If you have decided at long last to renovate your home, then you might understandably be stressed but actually, you should be excited too. You are about to have a brand spanking new home, without actually building one from scratch. If you have a background in this sort of thing or have access to professional assistance, then undoubtedly the job would be easier for you. However, that is not to say everyone else cannot get a good job done either. What is important, is that you research and read as much as you can about renovating, so you have as much information as possible. Of course the whole thing is a learning process, but it helps to start off knowledgably.
NOT HAVE A BUDGET
No matter what you plan to spend money on, a budget is necessary. It is what will keep you in check, and give you a realistic idea of what to expect from what you can afford. Pinterest and other apps will have a plethora of tempting ideas, but some of them will be beyond your means, so if you decide to embark on one without realising this, you could end up in trouble. Assuming you want a eurocave wine cellars erected somewhere, find out whether you can afford it before you rush off looking for the different types of wine you want to feature in there.
UNDERESTIMATE THE DURATION
Whoever is in charge of your renovations will probably give you an estimate of how long the project will take, but make sure you keep at least a month on top of this. Even if you tell them to do so, bear in mind that all such contractors want to secure the job first, and would at first make a promise to deliver on the date, and deal with shortcomings once the project is underway. As frustrating as this can be, not much can be done about it, as complications can and do arise. Hence, for your own sanity, keep around a month extra as the deadline.
VIOLATE BUILDING CODES
Just because you may have been living in your neighbourhood for 20 years, it does not mean you can do as you please when constructing or renovating. There are building codes and regulations that need to be adhered to, and it is your responsibility to ensure your building meets those codes. If for instance you want to build a swimming pool, then you need to know whether you meet the eligibility requirements to do so. They will not exactly apply to something like, say, a wine fridge for instance, which you probably have been eyeing for a while anyway. Check out more information here http://www.great-earth.net/.
HANDLE IT ALONE
As the homeowner of course you would be monitoring it, but you should not single-handedly try to run everything, it is very difficult. Not impossible, just very difficult. Especially if you are also juggling family life and work. You need to ensure you have a great team of people to support you, particularly the contractor. The wrong contractor has the potential to ruin your life, making you despise the thought of ever building again. Look around for the right people, and the rest will fall into place.