Admit it, sometimes it feels kind of satisfying to know that you are getting more for less. Like when you bring a pair of jeans to the cash register and find out that they are an additional 10% off, or finding a mechanic who will do work on your car for half the cost of the guy up the street. Few people complain when they are getting a good deal.
But, imagine how great you would feel if you could get something more valuable than a pair of jeans, for instance a home addition, for a fraction of the cost that other contractors in your area are offering. Generally speaking, adding another room to your home will cost you upwards of a thousand dollars. When it costs that much, why should you pay the government for the proper permits? And who cares about insurance: Really, what is the likelihood that someone will get hurt on the job, right?
Wrong.
When it comes to remodeling your home in any way, the best way to protect for the future is making sure that the entire process is legal, and that your contractor follows all the proper procedures. As Ferdinand Steyer, of Mountain Works LLC, a residential contracting company, explains, a number of legalities need to be followed in each and every home remodel:
Permits: Whenever you’re starting major construction on your home, whether it is adding a sun room, or finishing your basement, you’ll probably need a permit to do so. The purpose of a permit is to ensure that the construction met all the safety requirements set forth by your town. After your build is complete, an inspector will survey the work to make sure that everything is up to code. Essentially, this protects you and future owners of your home. If you fail to get a permit, then your insurance company has the right to refuse to pay for any damage from a fire or other accident that occurs.
Property Lines: When you first purchased your home, you probably received some form of documentation that stated where your property started and ended. And typically, too, it is pretty easy to tell where yours ends and your neighbor’s begins thanks to fences and driveways. However, when it comes to starting a home addition, fences and shrubs aren’t going to cut it because your town has laws that dictate how close to your property line you are allowed to build within their building code guidelines. Once you have confirmed the amount of space you have for building, you and your contractor can plan for where the added location of your home, landscaping and utilities will be.
Architectural Design: As part of the process of obtaining a permit, your contractor will also have to submit his architectural designs. And these designs must have a seal affixed to them, urges Steyer, to show their validity.
During the build: During the remodeling process, you should continuously keep your town’s zoning board up to date on it’s progress so that they are aware of any extensions you need, and any major problems you run in to. For instance, in some rare cases, your street may need to be closed off, which of course you need to get approved by your town before doing so.
Your Contractor: If you hire the right contractor, he should take care of all of the above legal issues for you, and it should be clearly stated in the contract that you sign that these issues fall under his responsibilities. To ensure that you have found a reputable and trustworthy contractor who will keep your best interests in mind, there are a few things you should find out about him and his company:
- Get a copy of his state license.
- Ask for proof that his insurance is up to date. At the very least, he should have liability coverage.
- Make sure that he has worker’s compensation so that if someone gets hurt on the job site your homeowners insurance is not held liable.
Knowing that your beautiful home was completed following the proper laws and regulations, and by people whom you trusted is remarkably more satisfying then finding that sale at the mall.
