Why “Small Renovations” Often Go Wrong (And How to Avoid the Most Common Traps)

About this episode

Amelia Lee discusses the misconceptions surrounding 'small renovations' and the potential pitfalls homeowners face.

Hello! This is Episode 393, and in this episode, I want to talk about one of the most common and most misleading phrases I hear homeowners use when they’re planning work on their home. And it’s this: “We’re just doing a small renovation.” [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/393 ] Now, I understand why people say it. Usually, what they mean is that they’re not doing a full new build, they’re not taking on a huge extension, they’re not redesigning the whole house, or they’re only touching one part of the home rather than everything at once.  So the phrase can sound logical enough. And it can feel accurate in comparison to some other, much bigger project. But here’s the problem. That phrase, “small renovation”, often creates a whole set of assumptions that can be super deceptive.  It can make you think the work will be straightforward, that the process will be simpler, that the risks are lower, that you do not need much documentation or planning, and that you can largely sort it out as you go, keeping yourself on hand…

People in this episode

Host: Amelia Lee

Topics covered

• renovation
• home improvement
• homeowner advice
• construction pitfalls
• planning
• myths

Keywords

• small renovation
• home planning
• construction
• homeowner
• renovation traps
• documentation
• planning process

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Undercover Architect

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