🚧 5 Apartment Renovation Mistakes Beginners Make

Before you start renovating your apartment, check these five traps that ruin budgets and timelines.
A quick, essential guide to help you spot trouble early.

1. No clear project plan or work sequence

What goes wrong: rework, blown deadlines, and wasted money on undone finishes.
Quick checklist:
layout → electrical/low-voltage → plumbing → leveling → rough floors and walls → finishing → doors/hardware → furniture → décor.

2. Underestimating the budget and hidden costs

Always add +10–20% for unexpected work, debris removal, delivery, consumables, tools, and permits.
Even “small stuff” like anchors, primer, and sealant adds up fast.
Learn more in how to estimate renovation costs.

3. Ignoring electrical and plumbing fundamentals

Separate power circuits, match cable gauges to load, and install RCDs/MCBs where required.
Waterproof wet zones, leave revision hatches, and keep connections accessible — otherwise you’ll be redoing tile in a month.

4. Picking the wrong materials

Where you can save vs. where you must not:

Can save on: wallpaper, baseboards, handles.
Do not cut corners on: leveling compounds, wiring, pipes, flooring in wet zones.

Always check durability class, moisture resistance, manufacturer warranty, and system compatibility.
See our guide on choosing reliable materials.

5. Weak control of contractors and deadlines

No contract with milestones = instant chaos.
You need a timeline, acceptance checklists, photo evidence of hidden work, and penalties for missed deadlines.
Learn how in our contractor control guide.

🧾 Summary: Avoid Common Renovation Pitfalls

Renovation requires a system: plan → budget → supervision.
Avoid these five mistakes and you’ll save time, money, and nerves.
Also read our guide on planning a renovation.

📸 Photos: Renohacks.com collection
🏷️ Tags: renovation, mistakes, budget, planning