Tips On Remodeling Your Home
Remodeling your home whether major or minor requires answers to several questions.
Do diligence
Spend some time by sitting down and preparing a list of all the things you would to change about your home, whether it is repainting a room or adding a room. Repainting you may want to do yourself, major home remodeling jobs I recommend selecting a reputable contractor as it will save you money in the long run. My wife and I discovered that hiring a home decorator was well worth the money as when we were finished with our projects, everything had a professional look not the amateur look we could have easily achieved. When you think of the big investment of updating your home, several hundred dollars for a decorator is peanuts by comparison.
Whatever the remodeling project you are considering there are several keys to a successful outcome that you need to apply.
Establish a budget
Establish a budget, knowing exactly what you can afford and then sticking to it is essential. Make allowances for the fact that unforeseen expenses always occur, therefore you want to add a minimum of 10% as a contingency reserve to your estimated costs is a good idea. If your home is over 20 years old, I would suggest maybe 15% as you might uncover some deterioration that is hidden behind the walls. Utterly nothing will spoil a great home improvement project like running out of money half way through and having to live in a bombed out home for months while you try to scrape up the cash to complete the work.
Hiring a contractor
The Right Contractor -- Take the time to research the companies in your area and to choose the right contractor for your remodeling job. Price is, of course a big consideration but do not overlook rapport. Price negotiation should be kept to a minimum. If he is honest and you trust him, he will do a better job for you if he is making a fair profit. If you don’t trust him, don’t hesitate and don’t look back, find another contractor. These are people who will be spending time (often a lot of time) in and out of your home. If your personalities and expectations do not mesh it can be a recipe for disaster.
The Big Objective -- Why are you remodeling in the first place? If you believe that you will be living in the home for a long time to come it makes sense to spend a little extra on appliances and upgrades like a whirlpool tub, but if you are remodeling with an eye to selling the property, spending money on such extras is simply not worth it.
Timelines -- Most remodeling projects are not one day affairs and a single delay can cause a domino effect that will cost both time and extra money. Before the project begins make sure that you and your remodeling contractor are on the same page about how long the job will take. Be wise, the best estimator can’t foresee some blind side type deterrents therefore add a liberal amount of time; this will make life a lot easier for everyone involved.
Paperwork -- Before the first nail is hammered or tile is laid, make sure that you have any and all required permits on hand and that you and your chosen remodeling contractor have a clear written understanding of the project’s cost and scope.
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