Reflections on Home Renovation: Lessons Learned from My USA Journey 🏡

Today, I want to share some insights from my home renovation experience in the USA. While I won’t delve into new home decoration tips, I feel it’s crucial to reflect on the areas where I encountered regret—or, as some might say, “landmines” during the process. Let’s dive into the things I wish I had known before jumping in! 😅

Kitchen: The Challenge Zone ❗️

The kitchen turned out to be the most challenging area for me. One of the key aspects to clarify is whether your ventilation system is an internal or external one. It’s also essential to ask how the microwave hood vent works—whether it’s top exhaust or rear exhaust. If it’s like our setup (as shown in image 2️⃣), many powerful range hoods simply won’t fit! 💨

The biggest surprise was our make-up air system being upgraded alongside the kitchen. If you didn’t upgrade your kitchen, you’d be out of luck without this system! This means I have to open the windows while cooking to avoid negative pressure. And let’s be honest, cooking during heavy rain is a no-go! ☔️

Tip: Always ask the real estate sales agent about these details; don’t rely solely on the design center personnel—they may not have the complete knowledge needed!

Living Room: Planning is Key 🎮

If you’re considering an electronic fireplace instead of a traditional one, make sure your electrical layout is well-planned! Think about the size of your television and how high you want it installed. Many builders in the USA default to mounting televisions at 1.6 meters, but those of us who prefer a comfortable viewing angle might find this unideal. Unfortunately, this meant I couldn’t fit my electronic fireplace and now it’s sitting in the basement collecting dust! 😔

Walls: Know Your Paint 😱

Always confirm whether your walls will be painted with latex (primer) or oil-based paint. Just because you see plain white walls doesn’t mean they are adequately covered! Latex paint is not waterproof, and it shows marks that are hard to erase. If latex is the choice, consider having someone apply waterproof oil-based paint with a roller before the furniture arrives. Protecting your furniture afterward can get tricky and may require more care—and different pricing—than expected! 💡

Electrical Outlets: Don’t Leave Anything to Chance ⚡️

Make sure to reserve enough electrical outlets for wall sconces or any other fixtures you plan to install. Double-check that each room has appropriate lighting; I learned this the hard way when my entertainment room had no lights, just two ceiling speakers pretending to be fixtures! 🙄

Also, even if your house is wired with Cat5E cables, insist on at least Cat6 for faster internet speeds!

Final Thoughts: Document Everything! 📝

These points should be documented in your contract immediately—don’t trust the sales agent when they say they’ll write it later! Trust me, they will forget, and it’s easy to overlook these small but crucial details when finalizing paperwork. We ended up with a ceiling that lacks a central light fixture despite our thorough checks! 😩

Let’s Learn Together! 💡

I hope sharing these experiences helps others avoid the renovation pitfalls I encountered. Let’s exchange ideas and ensure everyone achieves their dream home! If you have any additional tips or thoughts from your home renovation journey, share them in the comments below!

Happy renovating, and may your home be perfect! #LifeInNorthAmerica #NewHomeConstruction #HomeBuying #Renovation #HomeTips