Remodeling your home is an exciting endeavor, but it can also be a source of anxiety, especially if it’s your first time. Many homeowners have heard horror stories—projects running twice as long and costing far more than expected due to going over budget, poor planning, miscommunication, or unreliable contractors.
Peacock & Company believes that a well-planned remodel should be a rewarding experience, not a stressful one. To help you navigate the process confidently, here are some of the most common remodeling mistakes homeowners face—and how to avoid them.
Common Remodeling Mistakes to Avoid in Your South Bend Remodel
Keeping Your Budget a Secret
This is one of the most frequent home renovation mistakes we see. Many homeowners hesitate to share their budget upfront, fearing that if they disclose how much they’re willing to spend, contractors will inflate their estimates to match that number. While this concern is understandable, keeping your budget a secret often leads to the opposite problem—receiving estimates that are 50–100% higher than you expected.
The Solution
Be transparent about your budget from the start. A reputable contractor will work with you to maximize your investment and avoid going over budget, advising you on where to save and where to splurge. By clearly communicating your financial parameters, you can avoid unnecessary surprises and ensure that your remodeling vision aligns with what you’re comfortable spending.
Not Investing Enough Time in Planning
Spending weeks or months planning might be unnecessary if you’re making subtle updates. However, when it comes to larger projects, such as full kitchen or bathroom remodels, failing to plan thoroughly can lead to bad home renovations that require costly fixes.
The Solution
Work closely with your contractor to establish a well-thought-out plan before construction begins. A thorough planning process includes:
- Defining your priorities and must-haves
- Selecting materials and finishes in advance
- Understanding the timeline and potential disruptions
- Setting realistic expectations for costs and outcomes
Waiting Too Long to Start the Process
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is underestimating the length of the remodeling process. The best contractors are often booked months in advance, and thoughtful preconstruction planning takes time. If you start planning too late, you may be scrambling to hire an available contractor instead of the best one for the job.
The Solution
Even if your goal is to remodel your kitchen by the summer of 2026, you should start planning and working with your contractor in the fall/winter months of 2025. You’ll be able to move methodically through the preconstruction process, ensuring you’re fully confident before construction begins. By taking this approach, you also ensure you work with a contractor you’re excited about, not just the available one, make design decisions at a comfortable pace, and avoid delays due to material backorders.
Choosing Contractors Based On Price
The traditional remodeling process, design-bid-build, encourages homeowners to choose contractors based on price. During this process, homeowners send their plans or ideas to multiple contractors and typically choose the contractor with the lowest bid/estimate. Price is important but shouldn’t be the only factor in choosing a contractor. The lowest bid often comes with hidden costs like lower-quality materials, rushed workmanship, or a higher likelihood of unexpected change orders in construction once the project is underway.
The Solution
Instead of choosing your contractor based on price, look for qualities such as craftsmanship, attention to detail, communication style, and customer satisfaction. What should you not do when remodeling a home? Settling for the cheapest option without considering quality. A home remodel is a significant investment, and you’ll be (literally) living with the result every day. Choose a trustworthy contractor, even if they cost a little more.
Get updated local pricing information in our cost guide here.
Thinking About ROI As Merely Financial
“How much will this remodel raise my home value?” We often receive this question from homeowners during the planning stages. While it’s smart to consider financial ROI, don’t forget about the emotional and day-to-day benefits of a newly remodeled space.
There’s one big exception to this mistake: if you plan to sell your house soon, then remodeling to maximize financial ROI with high-yield projects like kitchens or bathrooms makes the most sense. However, making the wrong choices, such as following fleeting kitchen trends to avoid or bathroom trends to avoid, could hurt your home’s resale value. Our advice concerns families remodeling a home they plan to stay in for many years.
The Solution
If you plan to stay in your home for years to come, prioritize your own unique needs and desires alongside resale value. Your new remodel will change the way you live in your home.
- Improve your home’s efficiency and flow
- Create a space that better suits your family’s needs
- Increase your enjoyment and satisfaction in your home
Taking on the Role of Project Manager
Many homeowners assume that by acting as their own project manager, they can save money and maintain control over their remodel. The idea seems simple: hire individual subcontractors for removals, framing, flooring, cabinets, countertops, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, and coordinate the work yourself. But in reality, managing a remodel is a full-time job that requires deep industry knowledge, scheduling expertise, and the ability to handle unexpected setbacks. Finding reliable tradespeople, ensuring each phase aligns with the next, and troubleshooting delays can quickly become overwhelming.
Without a clear plan, even the most well-intentioned efforts can spiral into cheap home renovations that cost more in the long run due to errors, rework, and scheduling conflicts.
The Solution
A design-build approach eliminates the headaches of juggling multiple contractors and ensures your remodel stays on track. By keeping everything under one roof, a professional remodeling team handles all aspects of the project—from initial design to final installation—ensuring that every element fits together seamlessly. This means no missed connections between trades, no costly miscommunications, and no surprise delays due to subcontractor conflicts. With a unified team managing the process, your remodel is completed efficiently, on budget, and with the high level of craftsmanship your home deserves. Instead of gambling on a fragmented approach, trusting a design-build expert means getting it right the first time—saving you time, money, and stress.
Ready to Talk With a Trusted South Bend Remodeling Contractor?
A successful remodel starts with the right team. Peacock & Company serves Michigan's Harbor Country and South Bend with detailed planning, premium craftsmanship, and clear communication, ensuring that your remodeling experience is smooth, predictable, and rewarding. We’d be honored to discuss your home remodeling goals. Schedule a free consultation with us to get started today.
