Home Remodeling Contractors

Want to remodel your home?

Are you planning to remodel your home? If so, you are probably anticipating some inconvenience and disruption, but you can probably also plan on paying more than the original project estimates. Save on costs by following our tips.

Don´t make changes after work starts

Even if you check out your contractor carefully and know he´s able to do your project for the estimated cost and on schedule, costs have a way of creeping during a project and often the primary culprit is the homeowner. It´s so easy to watch the work being done and rationalize upgrades that were not included in the original estimate. The contractor, wanting to please you, will often be happy to comply. He´ll present you with a change order and those beautiful french doors will be put in instead of the original double-paned sliders originally budgeted. At the end of the project though, you´d better be sitting when he gives you the final bill! Talk about sticker shock.

To avoid that kind of surprise, plan your project carefully. Take the time to think it through. Home remodeling projects are a study in trade-offs. Almost no one is able to do everything they would like, so choose carefully when making your style decisions. You can have the French doors, but may have to trade off the hardwood floor for laminate instead. Once you´ve made your choices, consider them final.

Use a design/build remodeler

For a remodeling project, hire a contractor who has design/build experience. A home remodeler with the ability to design as well as build is usually able to provide more accurate estimates and help you make the design choices you desire. This can result in some tidy savings.

Leaving once the work starts

If you haven´t already been through a remodel, you may be expecting some upheaval but not the complete mayhem that usually ensues. If you don´t have relatives or neighbors that are willing to put you up, a hotel and dining out may appear to be your only option. Resist that temptation and save plenty. Put up plastic barriers to keep construction dust down in other parts of the house and set up a temporary kitchen in another room if necessary. If it gets to be just too disruptive, take a weekend off and go on a mini-vacation. You´ll come back recharged and able to maintain sanity despite the mess.

Hire the right remodeler for your project

To find the right remodeler for your project, get several estimates. As you interview each bidder, educate yourself about the work they suggest needs attention as well as what you want to accomplish. If you´re remodeling a bathroom and want to replace the cabinetry, but the contractor suggests replacing pipes, fixtures, or adding features, find out what precisely needs work and why. Get a written estimate of costs and ask about warranties. Take notes so you can compare Contractor A with Contractor B.

Make sure you ask for copies of licensing and insurance. Check to be sure that both will be in force for the duration of your project. Ask for references too. Whenever possible, ask to see a job in progress. In addition to checking those references, you can also contact state licensing boards and the Better Business Bureau to make sure your contractor has the kind of track record you need to bring your project to a successful conclusion.