Third Of Homeowners Underestimate Problems When Renovating

Renovating a home is stressful for a lot of people, particularly when problems surface that are not expected. This is the case for a third of homeowners, as they admit to underestimating the likelihood of DIY challenges.

According to research from Toolstation, 31 per cent have been guilty of this, making it the biggest home renovation regret. It was followed by living at home during a building project, which 27 per cent claimed to regret.

Focusing too much on aesthetics rather than durability, doing the work themselves instead of calling in a tradesperson, and picking the cheapest quote were equally bemoaned with 16 per cent of households regretting these. 

A spokesperson stated: “With so much to do and an ideal timeframe in mind, it’s common for renovators to hit the ground running without thinking of the potential bumps in the road.”

The findings also revealed 49 per cent of people thought the kitchen was the most stressful room to renovate.

Though the kitchen can be difficult to update – as it involves cooking, eating and doing the laundry elsewhere for several weeks – it is worth putting effort into the project.  

Speaking Metro, homeowner Natalie admitted she chose the cheapest quote for kitchen fitters but quickly “realised that you get what you pay for” and, subsequently, had to refit all the cabinets.

It is also worthwhile getting as much done as possible when replacing a kitchen, such as fitting underfloor heating, to avoid any more disruptions in the future.

The Toolstation research also found homeowners underestimate the cost of renovating, with redecorating typically going over budget by £3,024 and taking three months longer to complete than anticipated.

Londoners are the worst at this, exceeding their budget by an average of £4,378, while delays are more likely to be experienced in Norwich compared with anywhere else in England.