Remodeling your home can be a complicated, but exciting process. Pretty soon you’ll be enjoying a fresh new design or convenient addition to your home! But in order to accomplish your goals, the planning stages are critical to making everything run as smoothly as possible. Here’s what you need to consider before getting started.
Do it yourself, or hire a professional? Some jobs are fairly straightforward DIY propositions. Others can quickly get out of hand if you don’t have experience. And if you do decide to go it alone, make sure you have the right tools for the job.
Have you fully researched the project? Make sure you investigate several sources for information, keeping regional differences in mind. In some areas, local factors such as weather, water quality, and permit restrictions make an otherwise-worthwhile project unwise. If you’re using a contractor’s services, obtain quotes from three or four of them. Keep in mind that a lower price shouldn’t be the only deciding factor; allow each contractor to fully explain the quality of their methods and materials as well.
How much time will the project take? If you’re disrupting a critical area of the home, such as the kitchen or bathroom, you should make a plan for living in the midst of construction chaos. If water will be turned off to the home for a period of time, it might make sense to purchase paper plates and to plan for laundry and showers elsewhere.
What can go wrong? It’s easy to picture things going right, and plan for all of the materials, tools, and time needed to complete the project. But when you examine the possibilities for things that can go wrong – even if they’re unlikely to happen – you can prepare to change course mid-project if needed.
Have you made room in your budget? Part of preparing for things that can go wrong is leaving a little wiggle room in your budget. Having money left over is never a problem for anyone. But running out of money two-thirds of the way through a project that presents complications can feel disastrous.
Will your homeowners insurance policy be affected? Some homeowners insurance policies enforce strict rules about using licensed contractors, certain materials, or other unique specifications. Double check to be sure your plans don’t complicate things with your insurance policy.
If you require assistance in restoring your property after a damaging event like flood or fire, give us a call. We can help you assess the damage and decide what to do next.
