Many words of advice have been given to homeowners looking to remodel or undertake a major renovation project. Most of them tackle the remodeling process fairly well-informed. Yet for others, being prudent means getting three estimates for the work and checking some references. If that is a reasonable prescription for success when remodeling or renovating, how come we still hear endless horror stories about it? Why is it that General Contractors in Florida are among the top five industries every year when it comes to consumer complaints reported to the Department of Consumer Affairs?
Remodeling or Renovating your home or apartment is an unusually high risk venture. Typically, there is a large sum of money involved in a tear down and rebuild project, it is detail and labor intensive, and it is not a shelf item (meaning that you are buying something that hasn't been made yet). You are buying it without really knowing the 'factory', the quality of its 'workers', its quality control procedures, the professionalism of the contractor, the available supply of required materials and so on. No wonder so many homeowners experience a rude awakening while remodeling or renovating their homes.
So many make the mistake of hiring the least expensive contractor due to the fact that they want to pay as little as possible to have their remodeling work completed. Very big mistake! Price or Cost is about number three or four on your list of concerns when hiring a Remodeling Contractor. Below are a few tips to make sure that the results of your remodeling /renovation project will be a success or at the very least, tilt the odds in your favor.
The following is a step-by-step approach that will inform and guide the decisions you make with regard to home and apartment remodeling and renovations. Principally, who you hire to do the work will have the greatest impact on how well your remodeling project turns out. OZ Construction Services Inc. hopes that these pointers will be helpful for any kind of major remodeling and renovation projects you may be considering.
Usually, renovating your home or apartment all begins with a dream. Bigger closets, new bathroom, new kitchen, more room in general, etc. Unfortunately, for some, their dreams turn into nightmares due to poor planning and the wrong choice of contractor. Before you renovate your sanctuary, please read the steps below to ensure that your remodeling project gets off to the right start and remains on track throughout its duration. Many people focus on how much it costs and not the most important factor, which is who the contracting company is. Cost is secondary when it comes to finding the right company for your project.
1. Define your objectives:
What is good or bad about the living space you want to remodel or renovate? Has anything annoyed you repeatedly? Do you find yourself wishing for something different? What are you missing? If cost is no object for your remodeling project, what would your dream space look like? How do you imagine using the space more effectively? Your answers to such questions can have a profound impact on the kind of kitchen, bathroom or den you want to ultimately end up with after your remodeling project is completed. Your answers should result in a comprehensive "wish list, which you can then use as a point of departure. If new information or insight becomes available, don't be inflexible and unwilling to deviate from your original remodeling list. You never know how new ideas can spark or inspire a better configuration for your proposed home or apartment remodeling changes.
2. Prioritize:
In the real world, we have to make compromises. The remodeling budget, available space and the accommodation of the tastes and wishes of other members of the household, etc. all play a part in shaping what we can and cannot do in our remodeling project. Organize your construction plans by prioritizing your objectives (from your "wish list" above). Your highest priority item should be first on the list. Subsequent items will represent lower priorities in a descending order. Highlight those items which are a must, and once you're done identifying these, review the list one more time. If you're comfortable with what you have, you've made significant progress towards a sensible plan for your remodeling or renovation project that will serve you well.
3. Budget:
Now it's time to spice your dreams up with a pinch of reality. You need to realistically develop a budget for the remodeling or renovation project. Assess your available resources. Many homeowners turn to financing for such a major project. Home equity loans and refinancing are the two most popular approaches to handling home improvement costs. Such an approach may have some tax benefits as well. It would be a good idea to consult your accountant or bank for more specific advice.
4. Design:
It's time to translate your wish list into a functional and visually striking floor plan. You should seek the help of an experienced professional for successful architectural design. Engage a General Contractor or a Design/Build firm in order to attain a seamless integration of the design with the actual remodeling work needed. This will help you avoid designs which could turn out to be "budget busters.
A remodeling outfit with expertise in design is indispensable at this stage. You should share your remodeling budget guidelines with the company you hire. In turn, they should be able to tailor a solution that will reconcile your "wish list" items with your budget. The trick is to actually find the right remodeling company to develop and accomplish this phase as it is one of the most critical factors for a successful project. The right company makes all the difference in the world, not the bottom line cost of the remodeling project.
5. Hire a Remodeling Contractor:
It's hard to summarize all the elements that should go into a good "Whom to Hire" decision in such short order. If you are remodeling your kitchen or bath, then naturally, you need to insist on a General Contractor that can and has demonstrated abundant experience and expertise in kitchen and bath remodeling or any other kind of renovation work which may be included in your project.
It is a must that your are comfortable with the company you hire and you should feel a genuine rapport with the people who work for them as well. It's advisable, whenever possible, to only work with a construction company that: (1) will guarantee a fixed price for your project, and (2) will provide you with a completion date in writing. Ultimately, it's the contractor's steadfast dedication to a satisfactory completion and your ability to 'navigate choppy waters' that will define your remodeling experience.
6. Manage Your Expectations:
You should be prepared for the challenges that such a project of a major renovation can pose. Any kind of remodeling project is a multi-trade, detail-intensive undertaking. Such a project involves noise, dust and disruption in your home or apartment. While you may tolerate it easily for the first few days, it may grow old very quickly. Be prepared for the inconvenience to last longer than you think it will. You should also be aware of the variations in the pace between different remodeling project phases. While the demolition and "rough" stages may speed along at a blazing pace, the wall work and painting phases may appear to barely move along by comparison. Managing your expectations doesn't mean you have to lower your standards. It merely results in a healthier and more balanced way for you to survive the process of remodeling.
7. Be involved:
Don't be an absentee client while your home or apartment is being remodeled. Remember, it's you who ultimately has to live with the results of the project, not the General that you hire, so stay involved as the project progresses. Even the most competent and trustworthy of contractors can benefit from your ongoing input and involvement. Being available and on top of things can even expedite your remodeling project because your enthusiasm and dedication will be shared by everyone involved. If you choose your contractor wisely, we assure you, that your remodeling project will actually be a rewarding experience you will get to brag about.
Remodeling or Renovating your home or apartment is an unusually high risk venture. Typically, there is a large sum of money involved in a tear down and rebuild project, it is detail and labor intensive, and it is not a shelf item (meaning that you are buying something that hasn't been made yet). You are buying it without really knowing the 'factory', the quality of its 'workers', its quality control procedures, the professionalism of the contractor, the available supply of required materials and so on. No wonder so many homeowners experience a rude awakening while remodeling or renovating their homes.
So many make the mistake of hiring the least expensive contractor due to the fact that they want to pay as little as possible to have their remodeling work completed. Very big mistake! Price or Cost is about number three or four on your list of concerns when hiring a Remodeling Contractor. Below are a few tips to make sure that the results of your remodeling /renovation project will be a success or at the very least, tilt the odds in your favor.
The following is a step-by-step approach that will inform and guide the decisions you make with regard to home and apartment remodeling and renovations. Principally, who you hire to do the work will have the greatest impact on how well your remodeling project turns out. OZ Construction Services Inc. hopes that these pointers will be helpful for any kind of major remodeling and renovation projects you may be considering.
Usually, renovating your home or apartment all begins with a dream. Bigger closets, new bathroom, new kitchen, more room in general, etc. Unfortunately, for some, their dreams turn into nightmares due to poor planning and the wrong choice of contractor. Before you renovate your sanctuary, please read the steps below to ensure that your remodeling project gets off to the right start and remains on track throughout its duration. Many people focus on how much it costs and not the most important factor, which is who the contracting company is. Cost is secondary when it comes to finding the right company for your project.
1. Define your objectives:
What is good or bad about the living space you want to remodel or renovate? Has anything annoyed you repeatedly? Do you find yourself wishing for something different? What are you missing? If cost is no object for your remodeling project, what would your dream space look like? How do you imagine using the space more effectively? Your answers to such questions can have a profound impact on the kind of kitchen, bathroom or den you want to ultimately end up with after your remodeling project is completed. Your answers should result in a comprehensive "wish list, which you can then use as a point of departure. If new information or insight becomes available, don't be inflexible and unwilling to deviate from your original remodeling list. You never know how new ideas can spark or inspire a better configuration for your proposed home or apartment remodeling changes.
2. Prioritize:
In the real world, we have to make compromises. The remodeling budget, available space and the accommodation of the tastes and wishes of other members of the household, etc. all play a part in shaping what we can and cannot do in our remodeling project. Organize your construction plans by prioritizing your objectives (from your "wish list" above). Your highest priority item should be first on the list. Subsequent items will represent lower priorities in a descending order. Highlight those items which are a must, and once you're done identifying these, review the list one more time. If you're comfortable with what you have, you've made significant progress towards a sensible plan for your remodeling or renovation project that will serve you well.
3. Budget:
Now it's time to spice your dreams up with a pinch of reality. You need to realistically develop a budget for the remodeling or renovation project. Assess your available resources. Many homeowners turn to financing for such a major project. Home equity loans and refinancing are the two most popular approaches to handling home improvement costs. Such an approach may have some tax benefits as well. It would be a good idea to consult your accountant or bank for more specific advice.
4. Design:
It's time to translate your wish list into a functional and visually striking floor plan. You should seek the help of an experienced professional for successful architectural design. Engage a General Contractor or a Design/Build firm in order to attain a seamless integration of the design with the actual remodeling work needed. This will help you avoid designs which could turn out to be "budget busters.
A remodeling outfit with expertise in design is indispensable at this stage. You should share your remodeling budget guidelines with the company you hire. In turn, they should be able to tailor a solution that will reconcile your "wish list" items with your budget. The trick is to actually find the right remodeling company to develop and accomplish this phase as it is one of the most critical factors for a successful project. The right company makes all the difference in the world, not the bottom line cost of the remodeling project.
5. Hire a Remodeling Contractor:
It's hard to summarize all the elements that should go into a good "Whom to Hire" decision in such short order. If you are remodeling your kitchen or bath, then naturally, you need to insist on a General Contractor that can and has demonstrated abundant experience and expertise in kitchen and bath remodeling or any other kind of renovation work which may be included in your project.
It is a must that your are comfortable with the company you hire and you should feel a genuine rapport with the people who work for them as well. It's advisable, whenever possible, to only work with a construction company that: (1) will guarantee a fixed price for your project, and (2) will provide you with a completion date in writing. Ultimately, it's the contractor's steadfast dedication to a satisfactory completion and your ability to 'navigate choppy waters' that will define your remodeling experience.
6. Manage Your Expectations:
You should be prepared for the challenges that such a project of a major renovation can pose. Any kind of remodeling project is a multi-trade, detail-intensive undertaking. Such a project involves noise, dust and disruption in your home or apartment. While you may tolerate it easily for the first few days, it may grow old very quickly. Be prepared for the inconvenience to last longer than you think it will. You should also be aware of the variations in the pace between different remodeling project phases. While the demolition and "rough" stages may speed along at a blazing pace, the wall work and painting phases may appear to barely move along by comparison. Managing your expectations doesn't mean you have to lower your standards. It merely results in a healthier and more balanced way for you to survive the process of remodeling.
7. Be involved:
Don't be an absentee client while your home or apartment is being remodeled. Remember, it's you who ultimately has to live with the results of the project, not the General that you hire, so stay involved as the project progresses. Even the most competent and trustworthy of contractors can benefit from your ongoing input and involvement. Being available and on top of things can even expedite your remodeling project because your enthusiasm and dedication will be shared by everyone involved. If you choose your contractor wisely, we assure you, that your remodeling project will actually be a rewarding experience you will get to brag about.