Anyone who’s been the victim of a nightmare home remodeling project will tell you that it cost double the money and time than they initially thought. However, don’t let this put you off from having the home you’ve always dreamed of. All you need is a competent home remodeling contractor, an exact plan of attack, and a clear understanding of what you can spend.
If you follow this advice, you can have that new family room or kitchen of your dreams without losing your sanity.
- Consider the home remodeling contractor’s personality. After all, this person is going to be in your home every day, and you need to feel comfortable with his or her presence.
- Don’t be an absentee. You need to communicate by email or phone on a daily basis with your contractor, and have a face-to-face meeting once a week.
- Sign a contract. A good home remodeling contract should cover the following:
- Total cost (this must include how the add-ons will be handled)
- Start and finish dates
- Description of the home remodeling project
- A payment schedule
- The contractor’s license number
- The names of all people working on the project
- Provisions for early termination
- An agreement that any changes to cost or materials must be reviewed and approved (in writing) by both parties prior to proceeding with that stage of the work
- Don’t micromanage the home remodeling crew. Rather schedule a weekly meeting to discuss progress with the job foreman.
- Be wary about a contractor who is reluctant to give you a timeline for the project. This may be a sign that he or she has too many jobs going at once.
- Never undercut the contractor. The fastest way to ruin a relationship is to ask a member of the crew to work for you after hours for less money.
