If you’re getting ready to make major changes to your home, you want to be as prepared as possible, right? Many homeowners find themselves looking back at even the best remodeling projects thinking about what they could have done differently. Some of the most common regrets include things like:
- I wish I had consulted a designer before choosing colors.
- I should have asked the contractor more questions early on.
- Why didn’t I speak up about XYZ?
If you’re here reading this post, it means you’re already on the right track. So what should you know before a home remodel?
You can avoid most remodeling mistakes by working with an experienced contractor who can give you advice at every decision point. You can learn a lot from other homeowners too. Here are the most common things homeowners wish they had known before their remodel began.
Know Your Design
The first thing you need to know before a home remodel is your design plan. That doesn’t mean you have to have a fully formed design before you meet with a contractor — far from it! However, it’s smart to have an idea of how you will develop your design plan.
Some homeowners end up with results they love by designing on their own! Unfortunately, others end up having to extend their projects and budgets to change design decisions that seemed great in theory but didn’t wind up looking right in practice. If you’re not fully confident in interior design, you can save yourself time, money, and stress in the long run by consulting with a designer before your remodel.
One option is to work with a remodeling company who uses a design/build model. At Square Deal Remodeling, this means we have a team of interior designers who can help you craft your design and budget before we start building. Working with a design/build contractor is typically more efficient than hiring a designer separately because it means you hire only one company and everyone you work with will know how to coordinate well with each other.
Choose the Right Contractor
When it comes to your home, you want to work with someone you trust and who has the right skills and experience for your particular project. You also want to make sure you get all your questions answered before and during the remodeling process.
Our advice is to ask a specific set of questions before you decide who to work with, and then another set of questions before they actually start building.
Questions for general contractors when you’re deciding who to hire:
- What kind of experience do you have that’s relevant to my project?
- Do you have photos of your past work?
- Are you fully licensed and bonded to work in this state?
- Does your process involve a detailed contract that describes the project?
- What is your projected timeline?
- How do you handle unexpected complications or delays?
Remodeling questions to ask before your contractor starts building:
- What is your daily schedule like? (When can I expect people to be working at my house?)
- What is the best way to contact you quickly if problems or questions come up?
- Is there anything in my design that may be unrealistic or impractical to build?
- Any other specific questions you have about your project
Home Advisor has a long list of questions to ask if you’re looking for more ideas.
Also, don’t be afraid to speak up if any questions or concerns arise along the way. This is your home, and you deserve great results.
Make Practical Preparations
Depending on what space you’re planning to remodel, you can make the process run more smoothly and limit its effect on your schedule by making some adjustments to your home before construction begins.
For example, if it’s a kitchen remodel, you could set up a crock pot in another room to take care of some of your meals while your stove is out of commission. You might also consider removing any valuable or delicate items near the remodel space. If there’s going to be any serious demolition, you might even want to remove items off of shelves against adjacent walls in other rooms.
Extra budgeting tip: Consider adding an “emergency fund” of about 15-20% to your budget. If you finally lift those old kitchen countertop tiles to find rot underneath, you’ll be glad you left some extra money in your budget to replace it.
Let Square Deal Remodeling Help You Navigate the Remodeling Process
We’ve been remodeling homes in the Portland/Vancouver area since 1992, so we’ve been in business long enough that we know how to anticipate potential remodeling problems and resolve them ahead of time.
Plus, our design/build model allows us to make sure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goal: making your design, your vision, a reality.
Get in touch today to tell us about your project and find out more about how we can help you.