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Home Improvement Remodeling
A Large Home Improvement Project such as
Remodeling a Kitchen or Bathroom Takes Planning and Attention to Detail
By: Mark J. Donovan
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Over three plus decades I’ve
completed many home improvement remodeling projects. I’ve done everything from
finishing basements, to remodeling kitchens and bathrooms, to building home
additions and homes. If I could give just three pieces of advice to homeowners
planning to tackle their own large home improvement remodeling project it would
be (1) plan well (2) pay close attention to detail, and (3) hire the right
general contractor. These three tips can save a homeowner thousands of dollars
and prevent much heartache and frustration.
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They can also assure that the home
remodeling or construction project gets done correctly, and on time and budget.
If you have your own large home improvement remodeling project plans start with
pencil and paper and jot down what you’re trying to achieve with your project.
For example, what type of space are you trying to create with your remodeling
project? Are you looking to create more living space or simply remodel an
existing space?
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Second, determine your home
remodeling budget as early in the planning process as possible. This way you can
make sure your home improvement remodeling dreams are consistent with your
budget and financing capabilities. It’s a common problem for many a homeowner to
develop a home remodeling plan that is out of step with their financial means.
Also, make sure to include in your home improvement remodeling budget a 10%
buffer for contingencies such as cost overruns and bad weather that can delay
the project.
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Once you’ve outlined your home
improvement remodeling plans and budget you can then begin to flesh out the
details of your project. I highly advise working with an architect or
kitchen/bathroom designer. They can ensure that your home remodeling project
will be constructed properly and to building codes. They can also help to make
sure you pay attention to all of the details. These advantages help tremendously
in the permit and construction process, as well as ensure you get the finished
home improvement remodeling project you’re looking for.
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After getting a complete set of home
remodeling plans you can then solicit contractor bids. If I could offer only one
key piece of advice when it comes to finding a home remodeling contractor it
would be to check references. If a contractor refuses to give you references or
suspect references move on. Ideally the prospective home remodeling contractor
should provide you with a list of references that span a time frame from recent
projects to ones that are a few years old.
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This way you can get a feel for the
contractor’s current work ethic and how well his work holds up to the test of
time.
As part of any home improvement remodeling contractor bid it should include a
complete breakout of costs, both labor and materials. In addition, it should
include a detailed schedule. The more detail in the costs and schedule the more
likelihood that the contractor has a solid handle on the cost and scope of the
project.
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Once you’ve selected a contractor you
can now begin the actual home remodeling. Make sure during the construction that
you talk regularly with the contractor, daily if possible. Confirm by your own
site inspections and talking with the general contractor that the project is
being constructed to the exact home remodeling plans. If you see any
discrepancies let the contractor know as soon as possible. The longer you delay
in communicating your issues the higher the cost of fixing the problem and the
increased likelihood of uncomfortable situations. |
Photo by Mark Donovan |
Also, make sure any building code inspections occur when they are supposed to,
and hold off making any incremental payments to the contractor until both you
and the local building inspector are satisfied with the work.
By following these few simple bits of advice you can dramatically improve the
chances of having a successful home improvement remodeling project.
Want to Build Your Own Home, see HomeAdditionPlus.com's
Home
Addition Bid Sheets.
Our
Home
Addition Bid Sheets
provide you with the knowledge and information on how to plan a home building
project, and what to look for when hiring contractors. They also include
detailed cost breakdown tables and spreadsheets for estimating your own new home
construction building costs.
How to Finance your Home Building Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
Related Information on Home Building
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