|
|
|
Home Remodeling Disaster Prevention
The Major Tenets in Home Remodeling Disaster
Prevention
By: Mark J. Donovan
|
|
I have been involved in many home
remodeling and construction projects over the years and so far I have been
fortunate enough to have not experienced any major home remodeling disasters.
This is not to say that I haven’t had my share of minor setbacks and mini
catastrophes along the way. Any home remodeling project is fraught with risks,
challenges and setbacks.
The trick to preventing home remodeling disasters is doing a lot of upfront work
prior to breaking ground on your home construction project, and being a stickler
to details.
|
|
In addition, it is important to
anticipate where home remodeling disasters could arise and setting up
contingency plans well in advance.
Finding a Home
Remodeling Contractor
The most common problem that I hear homeowners complain about when it comes to a
home remodeling disaster project is the frustration and disappoint with their
contractors and subcontractors. Much of this frustration could have been avoided
if they had simply requested multiple contractor bids and followed up with
multiple reference checks with each contractor.
|
 |
|
|
This is a fundamental tenet in home
remodeling disaster prevention. Choosing a contractor by wishing and hoping
they’ll do a good job is fool folly. Always check the background of any
contractor before hiring him or her, and if you hear anything less than a
stellar review find someone else.
Also, find out what other projects they are currently working on. It is
important to determine if they will have the bandwidth to support your project.
If they are busy with multiple projects, you may end up getting only a portion
of their mindshare and energies, which could translate into delays and cost
overruns on your home remodeling project.
|
Home Remodeling
Contractor Contracts
The second most common gripe when it comes to home remodeling disasters is in
the interpretation of a home remodeling contractor’s contract.
Another major home remodeling disaster prevention tenet: Never accept a verbal
contract and always make sure you know fully what you are receiving for services
and materials before signing a home remodeling contractor’s contract.
|
Photo By Mark Donovan |
Even after you find a reputable contractor, make sure their proposal is in
writing and detailed. The contract should include a description of all the work
they are to perform, the material to be used, and start and completion dates. In
addition there should be a milestone schedule payment included. Also, I would
strongly suggest having language in the contract that allows you to opt out of
the contract in the event the contractor fails to start work on the date that
they say they will.
|
In addition, make sure the contract
spells out who the subcontractors are in the contract. I would also highly
suggest including language in the contract that allows you to pay the
subcontractors out of the contractor’s money, in the event the general
contractor does not pay them. The last thing you want is a subcontractor lien
put on your home due to a payment dispute between a contractor and his
subcontractors.
Also, make sure the contract spells out who will pull permits and schedule
inspections.
Finally, if the contract involves 10’s of thousands of dollars I would suggest
having a lawyer review it before signing it. |
|
Home Remodeling Contractor Payments
Home remodeling contractors will demand a deposit. The amount of the deposit
will vary anywhere from between 10 and 50%. I would highly recommend not paying
a deposit more than 15-20% of the project. Anymore and you are setting yourself
up for a potential home remodeling disaster.
It is important to note that the deposit should be considered earnest monies for
having the contractor perform work for you. The deposit is your upfront
commitment to them. The deposit should be exclusively used for your project,
such as buying initial construction material. It should not be used for paying
their debt on another remodeling project. Consequently, the amount of the
deposit should be sized to a cost percentage of the initial
material/subcontractor requirements to get them through to the first major
project milestone completion, e.g. the completion of the excavation, foundation,
and rough framing work.
Another major home remodeling disaster prevention tenet is to never pay too much
in advance for work to be completed. If you do, you lose your leverage for
getting the job completed. Consequently payment milestones should be based on
work completed, and not work to be done. The payment structure should always be
weighted towards you such that in the event the contractor walks from the
project you have enough monies left to hire another contractor to complete the
work at no additional cost to you.
Monitoring Home
Remodeling Progress
During the home remodeling project it is vital to regularly keep tabs on work
being performed and to point out problems sooner rather than later. Finding
problems later costs more money as more rework is required. I would highly
suggest having a regularly scheduled walk through with the general contractor at
least once a week to review construction and its conformance to the home
remodeling plans.
By following these basic home remodeling disaster prevention tenets your chances
of a successful home remodeling project are greatly improved.
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 Additions and Estimating Home Addition Costs
Design Software for Developing your own Home
Addition Plans from Amazon.com
Free Home Addition
Price Quotes with No Obligation!
Fill out our 3-5 minute quick and easy form, and receive a free price quote
on a home addition from one of our prescreened and licensed home addition
contractors. This process is free and there is no obligation to continue once
you receive your home addition estimate.
|
|
|
