Any remodeling project can seem overwhelming, but it's guaranteed to go more smoothly if you know a couple of insider tricks.
From Remodel. more article in http://home-interior-design-tips-article.blogspot.com
visit : http://skin-care-body-treatment.blogspot.com , http://skin-care-and-acne-treatment.blogspot.com
1. Plan ahead. Making product selections early can prevent delays later. Proper planning can also help keep you on budget. "You'll end up making the same decisions, but you'll know what they're going to be and what they're going to cost ahead of time," explains Ridley Wills, founder of The Wills Co., a design-build firm in Nashville.
2. Remember the big picture. Long-term maintenance, energy-loss, and repair expenses can add up quickly, so make sure you include them in your calculations when comparing prices.
3. Find good help. Hire remodelers who have more than three years of experience, membership in the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), a good record with the Better Business Bureau, and positive customer references. Most important, select a remodeler you trust.
4. Visit a job site. When evaluating remodelers, visit their current job sites. The best remodelers maintain clean and organized work sites, take precautionary measures to ensure safety, and know how to keep a low profile in a neighborhood.
5. Be a good boss. The most important thing you can do during a remodeling project, other than write checks, is treat your remodeler well. "The perfect clients are easy to get along with, honest, and have an appreciation for what we do," says Anthony Wilder, founder of Anthony Wilder Design/Build in Bethesda, Maryland.
6. Insist on a detailed contract. If you jump into a remodeling project with an ambiguous contract or no contract at all, you may as well hire an attorney and set a court date right away. "The contract needs the right address, a start date, a completion date, and a detail of what is and is not going to be done," says Rosie Romero, founder of Legacy Custom Builders in Scottsdale, Arizona.
7. Know what you're getting into. Sure, remodeling is exciting. But there's also a lot of frustration as you encounter unexpected snags, delays, and the inevitable inconveniences that come from living in a construction zone. You'll handle the lows better if you know they're coming. A reputable remodeler will condition your expectations before a project begins.
8. Pitch a temporary camp. Speaking of lows, it can't get much worse than living without a kitchen for weeks on end. Minimize inconvenience by setting up a temporary one away from the construction area. Include a refrigerator and microwave oven, so you can continue to make light meals at home.
9. Pack away your breakables. "A remodeling project is going to affect every room in the house," says A.J. Paron-Wildes, general manager of DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. "The homeowners need to take down pictures, move vases, and pack away valuables before work begins." While you're at it, take steps to protect your immovable fixtures, including built-in cabinets and chandeliers. Have flooring covered with cardboard sheets if it needs to stay in good condition.
10. Communicate. Remodelers can do some amazing things, but they can't read minds. "Let the company supervisor or project lead person know if anything is unsatisfactory so they can deal with the issue," says Jeff Hurst, a Certified Remodeler (CR) and president of Hurst Total Home, Inc., in Kettering, Ohio. "The contractor may not be aware that something is not okay with the owner."
