November 12th, 2019

Five Hidden Expenses While Renovating

October 28, 2019

​As experts in home renovation Auckland-wide, we’ve seen renovations go off the rails more than once. Are you looking to renovate? Have you considered what to do if things start shifting from the original plan? Are you prepared for any unforeseen expenses? 

Chances are there will be a few things that crop up unexpectedly, but it is possible to prepare for the most common surprises. Read on to see some hidden expenses that you should consider, in order to be financially prepared when you embark on your renovation project!

Constantly changing the plan
If you are the type who cannot stick to a plan and love making last minute changes, sticking to a budget can call for a lot of self-control. You might have agreed on one thing while planning the renovation, but changed it to something else while making the budget. This is fine, but once you’ve begun actual work, sticking to your plan is much more important. It’s that much more difficult to make changes once the work has actually started. 

The need to move, or at least eat takeout for a while
Some renovations projects are small, and don’t require you to vacate the house. However, if you are planning for an entire remodelling of your space, you might have to rent a space elsewhere for at least a portion of the renovation. That itself can be quite expensive! Similarly, if it’s your kitchen in particular being remodelled, eating out for an extended period of time can start to eat into your budget. Not a problem if you’ve already factored it in, but this is an easy one to forget!

Building to code
Building codes have seen remarkable changes over the years, with much more emphasis being placed on energy efficiency and sustainability now. If you are aiming to renovate an old home (even if it’s a well-built one of that time), you might have to make a considerable amount of changes to bring it up to new building standards. This could mean additional costs and expenses that you did not anticipate while budgeting your renovation project, so it’s best to be aware of what work you may need to add to make sure you’re building to code.

Surprise, surprise!
Having a plan is always good, but being prepared for the unknown is even better! Renovation can sometimes turn up hidden problems that you never even knew existed, like faulty plumbing, for example. These unexpected challenges are not uncommon, so it’s advised to set aside a portion of your budget specifically for nasty surprises that might be revealed in the process. 

Choose your builder wisely
More often than not, builders are aware that renovations come with hidden expenses. At LD Construction, our expert team of home builders and renovators always try to include hidden costs as a part of the original plan, to give our clients a realistic view of the budget. If you are looking for the experts in home renovation, we’re just a call away. Reach out to our team now to find out more!