Mistake 1 No Budget
A frequent mistake is captured by the heading "Mistake 1 No Budget": homeowners rush past it to save time or money, then pay more to correct it. Naming the trap up front is the cheapest insurance you have.
Avoiding this specific mistake usually means slowing down at the start and verifying the unglamorous fundamentals before spending on finishes.
- Skipping the planning step: a weak scope produces change orders and rework.
- Chasing the lowest bid without reading exclusions: you inherit the gaps as extras.
- Ignoring moisture, structure, or code: cosmetic fixes over a real defect fail fast.
- No contingency: the first surprise becomes a crisis instead of a line item.
Mistake 2 Wrong Contractor
A frequent mistake is captured by the heading "Mistake 2 Wrong Contractor": homeowners rush past it to save time or money, then pay more to correct it. Naming the trap up front is the cheapest insurance you have.
Avoiding this specific mistake usually means slowing down at the start and verifying the unglamorous fundamentals before spending on finishes.
- Skipping the planning step: a weak scope produces change orders and rework.
- Chasing the lowest bid without reading exclusions: you inherit the gaps as extras.
- Ignoring moisture, structure, or code: cosmetic fixes over a real defect fail fast.
- No contingency: the first surprise becomes a crisis instead of a line item.
Mistake 3 Skipping Permits
A frequent mistake is captured by the heading "Mistake 3 Skipping Permits": homeowners rush past it to save time or money, then pay more to correct it. Naming the trap up front is the cheapest insurance you have.
Avoiding this specific mistake usually means slowing down at the start and verifying the unglamorous fundamentals before spending on finishes.
- Skipping the planning step: a weak scope produces change orders and rework.
- Chasing the lowest bid without reading exclusions: you inherit the gaps as extras.
- Ignoring moisture, structure, or code: cosmetic fixes over a real defect fail fast.
- No contingency: the first surprise becomes a crisis instead of a line item.
Mistake 4 Over Improving
A frequent mistake is captured by the heading "Mistake 4 Over Improving": homeowners rush past it to save time or money, then pay more to correct it. Naming the trap up front is the cheapest insurance you have.
Avoiding this specific mistake usually means slowing down at the start and verifying the unglamorous fundamentals before spending on finishes.
- Skipping the planning step: a weak scope produces change orders and rework.
- Chasing the lowest bid without reading exclusions: you inherit the gaps as extras.
- Ignoring moisture, structure, or code: cosmetic fixes over a real defect fail fast.
- No contingency: the first surprise becomes a crisis instead of a line item.
Mistake 5 Ignoring Resale
A frequent mistake is captured by the heading "Mistake 5 Ignoring Resale": homeowners rush past it to save time or money, then pay more to correct it. Naming the trap up front is the cheapest insurance you have.
Avoiding this specific mistake usually means slowing down at the start and verifying the unglamorous fundamentals before spending on finishes.
- Skipping the planning step: a weak scope produces change orders and rework.
- Chasing the lowest bid without reading exclusions: you inherit the gaps as extras.
- Ignoring moisture, structure, or code: cosmetic fixes over a real defect fail fast.
- No contingency: the first surprise becomes a crisis instead of a line item.
Mistake 6 Poor Communication
A frequent mistake is captured by the heading "Mistake 6 Poor Communication": homeowners rush past it to save time or money, then pay more to correct it. Naming the trap up front is the cheapest insurance you have.
Avoiding this specific mistake usually means slowing down at the start and verifying the unglamorous fundamentals before spending on finishes.
- Skipping the planning step: a weak scope produces change orders and rework.
- Chasing the lowest bid without reading exclusions: you inherit the gaps as extras.
- Ignoring moisture, structure, or code: cosmetic fixes over a real defect fail fast.
- No contingency: the first surprise becomes a crisis instead of a line item.