After 20+ years of luxury renovations in Manhattan, we’ve seen homeowners make the same costly mistakes before their projects even begin. Here are the seven most expensive pitfalls — and how to avoid them.
Mistake #1: Not understanding your building’s alteration agreement. Every co-op and condo has specific rules about renovations. Failing to review these before planning can result in costly redesigns. Mistake #2: Underestimating the DOB permit timeline. NYC permits can take 4-12 weeks. Not factoring this into your timeline leads to expensive delays.
Mistake #3: Hiring separate architects, designers, and contractors. The traditional model creates communication gaps, finger-pointing, and cost overruns. A design-build firm like redoNYC eliminates these issues. Mistake #4: Not building in adequate contingency. We recommend 10-15% of your total budget for unexpected discoveries.
Mistake #5: Making material selections too late. Lead times for premium materials can be 8-16 weeks. Early selection prevents construction delays. Mistake #6: Choosing the lowest bid. In NYC renovation, you truly get what you pay for. The lowest bid often means corners cut, change orders, and quality issues.
Mistake #7: Not having a clear vision before starting. The most expensive changes happen during construction. Invest time in the design phase to make decisions on paper, not on the job site. At redoNYC, our comprehensive discovery and design process helps you avoid all seven of these costly mistakes.