9 Things That Will Slow Down Your Home Renovation

Whether you’re giving your laundry room a major facelift or tackling a kitchen remodel, home renovations are big undertakings with even bigger payoffs. They breathe new life into your living space and offer you the chance to design each detail.

It’s important to keep in mind, however, that delays can happen with any project, no matter your experience level. By identifying things that might slow down your renovation and taking steps to avoid them, you’ll be enjoying your new bathroom or home office before you know it. 

1. Lack of a Precise Plan

Maybe you’re inspired by watching a home renovation show or you’re excited about free time that finally lets you take on your kitchen remodel. Not so fast. While motivation helps your renovation project come to fruition, planning and patience are just as critical. 

Take time to map out a clear plan for your renovation, including the scope, budget, and schedule. Add in buffers to your budget for unforeseen costs, plus schedule extra days onto your timeline for delays. 

2. Attempting DIY When Hiring a Pro Would Be Best

Some homeowners try to tackle HVAC repairs, plumbing work, or other complex jobs without the proper experience. If you’re not careful, you can run into problems that can be frustrating, dangerous, and time-consuming. 

While there can be pride in doing it all yourself, be sure to assess your home renovation skills before starting your project. Consider hiring contractors to tackle pieces of your project, especially if you’re not confident about them or they could be dangerous.

3. Hitting Your Budget Too Soon

Nothing slows down a home renovation project like getting halfway through and needing to push pause until you can pay for the next steps. Consider saving up for the full project and getting quotes from local contractors beforehand to ensure you can cover all the costs of a bathroom remodel or kitchen renovation.  

4. Delay in Securing Tools and Materials

What would you do if the cabinets you love are on backorder, or the floor sander you want to rent isn’t available until next weekend? Prevent setbacks by ordering and planning for the right building materials and tools before you begin your renovation project. That means picking out your paint colors, doors, hardware, and windows before you begin. Proper preparation can also eliminate unnecessary and time-consuming trips to the store.

5. Contractor Availability

Sometimes the best contractors are booked for a few weeks or months and can’t take on any new projects. From local general contractors to plumbers, book your experts in advance to ensure you have the help you need when you need it.

Talk with your contractor about what works for your family schedule. Maybe you don’t want the drywallers coming on Saturday morning when you usually sleep in, for example, or you host a book club every Wednesday afternoon. Getting on the same page with your contractor ensures you’re sticking to a realistic project timeline that doesn’t disrupt too much of your lifestyle. 

6. Muddling Up Permits

For certain projects, like a kitchen renovation, you’ll likely need a permit to do the work. If you hire a kitchen remodeling pro near you, they handle the permit process. On the other hand, if you opt for a homeowner’s permit, the approval process could add time to your project. You need to follow municipality rules, building codes, and zoning laws so your project can pass inspection. Otherwise, you may have to do extra work to bring your renovation up to code. 

“As odious as the permitting process is, in the end, it actually provides you with added value,” says Bob Tschudi, an Angi Expert Review Board member and a general contractor in Raleigh, North Carolina. “When you go to sell your property, potential buyers will comb over every decision you’ve made, and an unpermitted change or addition can’t be included in the cost-per-square-foot asking price. You actually lose the investment you’ve made, because it is illegitimate to buyers.”

7. Increasing the Scope of Your Project

Once you have a wall open for HVAC work, it could make sense to add insulation, too. If you’re rewiring the living room, maybe now’s the time to install recessed lighting. Expanding the size of your project can be the right move but adds time and cost to the job. 

Historic home renovations tend to have an extended scope because of the age of the structure and the greater possibility for improvements. Many historic districts require approval of any changes to the home’s exterior to ensure that the materials reflect the time period of construction.

8. Forgetting to Factor in Weather

Snowy winter months or rainy spring days can delay your home renovation project. Whether you’re getting a new roof or taking on the cost of adding a sunroom, factor in extra time for delays outside of your control.

9. Booking Your Contractors Out of Order

You may need a drywaller, trim carpenter, and electrician for your kitchen reno, but booking them in the right order is a step often missed. Depending on the season, everyone might not be available in perfect sequence, but planning it in advance can help mitigate delays.

Think through the steps of your home renovation to ensure you are coordinating your contractors in the best order for your project. Speaking with pros can also help, as they often know the best order of operations for remodeling success.