Garage renovations are some of the most popular choices for homeowners looking to expand their interior living areas, but they have also been known to cause major headaches. So, what garage renovation mistakes do you need to be watching out for as you start planning?

1. Underestimating Work Involved

There is a lot more involved in turning a garage into an actual livable area than throwing down some carpet, painting the walls, and tossing in furniture. What about air, heat, and plumbing for a start?

2. Permits

Commencing garage renovations without proper permitting is incredibly foolish. Not only will improvements not count towards increased value on appraisals, they could also prevent future buyers from obtaining financing or you from refinancing. Plus, if you get caught by code enforcement, huge fines with outrageous daily interest rates and penalties can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars.

3. Miscalculating Effect on Resale Value

It is true that more bedrooms, and possibly bathrooms, can increase a home’s value. However, other living or working spaces which are not considered livable in place of garages could potentially detract from value. Start by asking your neighbors before getting too far into garage renovations and find out what they would prefer in a home.

4. Ignoring Feng Shui

Everyone may not be worried about Feng Shui, but, more than just being about superstition, it has many roots in common sense. For example, expanding and building a bedroom above the garage could be considered bad Feng Shui, and, clearly, without the right precautions and proper construction, noise, fumes, and other hazards could be an issue.

5. Failing to Hire a Licensed General Contractor

Your garage renovations are one of the things in life you just shouldn’t try to skimp on. Taking short cuts and hiring the wrong labor and project manager is the fast track to a garage renovation nightmare.

6. Not Controlling the Process

You shouldn’t have to feel that your garage renovations are ever out of your control. By taking advantage of the Renovation Domination system, you can maintain control over the process and ensure budget and timelines don’t spiral out of orbit.