Thinking of Remodeling?

July 02, 2015

Thinking of Remodeling?

Remodeling plays a big part in every homeowner. Whether you are planning to sell your home or it could just be that you feel that your home needs a face lift, remodeling can either be quick, easy and smooth-flowing or a total disaster. It is important that a homeowner is fully equipped with the knowledge and information in order to protect themselves.

Today, we will be laying out important tips that a homeowner can take before heading towards their remodeling project.

Do Your Research

As with any other projects, research will enable someone to be fully informed of the things needed before starting. It is not advisable to dive into something which you do not have the information because the result could turn out to be negative or you could have been scammed with your money. You can visit National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s website at NARI.org or seek out other valid references off the internet for price ranges, scope of work, new materials options, and return for investment, etc. to make a good sense of the project. You can also research property values of homes within your neighborhood to make sure that your project will still be in line with other homes in the area.

Plan Project Around

You and your family might have created a routine on how to work around the home. But having something remodeled, could actually make an impact or change to your lifestyle. There are also other factors to consider such as how long do you plan to stay in your home should answer the question whether the investment is worth it and you will have the funds you have used for your project replenished. Another thing to consider is how will your family structure change over time? Children will have to go to college or leave home someday so will this project be something that will fit your lifestyle.

Set your Budget

This is the essential part because setting out realistic budget will ensure you no worries. Don’t be afraid to discuss this with your contractor because as a professional, they should respect your budget and work around it, not over it.

Seeking the Right Professional

In the virtual world, meeting random strangers is very much possible and we should be wary of this because of the potential risks and dangers. However, you can ask friends or relatives whether they have someone they can refer who has actually worked on a project and have great work ethics. Professionals hold licenses, memberships, trainings and certifications with which they take their reputation seriously. If you don’t know any and your only option is to find someone off the internet, look for their website or social media and read reviews from previous clients and check out how to interact with them. This will give you an idea on which professional remodeler can help you with your remodeling project. But don’t always take their word for it; you can always check their information such as references, license numbers and certifications by calling providers to verify.

Review contracts carefully

Contracts serve as a bond and protection between the client and the professional. Make sure that you read the contact carefully and ask questions especially with terms that you don’t understand. Keep an eye to details such as change orders, payment, additional fees, timeline and responsibilities. If it is not in the contract, it does not apply.

Keep design in mind

Having a design in mind will ensure that the project will end up with how you picture it to be. Others get their design ideas off different websites and it is important that you discuss with your contractor about what you don’t like about your current space and what you like about the new proposed one. But keep in mind that they do not recreate photos instead; they incorporate functionality, style, value and accessibility to your design.

Make your selections

Choosing the materials and products to use can be such a big task and could also extend the timeline of your remodeling project, so ensure that you have planned this out as well carefully.

Create a communication plan

Another downside is the lack of communication between the homeowner and the remodeler. They should lay out a communication plan at the start of the project in order to ensure smooth workflow process.

Source: http://rismedia.com/2015-06-28/10-steps-to-prepare-for-a-remodel/