Home remodeling advice you should probably ignore

There’s no shortage of home improvement advice out there. Thanks to the prevalence of DIY and home improvement networks on television, many homeowners are anxious to try their hand at some home remodeling and they’ll often turn to those same networks and the internet for some pointers. While a lot of the advice is good, there’s some you’d be better of ignoring. Here are a few of the latter.

Tearing down a wall is no big deal

It can be tempting to open up a space by knocking down a wall or two now that open floor plans are so valued. But just because you see them knocking down walls on HGTV doesn’t mean you should do it. Some walls are just closing off a space while others are structural, which means they’re load bearing and it’s not always easy to tell which is which. If you tear down a wall that you assume isn’t structural and it turns out it is, it can introduce some serious problems regarding the structural integrity of your home. You should always consult an architect before making any decisions regarding wall removal or other structural changes.

Update according to what’s trending

Don’t assume that just because something is trendy or popular that that means it’s going to help your home sell for a higher price. Your first concern should be making choices based on what’s appropriate for your needs and not what’s currently in style. Besides, trends come and go from month to month. What’s trending right now may seem outdated or even ugly a couple years down the road when you’re trying to sell.

Historic homes need to be modernized

Sure some homeowners will appreciate a more modern home as opposed to the quirkiness that comes with older, historical homes. But modernizing a historical home is one of the worst things you can do. Unless you plan on staying in your home forever, you should think twice before tearing out original woodwork or that claw-foot bathtub. Often, these kinds of changes can result in an interior style that doesn’t match the home’s exterior and a home that just doesn’t match the character of the neighborhood. That makes your home an outlier and decreases its value. To modernize an old home, think of temporary measures. For instance, if you’ve got some old rusty baseboard radiators and want a more modern look, invest in a snap on covering that can easily be removed if you decide to sell.

Replace worn-out wood floors with something easier to clean

Would you reupholster your expensive leather sofa with canvas? Of course not, but so many homeowners tear up old hardwood flooring in favor of laminate flooring because it’s easier to clean. Remember that the older the hardwood, the higher quality it is. If the hardwood is in bad shape and needs to be replaced, then replace it with a new hardwood floor.

Always use most expensive materials

You’ve most certainly heard this advice before. The reasoning is that the most expensive materials or products must be the best but that isn’t always the case. In fact, it’s often not the case. There will be times when it’s better to go with a pricier option and there will be times where an outrageously expensive material is the wrong choice because it won’t pay off.

Follow what your gut tells you

Sure it’s your home and you can do with it whatever you want. But you shouldn’t base all of your decisions entirely on your own preferences especially if there’s a chance your home won’t be your home forever. Weigh the pros and cons for each decision and use your brain in addition to your gut.

You can always DIY

Just because you saw someone do it on HGTV doesn’t mean you can do it. There are many instances where you can save some money by doing the work yourself. But there are also many jobs that you’re sure to mess up and in those cases, you end up spending a lot more by attempting to do it yourself and then having to hire a professional to undo your work and then do it right.

Source: Realtor.com

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