Are you dreaming about hosting your next Christmas party in
a better setting? Maybe swap out that old carpet in the
living room, re-do the kitchen, or just give an allover
facelift to your house or apartment? Well, if you're
planning to renovate this year, here are some of the most
important things to pay attention to.
Make sure you design your plan well.
Understand design trends before finalizing your remodeling
plans. Home remodeling considerations most commonly include
kitchens and private areas. Larger kitchens have a greater
resale value than smaller kitchens. You should design the
working area with appliances in a triangular position for
easy working. As for private areas, bedrooms and bathrooms
should be separated visually from the working areas of the
house.
Write down every little remodeling specification detail
Designing the remodeling specs is the most important task
that you will undertake. This task can be the most
complicated since you need to detail everything about your
remodeling plans so that you can bid the project out to a
contractor. Make sure you list down everything you want to
change, so the contractor will have a clear idea of what
you want. This can prevent design conflicts in the future.
Make sure you write exactly which type of new faucet you
want for your kitchen. Specify exactly which shade (and
company) of hardwood floors you want. No detail is too
small to be overlooked here, since based on these
specifications the contractor will quote you his price. If
you want white Italian marble for your living room, it will
be a very different quote than maple hardwood floors.
Find a great contractor
The home remodeling specs that you created will be used to
bid the construction project. Take your specifications plan
and follow these three important tasks:
Take your specification plan and have it reviewed by an
architect or other home designer. It will help them design
or revise a house plan to fit your remodeling specs. Take
the architectural plan and submit a request for bids from
remodeling contractors. The architectural plan should
include your construction specs.
Make sure you research the contractors bidding on your
project, and make sure you protect yourself in negotiation.
You can find a builder by checking the local newspaper,
looking around in your neighborhood for houses being
renovated, referrals by friends and associates, and
referrals by the architect that looked over your
specification plans.
Get the bids
After you've done your research, it's time to take bids.
The rule of thumb is to get three estimates, but try for
five - and then ditch the rock-bottom bid.
"That's the guy you want to run away from," says R. Dodge
Woodson, a general contractor for 27 years and author of
"Tips & Traps for Hiring a Contractor." "The typical game
is to come in as low as you can so you get the job, and
then add extra after extra." Since one of the main
responsibilities of a general contractor is to hire skilled
subcontractors (electricians, masonry workers, plumbers),
you might wonder: Can't I hire the subcontractors myself?
Well, of course you can, but make sure you can walk away
from your job at a moment's notice to rush home and take
care of a sudden crisis. If you can't do that, you're going
to need a professional to take care of things.
Get Everything in Writing
Get a written contract to make sure you're protected
against lawsuits resulting from disputes, accidents,
work-related injuries or damages to third parties. Any of
these things can happen - even with the smallest of jobs.
Your contract does not have to be complicated, but make
sure you include the following:
· Contractor contact details such as name, phone
number, email, and address.
· A full description of the work contracted (including
a detailed list of the materials and specifications of the
entire job).
· The start date and the target completion date.
· The overall cost and how you pay.
· Your contactor's insurance plan and number, with a
list of covered items and the period of time covered by the
warranty.
The big 5
There are five things every contractor must have.
1. If required by your state, a license. You can check the
Web (contractors-license.org) for your state's rules. If he
does have a license, take down the number and call your
state or local licensing board to verify it.
2. Liability insurance. This protects your house and
property in case the contractor or his employees cause
damage.
3. Workers' compensation insurance. Without it you can be
held responsible if someone is injured while doing work on
your property.
4. The subcontractors should be insured. The same liability
and workers' compensation insurance that your contractor
has should be carried by all the specialists (plumbers,
electricians and others) he hires.
5. A clean record in the Better Business Bureau. How many
complaints have been filed, if any? Remember that
misunderstandings do and will occur, so if there was a
complaint, see if it was resolved satisfactorily.
Are you ready?
You have to adhere to some standards too. It's important to
be thorough about your wants and needs, but you also have
to get along with your crew. "You've got to deal with these
people; they're going to be in your house," says Tom
MacGregor, a New York contractor. You can't change your
mind every other day and not expect people to get a little
frustrated. If your contractor is a reputable one, your
goals will be the same: a fast and smooth job, well
executed, that everyone walks away from satisfied.
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MyHome is a New York general contractor firm, working with
top interior designers in New York and providing full
remodeling services for homes and offices in NYC.
http://www.NewYorkGeneralContractor.com/
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