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Before You Hire a Home Renovation Contractor

August 26, 2022 Comments Off

If you are planning to hire a contractor for your home remodeling project, there are several things you will want to consider. You will want to make sure that the contractor is licensed. Do not be afraid to ask the contractor to show you his or her license. In fact, you may want to check to see if the license is current by going to one of the websites that provide this service. You can find this information for free by doing an online search for contractor licenses.
Another thing you will want to look for and check is references. Most contractors will be happy to provide you with references and pictures of jobs they have done in your area. You will want to insist on a contract, whether or not the contractor offers this upfront. You will want everything spelled out in the contract; exactly what is to be done, when the job will be completed, and how much it will cost.
Your contractor may ask you for money upfront. While this is customary, never pay for the full job at the outset. You want to be able to pay for the job in stages. You may be asked to put down a deposit or a percentage of the job’s total worth. Then it should be spelled out in the contract at which stage you will pay more and how much. In addition, inspect the job thoroughly before you finish paying the contractor.
By doing your research ahead of time and carefully planning your home renovation, you can avoid many of the pitfalls that other homeowners have experienced when they engage the services of a contractor. While most of them are above board and hardworking, unfortunately, there are those that will take advantage of you if you let them.

Important Considerations to Make Before Choosing General Contractors

June 28, 2022 Comments Off

One of worst mistakes that homeowners could make in their home building or home remodeling projects is to choose and hire general contractors based on how low they offered their bids for a particular project. Hiring a contractor or a home builder with the lowest bid does not guarantee that you will get a high level of quality, an efficient construction schedule, good materials and even security.A�
Although cost-effectiveness is an important aspect in any home remodeling project and would be an important and vital factor in the selection process for general contractors, it is not your only or sole basis for selection. There are other considerations to make that involve checking out the company and getting guarantees of their work. This should be your basic process whether you plan to build or renovate a home in Boston, Massachusetts or anywhere else around the nation.A�
On top of that, there are certain qualifications and standards that your general contractors should adhere to, including green building standards and practices. These requirements are being applied by government entities in their own construction requirements and these should also be applied to domestic applications as well.A�
Green Building Qualification of Your General ContractorsA�
The concept of environmental practices or what is more commonly called as green building has been an old concept already used in the past but it recently gained more attention and popularity in recent times. In line with this, the U.S. Green Building Council developed a Green Building Rating System which is more commonly known as the LEED certification. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is an important qualification that your general contractors should have.A�
General contractors that are qualified for LEED certification are expected to use environmental-friendly methods and procedures during their construction projects, including activities for home renovation or home remodeling. Such practices include the construction of energy-efficient structures, as wells as reducing or even eliminating the volume of waste materials generated within a construction site.A�
There are four levels of certification in LEED and this includes the Certified, Silver, Gold and the Platinum levels. General contractors with certain levels of LEED certification would be ideal for your home remodeling project, particularly if you are keen in having an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient home. The result would not only be good for the environment, but with your finances in the long run as well.A�
Other Considerations for Selecting General ContractorsA�
Aside from LEED certification, there are other considerations that a homeowner could rely upon when trying to decide which general contractors to hire for their home remodeling projects. These considerations include:A�
* Membership in a reputable association or organization such as the National Association of Home Builders. As a member, general contractors are required to provide company information which will be scrutinized by the association in order to gain acceptance as a member. Homeowners can get required information from the association regarding a particular contractor.A�
* Check for any consumer complaints lodged against your general contractors from your state or local Better Business Bureau. Should there be a complaint, try to get in touch with the complainant and know the nature and reason behind the complaint.A�
* Avoid entities that have no apparent documented records in any associations, organizations or even in the Better Business Bureau. You might be dealing with a building scammer.A�
* Get as many bidders as you can, with three as a minimum. An indication of reputable companies would be a bid that would be at least closer or slightly higher with the rest of the bids. A bid that is considerably low than others are questionable in nature, so be careful and ask a lot of questions and background checks.A�
A home renovation or a home remodeling project is a worthwhile endeavor particularly if you have the design and the budget in place. However, you would need qualified general contractors who will get the job done and give you the results that you are expecting.

Home Remodeling – Use Free Resources Before You Start

April 19, 2021 Comments Off

Many homeowners enjoy starting new projects that will improve their home. However, lots of home remodeling tasks require the help of someone experienced in this field, so use the resources that surround you before you start.
If you are thinking about home remodeling in order to get the house you have always wanted, there are a few places you can go for help in this endeavor. No matter how talented you are at planning or construction, you will probably need help or inspiration at some point. Find out the best places to go to get assistance with your projects.
Most home remodeling projects require certain materials and tools, many of which you might not have. This means that a trip to the local home improvement store is probably in order. While there, you should ask any questions you have of the sales staff, as many are trained to answer queries from homeowners. If they do not know the answer, they can usually point you in the direction of someone who does, or at least offer a manual with tips for completing your task.
You can also stay at your house and still get your questions answered, simply by doing an Internet search. There are various websites and free e-books that teach the steps for different projects. Some simply offer basic tips for getting started while others go in-depth so that you can start from scratch. Use the Internet as a free resource for completing the home remodeling tasks that you need to do.
One of the most popular ways to learn new things is reading a book. Check out your local bookstore or library to find helpful books on the task you want to complete. Just like Internet sites, you will probably find that some books teach every step for various projects, while others just give a general overview that lets you know whether you should even attempt the project you are considering. Reading a book is a great, inexpensive or even free way to ensure that you know what you are doing before you get started, possibly saving you the money of having to start an unsuccessful task all over.
You are probably excited to start modeling your house the way you want it, but planning a bit before you start is a smart move. Jumping into a project that ends up failing can cost you money, since both your materials and time will be wasted. Plan to succeed by researching as much as possible first, consulting the various free resources that you are surrounded by. Only then can you expect to get he results you want from your home remodeling project.

Renovation Coach – A New Way to Evaluate a Property Before the Purchase

February 22, 2021 Comments Off

Buying property that needs work and doing that work is a good way to increase equity. Shop for location and then find a property in that location that can be changed to fit your needs. But how do you know if a property can be adapted to meet your needs at a budget you can afford?
There’s a fairly new type of professional called a renovation consultant, or a remodeling coach, that can assess the property for you. They can identify the creative possibilities and functional limitations of the property before you make a commitment to purchase.
Their assessment will help you:
Prioritize Your Needs: A renovation consultant will help you ascertain what needs to be done to the property to adapt it to what you really want.
Expose the Potential: By making design recommendations and looking beyond the obvious issues to find simple solutions that uncover the full potential of the property in a cost effective way, a renovation consultant can help you visualize and plan for the realization of the full potential.
Value Engineer the Project: A knowledgeable consultant will help you design and choose materials that add maximum bang for your buck.
Evaluate City Planning and Zoning Requirements: In most municipalities there are rules that could impact improvements that you might want to make. A thorough assessment of these is imperative.
Establish a Renovation Budget: It is important to establish a realistic budget and timeline for the renovations. This will ensure that the purchase price plus the cost of improvements does not exceed the average value of property for the neighborhood.
Develop a Timeline: A realistic timeline for the completion of the renovation will give you the information you need to plan where you are going to live, if the property will be uninhabitable during the renovation.
It is a relatively new idea but there is estimated to be about 100 across the county. They offer unbiased advice and is are good resource if you find yourself considering a “fixer upper”. Consultants usually charge a flat fee between $400 – $700 for this type of service.
If you decide to purchase the property a consultant can be retained to help with the renovation. They have expertise in design, product selection, scheduling and construction. By developing a game plan with a renovation consultant you will be better prepared and the renovation will flow more smoothly. They can be your eyes and ears on the job while you’re living your life.