Tarek El Moussa's Top Renovation Mistakes — and His #1 Piece of Advice
If there's anyone who knows the ins and outs of home renovation, it's real estate investor and HGTV star Tarek El Moussa. Known for hit shows like Flip or Flop and The Flipping El Moussas, Tarek has years of experience transforming distressed properties into forever homes.
In his latest television adventure, The Flip Off, Tarek pairs up with his wife, Heather Rae El, Moussa in a house-flipping competition against his ex, Christina Haack. The reward? Ultimate bragging rights and a first-class vacation paid for by the loser. While the stakes certainly add a bit of humor to the series, the real focus is on all things renovation.
With all his years of flipping houses, it's no surprise El Moussa has learned a thing or two about what to do (and what not to do) when preparing for a remodel. We spoke to him about his top renovation mistakes, what to know before hiring a contractor and his most important piece of advice for homeowners.
Tarek's Top Renovation Mistakes
Not asking for all the details.
The process of getting a quote from a contractor might seem pretty simple, but El Moussa warns there are many details to consider before signing a contract.
"People don't get details from the contractors and subcontractors of the work that's to be done. An example of that is a bathroom remodel — $30,000 right? But does $30,000 include labor? Does that include material? What is the budget per foot for the material? Who's paying for the grout? In estimates themselves, it needs to be very, very detailed," says El Moussa.
If you're not 100% sure what's included in the price, don't be afraid to ask your contractor. The more detail, the better.
Paying the contractor ahead of schedule.
Once you make the decision to renovate, you're forced to place all of your trust in your contractor. And if you've done the right research, you should be comfortable doing that. However, there's one thing you should avoid at all costs.
"Never pay the contractor ahead of schedule. And 99.9% of contractors are going to try to get paid ahead of schedule, and the second you do that, you lose all control and all power. The only control a homeowner has is the payment," says El Moussa. "They've got to hold that payment until they see that work done."
Not having everything in writing.
Sometimes what you're asking for might not be clear to a contractor. To make sure you're both on the same page, double check that everything you're paying for is in writing. El Moussa has personal experience dealing with this mistake after purchasing a high-end ocean view home a couple years ago.
"I hired a company to fix the foundation. They charged me — I think it was around $100,000 — and they fixed it. Then, I looked and the entire house was crooked," says El Moussa. "When I called the foundation company, they said they secured and fixed the foundation. They never said they were going to level the house, and that was an additional cost. I ended up having to spend way more money to get that fixed, because in writing, I didn't have all the details."
Living in the construction zone.
Yes, moving out of your house isn't the most ideal situation. But if you're in the midst of an extensive renovation, it's best to let the contractor do their job.
"If someone's doing a big remodel, I'm a big believer in moving out of the house," says El Moussa. "The contractor will get it done faster, the work will be better and life will be much easier. I've lived in construction zones. That's not a lot of fun."
Being unaware of what you're liable for.
El Moussa learned a valuable lesson on liability while working on the second house he ever flipped. After hiring a general contractor, remodeling the house and driveway, he ran into an issue with one of his contractor's subcontractors.
"It turns out the contractor I hired, hired a company to do the driveway. I hired the contractor, I paid him. The contractor hired the company to do the driveway, but he never paid them. In the end, because I own the house, somehow I was liable, and I had to pay off that lien because I couldn't contact the contractor. He disappeared," says El Moussa.
Although it might not seem like your job, take it upon yourself to make sure your contractor is reliable.
What to Know Before Hiring a Contractor
If you're not at the renovation stage just yet but are searching for a trustworthy contractor, El Moussa recommends researching the following:
Past work: Whether you ask them directly or search on their site, make sure you think their work is up to your standards.
Former clients: Read testimonials closely! If you know a former client personally, that's even better. Reach out for all of the details about their experience.
How long they’ve been in business: Years of work reflects experience, skill and reputation.
The Bottom Line
When it comes down to it, all of these tips — securing a qualified contractor you can trust, signing a detailed contract, knowing exactly what you're getting — stem from one simple yet major piece of advice.
"You have to ask the tough questions," says El Moussa. "People are terrified to ask the tough questions, and if you don't ask them, you're going to end up hurting yourself in the end."
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