When you get ready to start a home renovation, picture the end result. No homeowner wants hiccups or problems during the process. When you choose a respected home remodeling company, they can help you avoid common mistakes. During the interview process, talk about your concerns with the remodeling company and address how they’ll overcome these potential issues.
Budget for Overruns
Your budget may be set in stone – but that doesn’t mean that you should plan on spending 100% of it. We’ve all seen the home makeover shows on TV where an unforeseen issue causes a cost overrun. That means the home remodeling company asks for more money. Making matters worse the pricing used on these programs is often unrealistic and sets false expectation with the general public. If your home renovation goes over budget, how will you deal with it? If working with a traditional contractor you may need a 15-20% or even more cushion in your budget to cover anything that they failed to identify up front. Working with a Design Build company who takes the time to do a careful design and research in your home, should decrease the amount of money you need to set aside for unforseens.
Plan Ahead
If the remodeling company you’re considering doesn’t talk about their process and present a plan with a detailed timeline, consider another company. Of course, sometimes delays happen or you end up ahead of schedule, but they should present a reasonable timeline and stick to it. Proper planning not only keeps you on schedule but also keeps you on budget, especially if your family is displaced during a whole-home remodel.
Check and Double-Check
The first thing you should check is a home remodeling company’s credentials. Are they properly licensed and insured for the type of work they’ll be doing? Without proper licensing, they won’t be able to get permits to do the work, never have a contractor work on any significant project without a permit, since it protects the homeowner. Without liability and workman’s compensation insurance, any injuries to workers sustained on your property will be your problem. Lastly, review the final plans carefully. Ask questions of your designer and make changes before you start work, as changes during the process can often be expensive.
A home renovation doesn’t have to break the bank or turn into a headache. Just follow these simple steps and work with a licensed and insured home remodeling company like G.M. Roth Design Remodeling. We’ve been remodeling homes throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts with our 10-Step Process that helps ensure every homeowner is happy during and after the home renovation. Call us to get started at (603) 880-3761.
