Redesigning your home, whether through a remodel or an addition, is a surefire way to take your home to the next level. But, achieving your dream home takes a certain amount of planning on the part of the homeowner, explains Ferdinand Steyer, the owner of the home contracting company Mountain Works LLC in Fairfield, Connecticut. You can’t dive straight into it as otherwise you may find yourself drowning in a sea of decisions and dollar signs.
So, if you are serious about adding space and charm to your current home, follow these simple tips from Steyer on what you should consider before you break ground on your construction project.
Ask yourself questions: The first question that Steyer encourages homeowners to ask themselves before they start their project is: What is the intended use of this space? The answer will be key in guiding you through the rest of the process and give the contractor you choose better insight into what you are expecting.
- Will it be a family space that will see a lot of traffic? If so, you might want to lean towards a larger room with wall-to-wall carpeting.
- Are you adding to your home to increase the resale value? If this addition is to enhance your home to potential buyers, then Steyer recommends asking a local realtor to walk through your home and advise you on what alterations or additions would add the most value and which areas are fine just the way they are.
Gather ideas: The easiest part of the building process, says Steyer, is choosing the materials that you like. Go online and look at contractor’s websites and tear pages out of magazines. You don’t have to settle on everything you choose in this preliminary stage, but it will definitely give you and your contractor an idea of the direction you are heading in.
Find someone you trust: First and foremost, says Steyer, you should make sure that the contractor you choose to hire has all of the following: a state’s license, insurance, and workers comp. If he can’t provide you with proof of these, then move on. Next, you should get a feel for what type of person the contractor is. Ask him questions about his background, his experience with the particular type of remodel you are looking to do, past projects that he has enjoyed, and more. From his responses, generate an opinion of how confident you are in his ability take on your project. Are his responses short and does he seem pushy? Or, does he speak with excitement and go into detail about past designs? Additionally, Steyer says that a great contractor will ask questions of perspective clients to get a sense of the plans you have in mind and what you want to use your new space for.
Continue to ask questions of your contractor: There is a definitely a way to find a balance between being a concerned homeowner and being a nuisance. While you shouldn’t criticize your contractor when he uses a Phillips screwdriver when you feel a standard would do, it’s fine to question some of their choices. After all, this is your home and you should have a say in the details that go in to putting it together. Ask your contractor to draft a schedule of what you can expect to take place and when. For example, find out when the roofers, electrician and the plumbers will come so that you are in the loop as to where the progress is headed. Also, make sure that you have the final say in any major details that go into the room, such as light fixtures, cabinetry, paint colors, flooring and more. Ask your contractor if he works exclusively with certain vendors, and then ask to see catalogs so that you have the time to make your decisions. You should never feel rushed or forced into any choice you make. If something is concerning you about the project, bring it up. And, says Steyer, whether you are concerned about getting a permit properly, or the size of your doorway, your contractor should be able to answer at least 90% of your questions accurately and in a timely manner.
When the contractor and homeowners can work in sync with one another and are both pleased with the progress of the remodel or addition, it makes the whole process that much more enjoyable.
