Ecowest renovates hundreds of homes each year. In doing so, we get to know a lot of homeowners and fully understand the dilemma that homeowners have between aesthetics and functionality. While it is okay to invest in the aesthetic components of your home, you cannot sacrifice on the functional elements (such as the roof) in lieu of making things look pretty.
This "Bad Renovation" article in the Globe and Mail, written by Dianne Nice, details the pains of making some bad renovation decision. And she provides some great guidelines to help homeowners that are trying decide between pretty and functional. Here is a quick summary:
-
Inspect your home. Walk around your home and make a note of any cracks, leaks, etc. You may not be able to afford it right now but knowing about all of the problems will help you prioritize.
-
Start a maintenance budget. Every homeowner should have an emergency fund to cover surprise repairs. And don't put off maintenance as it will end up costing you more down the road.
-
Trust your senses. If it looks broken or smells bad, there's probably something wrong. If in doubt, always hire a professional.
-
Know your limits. If you are DIY'er, make sure you are 100% confident that you can do the work that is required so that the end result meets your expectations as well as the expectations of inspectors and future home buyers.
-
Maintain your roof. You should always know how old your roof is and the lifetime of the materials therein. When your roof is nearing the end of it's life, get it replaced. Waiting until there is a problem will end up costing you more money.
-
Don't ignore leaks. Some leaks are wasting your hard earned money with each drip. Repairs will generally pay for themselves. Waiting will most certainly end up costing you more money.
If you have any questions about your home's renovations, please don't hesitate to contact us.
