Congratulations! You have bought that dream home in Ghana and now it is time to give the house a personality so it becomes a home. Now comes the difficult part: personalizing it. Whether you’re planning a complete remodel or simply redecorating, there’s a lot more to home design than you would imagine. Here are the top five mistakes to avoid as a home owner in Ghana.
Renovating too soon
If at all feasible, stay in your new home for a while before making any renovation plans. “Learn its flow, where the groceries fall, where the laundry likes to go, how the sun strikes it, where the choke spots are, which direction the rain slants, even acquire a feeling of its soul,” says Arnold Adrian, a member of our design team. “When you make your plans to improve things, all of this will impact your decisions.”
Underestimating costs
Most things will cost more and take longer than you anticipated, so when budgeting, always add 20% to what you estimate a project would cost. “Cut the task back if you don’t have the funds,” Rukie Agyema, the head designer for YBE Ghana, warns. If you manage to beat these forecasts, your shocks will be pleasant.”
Not involving professionals from start
“You are about to spend more than you ever imagined,” Rukie warns. “It could as well be for something well-designed.” Interior designers and architects usually charge a portion of the full task (say, 10%), which is a little amount in comparison to your entire expenses and goes a long way to help you avoid mistakes that could cost you even more.
Just because someone is a skilled designer doesn’t necessarily indicate s/he’ll be a good match for you. Do you have the same taste in interior design? What are your priorities? “Find someone else if he or she doesn’t ask you a lot of questions about your wants, desires, and lifestyle,” Rukie advises. “Curiosity and listening skills are essential.”
Going for lowest bidder
“It’s worth the money to have good expert help,” Rukie adds. “That includes both design and construction.” Be willing to pay a fair price for a good contractor, and be skeptical of those that are inexpensive and ready to work immediately away.
It is also worth mentioning that working on older structures in Ghana might lead to a slew of unexpected outcomes. Who knows what’s on the other side of the wall you’re tearing down? New buildings are more regulated, but that doesn’t automatically imply that everything will go smoothly. Always be on the lookout for the unexpected. “It’s a human flaw,” Rukie explains. “We all hope and pray that everything happens as planned.” Nothing will, believe us. Prepare for a few bumps as you start your renovation project and also seek professional advice before purchasing your new home to avoid mistakes that could cost you a lot of money.