The Common Renovation Mistake The Property Brothers' Jonathan Scott Can't Stand

As a contractor and one half of HGTV's "The Property Brothers," Jonathan Scott has seen plenty of home renovations, and there is one mistake homeowners make that he can't stand. Specifically, he hates when people say that a kitchen has been renovated, but instead it's just cabinets that have been torn out and replaced in the same spot, without addressing the actual functionality of the space. Just like old cabinets can make a space feel dated, so can a poor layout.

Instead of improving the way the kitchen works, both brothers believe that homeowners are focusing on shiny materials and forgetting about the big picture. People are looking to make their space look beautiful, but the Property Brothers believe that homeowners are wasting their money on some of the home upgrades they are doing. If the layout doesn't work for the space or things are too tight, adding new cabinets doesn't actually address the issues at hand or add value to your home. Instead, it leaves the same issues for the next person to deal with. Even if you're not actually selling your house, it doesn't improve your own quality of life.

Although it might cost more up front, Jonathan Scott recommends investing in a more professional renovation. According to Scott, "it's worth spending the money on opening things professionally so you have a new footprint," (via The New York Times). If you just replace the existing cabinets, "then all you have is a cramped, dated layout with your new kitchen," Scott says. Instead, you may need to open things up and take down walls. Changing the layout might include moving where large appliances are located in the kitchen, such as moving a dishwasher next to the sink or even making it so that the sink is under a window. This will add value both monetarily and in terms of your quality of life in the home.

If trying to sell your home, people are looking for a space that they can use to its fullest. You can make a small kitchen seem bigger by opening up walls, changing where the storage is, and even opting for things like white countertops and more lighting. Renovating a room like the kitchen is about considering the current footprint of the space and building off of that to create a room that works well and looks good.