Common Home Renovation Fails That Can Lead to Disaster

Renovating your home can be a thrilling experience, but it can also be a recipe for disaster if you're not careful. One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is underestimating the cost of the project.

Inadequate planning can lead to costly delays and changes down the line. A survey of homeowners found that 75% of them experienced cost overruns, with the average increase being around 20%.

Renovating without a clear budget in mind can lead to financial stress and even bankruptcy. As one homeowner shared, "I thought I had a budget of $50,000, but it ended up costing me over $100,000!"

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HGTV shows have been at the center of several lawsuits and disputes over the years. The network's reputation for delivering high-quality renovations has been tarnished by numerous complaints from homeowners who've been left with subpar results.

In one notable case, a couple from Raleigh, North Carolina, appeared on "Love It or List It" and invested $140,000 in renovations, only to be left with gaping holes, unpainted surfaces, and damaged floors. They sued the production company, alleging that they pocketed $65,000 of their money.

Homeowners who appear on HGTV shows often take out significant loans to cover renovation costs, which can be a major financial burden. In the case of the Kings, they wired $193,000 to the "Property Brothers" production company, expecting a high-quality renovation.

The Kings were left with numerous problems, including peeling paint, poorly applied grout, and exposed wires, which posed serious hazards. They filed a lawsuit against the production company and the contractor, citing over 90 deficiencies and requesting $1.47 million in damages.

In another case, a couple in Las Vegas purchased a home that was featured on "Flip or Flop Vegas" and claimed that the renovation left the property with defective remodeling and wasn't up to code. They also stated that the necessary city permits weren't acquired during the renovation.

The couple claimed that Bristol Marunde, the show's star, was not a licensed contractor at the time of the renovation, despite what the show stated. They filed a lawsuit with 10 claims of fraud and misrepresentation, which was later settled.

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Many home renovation shows promise incredible transformations, but some leave homeowners in a serious mess. In fact, a couple sued Flip or Flop Vegas after their home wasn't up to code.

The renovation left the property with defective remodeling and wasn't up to code. The necessary city permits weren't acquired during the renovation. The couple claimed that Bristol Marunde, the show's star, was not a licensed contractor in the state of Nevada.

Renovation Impossible also left a home unfinished and unsafe. The family's home in Arlington, Texas, was mid-renovation when they appeared on the show. The renovation was incomplete, and their home was left in a hazardous state.

In some cases, homeowners may have trouble selling their home if it's not up to code. If a town official finds work done without a permit, they may refuse to issue a certificate of occupancy. This can make it difficult to sell the home.

The show's contractor, Russell J. Holmes, promised cost-effective techniques but left the family with thousands of dollars in additional repairs. Onyon even had to fix a shower head that sprayed directly onto an electric fireplace in the bathroom.

Incomplete renovations can lead to financial distress, as many previous guests on "Renovation Impossible" have shared. They advise people to think twice before appearing on home renovation shows.

Selling your home can be a daunting task, especially if you haven't kept track of the permits for all the work you've done.

You could have trouble selling your home if you've done work without getting the necessary permits, as this can lead to a refused certificate of occupancy.

This can make it really difficult to sell your home, as the certificate is usually required to complete the sale.

Your homeowners insurance may not cover a claim for damage that occurs during a renovation if you don't obtain the proper permits.

In many cases, homeowners insurance will pay for damage incurred during a renovation gone awry. But if you don't obtain the proper permits, your insurer might refuse to pick up the tab.

If some of the work is done incorrectly, resulting in damage to your home down the line, and the project doesn't have a permit attached to it, your home insurance company may not pay out.

A renovation gone wrong can be costly, and not having the right permits can leave you with a large bill.

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Waterproofing cave-ins can be a major issue in home renovations. A basement can be a welcome retreat in the hot summer months, but if you need to waterproof it first, you may want to get the pros involved.

No one was hurt in this particular situation, fortunately. RCC was able to shore up the trench and waterproof the basement of the home.

Waterproofing is a serious business, and it's not something to be taken lightly. If you're not experienced, it's best to get the pros involved to avoid costly mistakes.

The homeowner in this case started out with good intentions but couldn't quite get the job done.

You'll need to rent a large container for waste when demolishing sections of the house that will be replaced by later projects.

Carefully demolish all or some of the areas of the house that will be renovated, especially if you won't be living in the house. This will save you time and stress in the long run.

Window installation is almost always part of a home remodel project, so it's essential to plan for it from the start.

The Pruitts' experience on "Curb Appeal: The Block" is a cautionary tale about the potential for outdoor renovations to cause more harm than good.

A retaining wall built around the door to their basement to keep water out ended up trapping water inside when it rained.

They had to use a pool pump to drain the flooding at one point, and despite repeated attempts to fix the issue by drilling holes in the retaining wall, installing French drains, and re-routing the gutter, the problem persisted.

The contractors' efforts only seemed to make things worse, leading to ongoing maintenance and upkeep headaches for the Pruitts.

The retaining wall was supposed to be a solution, but it became a source of constant frustration and expense.

The Pruitts ended up spending $1,200 to $1,500 a year hiring people to clean up the mess caused by the mulch washing down the road.

Patchwork renovations can be a recipe for disaster. A DIY project in Example 5 had a short gutter and used flexi pipe for a downspout, which is a surefire way to invite leaks.

The flashing at the roof wasn't properly installed, and the half-finished siding and incorrectly installed insulation were major red flags. Brock, a home inspector, saw nothing but leaks in the future.

In the end, the homeowner's DIY project was a patchwork of mistakes, and it's a good thing they didn't skip the permit process, or they might have risked damage to their home or worse, as mentioned in Example 2.

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A retaining wall built for a home on "Curb Appeal: The Block" actually trapped water inside the basement when it rained, causing more problems than it solved, as Cenate Pruitt explained in Example 1.

A homeowner in Example 4 might have thought they were saving money by not obtaining the proper permits, but in the end, they could have ended up paying more in the long run if their insurance didn't cover the damage.

Don't even think about trying to install your own wiring, it's just not worth the risk of electrical shock or a house fire. Electrical repairs or upgrades should be left to the professionals.

Demolishing parts of your house is a huge undertaking that many homeowners overlook. You'll need to rent a large container for waste and carefully demolish all or some of the areas of the house that will be renovated.

Trying to move walls, construct new walls, or add beams to support more weight upstairs can be a nightmare. You'll need to think about structural carpentry and whether you're up for the challenge.

Window installation is often part of a home remodel project, but it's not something to take lightly. You'll need to consider whether you're ready for the added weight and structural changes that come with it.

Don't be like those homeowners who thought they could just wing it and ended up with a mess on their hands. Take the time to plan and prepare for your DIY project, and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

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Crawl Space Jenga is a common DIY fail where homeowners try to stabilize support beams under their house by using multiple shims. This is a recipe for disaster, as it's better to remove the shims and use one solid post for stability.

Using multiple shims can lead to uneven support and even collapse. In fact, a single solid post is often a better alternative to five or six shims.

As Fish says, "It would be a better and safer alternative to remove the shims and use one of the larger 4×4 pieces of lumber trimmed to install one solid post for stability as opposed to five or six."

Almost half of UK property owners don't think their home will ever be 'finished'. Many of these unfinished projects are due to a lack of skills or underestimating the time required.

A DIY-er mistakenly installed the bottom bracket of a toilet crooked, resulting in a crooked toilet. It's surprising what can go wrong with a simple installation.

Underbudgeting is also a common reason for unfinished projects, with 16 percent of property owners citing this as a reason. This can lead to a patchwork of renovations that don't quite come together.

A DIY project involving a range hood vent didn't quite make the cut, with the vent being run above the kitchen cabinets rather than through the ceiling. It's not necessarily dangerous, but it's not the most desirable focal point.

Some property owners may think they can wing it, but it's essential to have the right skills and budget to complete a project successfully.

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Running plumbing waste pipes through stairwells is a recipe for disaster, as it creates an accident waiting to happen. This is exactly what happened to a homeowner who renovated his house without finding an alternative route for the main plumbing waste pipe.

Installing spindles on basement stair railings is crucial to prevent children from falling. Unfortunately, this homeowner didn't take this precaution, putting his kids at risk of serious injury.

A well-planned renovation takes into account the safety and functionality of every area, including stairwells. This homeowner's oversight is a prime example of what can go wrong when DIY projects are not given proper attention.

Installing a fireplace in a yurt can be a bit tricky. We just finished constructing our yurt and learned a valuable lesson about fireplace installation the hard way.

The fireplace was not correctly installed, and it was installed inside the yurt, not all around it. This was a major mistake that could have had serious consequences.

A correctly installed fireplace should be surrounded by a yurt, not placed inside it. This is a crucial detail that can make all the difference in terms of safety and functionality.

We had to redo the installation, and it was a bit of a challenge, but we learned a valuable lesson about the importance of proper planning and execution.

Having a low-height shower installed during a bathroom remodel can be a bit of a challenge. Tiles are expensive, and as they will have to come off again, you might just have enough left for somebody competent to finish the job.

The person who installed the shower in the example mentioned that they think even they could do better than that. This highlights the importance of hiring a professional for the job, especially when it comes to tiling.

Tiles are expensive, and it's not worth risking a subpar job by trying to do it yourself. The cost of redoing the job can add up quickly, and it's better to spend a bit more upfront to get it done right.

In the example, the person mentioned that they have only ever done tiling once, and it's clear that it wasn't a success. This is a good reminder to stick to your strengths and not take on projects that are outside of your expertise.