Is remodeling EVER easy? The simple answer is no. There are numerous factors to consider such as: repair or remodel; DIY project or hire a contractor; hire a handyman or hire a General Contractor; budget; timing; schedules; coordinating work and school; need or want. All these questions are preliminary even before you pick up the phone to start the estimating process. Then you are faced with the numerous options on design; trades/skilled contractors; do you want to manage the project yourself and coordinate purchases, deliveries, trade schedules?
If it is already overwhelming and you are just starting to think about it, take a moment to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. There is HOPE and everything will be alright.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD3F7J2PeYU
Click, let your feet do the moving and enjoy the moment!
So now that you are calm and feeling the calm happiness down to your toes, we can talk. Getting ready to consider a remodeling project does not have to take your breath away but a few basic practical things will help you. Here is how you can start.
Ask yourself and your spouse
- Do we need it or want it?
- Do I have the skills, tools, time to do the project myself?
- Do I have the time to manage the project and do all the coordinating? 4. Do we need a repair or a remodel?
- What is our budget?
- How will we pay for this?
Here is how these questions can help you start the process.
A need is defined as something that is essential for the daily use and benefit of the family in a home. So is our bathroom, kitchen, attic, basement or living space providing the maximum function my family “needs” right now. If the answer is yes, you may be looking at a want and a want is a remodel project that is not crucial to have and with proper planning can be less stressful. For example, if the home is fully functioning and the want is to make the kitchen, living space an open space and perhaps add an addition to create a bigger space for more entertaining, then this is best planned out with a 6 months to a year plan. This would help you prepare a realistic budget, time frame for the project and plan for the family during this time. It also allows you to vet (interview) different trades people. Yes, I said interview and this is a double interview (just to be fully transparent). A professional contractor will not have any issues answering your questions about their process including the fact that in the remodeling industry and during a remodel, there are numerous ways delays can happen. So ask away! Ask how delays are handled; what are normal hours; is it in house crew or subcontractors; how is communication handled; what are the expected payouts during construction.
A professional contractor will also be prepared to ask you questions. Some may be: who will be the point of contact; who will make final selection decisions; what is your family schedule like on a daily/weekly basis; how is the project being paid for; are there any special needs in the home (ie someone works nights and access is restricted during day hours); there are pets in the home that may need to be contained or arrangements made during construction.
I stated this is a double interview because the professional contractor will also want to know whose home they will be working in; who will they be expected to communicate with; the ease or difficulty in which communication may be; access to the project site; children/elderly or pets in the home during construction hours. We need to know so we can adjust our work to accommodate as much as possible for the comfort of the family BUT this is still a construction site.
For the homeowner, you want to be sure you like the person/s that will be in your home; comfortable with the communication and processes. Afterall, for the duration of the project we will be in your home until completion. Life, your life, your family matters do not take a pause just because there is a remodel going on, so getting along and liking the General Contractor you invite into your home will be a huge factor. In all honesty, 9.5 out of 10 times, it is a more important factor than the cost. At the end of the day (or project) if you did not like the contractor; communication was not good; processes are not clear, you are not going to be happy and may in fact consider changing contractors and it will cost more money (no doubt about it).
Deciding whether a project can be considered a DIY (do it yourself) or hire a General Contractor, can be as simple as answering these questions: Do I have the skills, tools, time to do the project myself? Do I have the time to manage the project and do all the coordinating? Oftentimes homeowners overestimate their skill set and can start projects for which they invest, time (evenings, weekends, days off, vacation time); purchase and or rent tools (that they may not know how to use – since they did not already own the tools). Once you add up your time, the cost of the tool purchase and or rental, your material, your math may actually reflect you would of spent the same if you hired a professional to handle it.
Why? Because if you do not have the skill set to do a project and you do not have the tools already in your possession, you will be investing HOURS in researching how to do the work, what you need, purchasing tools. All of which a professional contractor already has. We do this full time and most of us have a passion for the trades in one form or another, so the inclination to build and learn is already there AND we do it everyday.
Factoring in the shopping time, coordination and how many evenings, weekends, days off or even vacation time you will give up, should give some (not all) a bit of pause and welcome us General Contractors into your home to do the remodel for you.
Deciding on a repair or remodel. A repair can be as simple as changing the wax ring under your toilet when you notice it started leaking on the floor. Yup, there is a wax ring that would be good practice to change every so often just to make sure your toilet functions properly and there is no “unexpected” leaks onto your floor. Which in essence can go on for months before you notice damage. Water will find the path of least resistance so the leak may damage the immediate area seeping into the subfloor first before you notice a leak on the tile, or cracks on the tile and worse case scenario a sagging area. That just means now you have a more expensive repair! A handyman can help keep things running smoothly around your house. They can change the wax ring; clean aerators on your faucets so the water has more pressure (simple but not all homeowner know this); check the batteries on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors; caulk around windows and doors to prevent air leaking in or out for AC conservation in the summer and heat in the winter. These are repairs, simple. We recommend putting together what I like to call the “honey do list”. We wives like to rely on the hubby to handle these maintenance things but again not everyone is handy nor are they interested in handling them but it is part of home-ownership. So you create your honey do list and interview a few handymen
services. Over the years, this handyman service will be your go to for small repairs. Perhaps not at first as you check a few out but certainly with time you will know who you are comfortable with because they earned your trust. One such service is: The Handymen Group, you can email your honey do list to: [email protected] and you will receive a call and or email to give you an estimate of cost for your list. Most handymen services have a 2-4 hours per work order minimum.
A remodel, can be a complete re-design, expansion, build out, addition of any space in your home. While there are certainly plenty of men and women that can tackle such a project WHILE working full time, it is a much more extensive process and rising cost, material delays and installations can quickly excalate from mere frustration to full blown overwhelment. You still have the option at that point to hire a contractor BUT it may come with a cost. If the work already done is not done to code a professional contractor is ethically responsible for bringing it to code. Yes, yes there are a dime a dozen contractor willing to look the other way and you may get a cheaper deal but the cost of not doing things right and with integrity could be a price you do not want to pay later, ie: faulty wiring or the use of wrong materials, so many things can and do go wrong. So caution in your decision process is a must.
Finally, the biggest questions are: 1) what is our budget? and 2) how is it getting paid?
I am a huge football fan and this is one of my favorite Tom Cruise scenes. He worked hard for that contract!
Whether you are hiring a General Contractor or doing it yourself, rest assured this question is going through everyone’s mind. It is best approached honestly and not be afraid to discuss with the spouse and your contractor.
Professional contractors will not be afraid to discuss your budget limits, concerns and will in fact think outside the box and discuss various options to help you meet your goals.
In our practice, we get to know our clients, their needs and help move them from concept to reality in any stage they are in. We have prepared budgets for clients that required a year or more to get their finances together and then called us back. We offer financing in various forms to help move things along. We have a network of lenders if our financing options are not sufficient. We have even prepared our contracts to facilitate the client purchasing some materials (mainly finishes) with credit cards because they are offered 0% for a year or two or may earn miles. Why not earn the miles for a vacation or pay for part of the remodel finishes with a 0% interest rate card.
Final thoughts, remodeling is not an easy decision to make and certainly not an easy process but with a professional General Contractor that listens to you; offers options; thinks outside the box the concept to reality process can be as seamless and almost, almost pain free. In the end, you will have learned something new and have a beautiful new space to remind you everyday. Which experience you are ready for, whether it is DIY or hire a General Contractor is a personal decision.
Ask yourself, “what is one thing I can do before the end of the day to make someone smile? Then do it.”
My invitation to you is to know your options. When in doubt, just reach out 630-359-8208, [email protected].
