Kick-starting a remodeling project is one of the most important decisions you are going to take on your home. From adding a bit more space to the living room to adding another bedroom, any homeowner will have one or more ideas to make their homes even better. Unfortunately, any sort of remodeling project is bound to throw some hurdles along its way. If you are better prepared at the time you be able to tackle these problems with ease. Listed below are six important tips to consider before undertaking a remodeling project.
Buy a New Home?
Why do people decide to move ahead with remodeling instead of buying a new home? Setting up a custom designed home will ensure that you will have a home that perfectly matches your vision but doing so is expensive. Secondly, by engaging yourself in remodeling your home you will be able to improve upon your residence without having to leave your familiar neighborhood. Lastly, remodeling is indeed a stressful and hectic affair but is nothing considered to moving from one place to another.
Finding a Contractor
Ideally you will want to align yourself with an individual or a team that will be easy to work with. Doing a simple Google search like – “remodeling companies around Dallas, TX” will point you towards a number of firms located nearby your home. Be sure to ask the contractor or the company you are hiring to provide references to their previous projects. Getting in touch with their previous clients will help you to judge whom you are working with and thereby avoid any unprofessional behavior in the midst of the project.
Signing on the Dotted Line
After narrowing down on a contractor and discussing with him your vision for the project it is essential put the details on paper. Doing so will save you from any unforeseen troubles that will come along your way. The contractor will be liable to any changes not mentioned in the contract and will need your approval for such changes. It should be mentioned that any remodeling project will end with you having to pay an additional 10% or so that what was initially projected.
Get the Permits
I’ve seen a lot of homeowners just skip over the necessity of getting a home permit. These are necessary and if you are planning to not obtain them it will come back to bite you sometime during the course of the project. Check with the local authorities to see if the remodeling task you are undertaking does require a permit. Most building codes which are developed along the lines of the International Residential code require you to obtain a permit when you are getting a structure enlarged, altered or repaired.
Know What you Want
Ideally, the remodeling has to been done with what your plans for the home are. Are you planning to resale the home after the renovations or are you planning to stay there for years to come? Working with a bit of foresight is essential to get the maximum out of the renovation project. If it’s for a short-term need, you will not need to invest a lot on it but if it’s for a long-term purpose, it’s better to work with the best quality of materials so that as to avoid doing another remodeling project in the near future.
Budget
As mentioned, a remodeling project will always cost you more than what you had initially planned. If during the project your contractor finds a leaky water line, then you will have to pay to get it repaired. However, do let this stop you from holding your contractor accountable for any other additional expenses. If you have a budget drawn up before the project, your contractor is liable to stick to it.
The tips that are mentioned in this guide are only the absolute basics that you need to cover before undertaking the project. Before starting, make sure that you get the opinions of all the members that are living in the house and be sure it is done in a way that improves upon what you already have.
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