over your head and begin to make costly mistakes that can not only waste time, but also cause damage to your new home and wallet. Avoid these common mistakes to ensure your home remodeling projects go smoothly and you’re able to enjoy your space as soon possible.

Not Setting A Budget

In the home design space, prices can add up surprisingly quickly, even if you’re making a lot of the updates yourself. It’s important that you create a strict budget before you begin shopping so you can make plans for prioritizing certain items over others. Be aware when making your budget, however, that some unexpected costs will likely pop up, whether they’re because you accidentally damaged the wall during a DIY project, or because you discover termites hidden in your walls. Factor some level of unexpected payment into your budget so you’re not struggling to make ends meet at the end of the project. If you’re lucky, you’ll be left with some leftover funds at the end that you can allocate to something fun or even splurge to celebrate finishing the project.

Moving Big Furniture

Although it can be hard to let go of your trusty couch from your college dorm room or your childhood bed, including these in your moving truck or paying movers to lug them into your new home can make your bill skyrocket. Instead of bringing them into your new place, donate used furniture ahead of time and instead invest in some new items. You can buy affordable couches online or pick up a new, locally-made bed at your neighborhood mattress outlet. These new items will help give your place a fresh look and modern design and will help ease the moving process.

Designing For Trends

As anyone who’s put time into repainting their walls or measuring and picking out new countertops will tell you, redesigning a space is often a labor-intensive project. Help yourself out by not investing that time and energy into design fads that will be out of style after a year or two. This will not only help you appreciate your design for longer, but it will also help the home’s resale value when you eventually choose to sell. Instead, focus your purchases and color choices on neutral and classic options that you’ll be able to enjoy for years to come. Doing so not only helps you in the long-term but can give you more freedom for decorating in the short-term.

Avoiding Professional Advice

There is plenty of great DIY home renovation advice online that any amateur renovator can use when working on their home. However, some of the bigger aspects of a home, like the electrical or plumbing systems, should be left to the professionals. Inexperience can cause serious (and costly) damage within the house, or even hurt you. The cost of hiring a professional will likely save you a lot of pain and frustration in the long run, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you’ve recently moved cities and need to find in-town support, use a tool to help you find local professionals of all specialties.

Going With The Cheapest Help

With that said, it’s important to do your research when hiring professional help, whether they be movers, designers, plumbers, or contractors. This help is not an area where you should cut corners or choose the cheapest quote. Unfortunately, there are some inexperienced, and unprofessional people who might want to take advantage of your unfamiliarity with the area and process. If you can’t get a recommendation from a neighbor or friend, be sure to check the business’s social media, online reviews, and credentials, then ask for references to double check. These will help you make an informed decision and allow you to spend your money in the most productive ways.