Remodel with confidence by following these remodeling tips

Remodeling can be an extremely stressful ordeal. And while there’s no way to completely eliminate the stress of a remodeling project, there are a few things you can do to limit it. If you follow this advice you can go into a home remodel with a little more confidence.

Hire the right contractor(s)

It’s absolutely crucial that you do your homework and make sure you’re hiring the right people for the project. Keep in mind that these people that are coming into your home are going to be spending a lot of time over the next several weeks or even months with you and your family. It’s important that you can trust them. Get to know contractors before signing any documents. It helps to get written estimates from several different contractors before making a decision. Ask for references and talk to friends and neighbors who’ve had remodeling work done for some ideas. Check out BBB ratings for contractors you’re considering.

Don’t attempt to do any work yourself if that work typically requires a license. You want your remodeled home to be up to code so hire an architect if the project requires an architect and hire and an electrician or plumber if your project entails electrical or plumbing work. If you need to have several different contractors for your project, you’ll want to strongly consider hiring a general contractor you trust who will in turn hire the subcontractors and manage all of their schedules so they’re not getting in each other’s way.

Avoid the common pitfalls

Many home remodels turn into disasters somewhere along the way. There are several different reasons for this. Here are some of the most common pitfall you’ll want to try to avoid:

 

 

 

Poor planning. A leading cause in failed home remodels is a lack of planning. You can’t plan enough. Have every single detail worked out on paper before any work begins.

 

 

Uncertainty. So many remodels run over budget because the homeowners keep changing their minds throughout the project. Decide what it is you want and stick to it from the start of the project to the end. Trust your initial vision of your remodeled space.

 

 

Inferior materials. You can stretch your budget here or there but don’t buy the cheapest materials just because they’re the cheapest. Cheap usually means inferior.

 

 

No contingency fund. Calculate what you think is the most your remodeling project will cost and then add another 10 or 15% because remodels almost always go over budget. There are bound to be nasty surprises along the way and if you’ve set aside some extra money, you’ll be prepared to handle them.

 

 

Source: Home & Garden

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