The 7 Steps To A Successful Remodel In Plano, Texas

The 7 Steps To A Successful Remodel In Plano, Texas

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The 7 Steps to a Successful Remodel - A Consumer's Guide

Adding Value To Your Home

People choose to remodel their homes for different reasons. Some out of necessity, some
because they want to add value to their homes, others because they are looking for more
personal comfort or space to accommodate a growing family. All are good reasons to take on
remodeling projects ranging from small to large, elaborate to basic, high-end to budget
conscious. Time and preparation are keys to a successful remodeling project. Taking the time
to thoroughly identify what you want to accomplish and taking the right steps to prepare and
pick the right contractor for your specific project will ultimately lead to a finished result that
you will bring you satisfaction and enjoyment for years to come.

The following information should help you as you take the first steps in designing and
remodeling your home. We believe that as a more informed consumer the decisions you make
today will ensure that you will enjoy the benefits for years to come, and potentially save
thousands of dollars in costly mistakes. If you get stuck at any stage of the process, dont forget
there are professional designers, architects, and build/design remodelers available to help you
make a more informed decision. All you have to do is ask.

1. Envision The Future

Envisioning how your remodeled space will improve your lifestyle and familys comfort can be
very exciting. Thinking of a redesigned space with greater functionality, more room for
entertaining guests, and adding features that increase the value of your home can give you a
great deal of personal satisfaction. Depending on the reasons you are remodeling your home,
different factors need to be considered. If you are remodeling to prepare your home for resale,
you may only want to take care of obvious major repairs. If you have structural damage to your
home addressing immediate safety concerns may be necessary. When remodeling for aesthetic
reasons or updating the features of your home, design considerations are more critical and
determining what may or may not be necessary is based more on personal taste.

Start With a Walk Around

Having a general idea of what you have in mind when starting a remodeling project is
important. Start with walking through your home and making a list of what needs to be done.
Look beyond just the visual appearance and try to take into account any structural elements as
well. Nothing will disrupt your remodeling plans more than finding out later that there is a
huge, costly problem that was overlooked. Of course some under lying problems will not be
easily visible and will have to be dealt with when they arise. But by taking into account as many
potential factors as possible, when it comes time to draw up a timeline and budget the
potential for future surprises is minimized.

Create a Mental Image

Once youve created a mental image of what you have in mind the next step is to define your
remodeling project objectives.

- Are you wanting a new look?
- Are there features of your home that have bothered you over time?
- If there were no budget constraints, what would your ultimate space look like?
- How do you see yourself using the remodeled or new space?
- Do you like to entertain?

Asking yourself these questions can provide significant insight into the features you want and
the look of your new kitchen, bathroom, or addition. By compiling a complete wish list you
can then move to the next step and begin prioritizing your wants and needs in a way that will
move you closer to your end goal.

2. Prioritize Your Wish List

A major remodeling project will require the homeowner to make numerous decisions from start
to finish throughout the process. At the early stage determining which aspects of the project
are most important, and which ones carry less weight, will need to be determined. This will
have a significant bearing when you move to the Design and Budget steps.

Organize your future construction plans by reviewing your wish list and prioritizing each
feature as to how important it is to meeting your overall objective. Put your highest priority
item at the top of the list and then rank your other items in the order of importance realizing
that when budget and design considerations are taken into account, the items at the bottom of
the list may not be included. Highlight those items that you feel are a must after you
considered the different tastes and wishes of those involved in making the decisions on this
project. Once this step is completed you will have made significant progress toward a sensible
plan that will accommodate the wishes and desires of all those involved.

Getting the Most Value

Almost all remodeling projects will add value to your home. Not only in increasing your resale
value, but just as importantly in increasing the utility and enjoyment you and your family will
receive from your investment. According to Remodeling Magazine, a few of the projects that
recoup the largest amount of their original costs are kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations,
enhanced master suites and room additions. These values can vary depending on your homes
location, but regardless of where you live, any decision to remodel your home should be based
on both the increased value and the personal satisfaction you will obtain from having new
features and comfort added to your home.

3. Designing Your Perfect Floor Plan

Now is the time to translate your wish list into a functional and visually striking floor plan.
Depending on the scope of your project you may need to seek the professional services of an
architect or designer who specializes in kitchens or bathrooms. Some contractors also have
design build capabilities which can be a more complete solution for you. See Picking the
Right Contractor on how to choose someone to help you in this phase of the project. Focus
your search on firms with specific expertise in the design and construction of the part of the
home you are planning to remodel. Choosing someone who can guide you through this stage is
vital to coming up with a floor plan, schedule, and budget that is right for you. These
professionals will tailor a plan that will address your wish list and find ways to incorporate as
many items as possible. By recommending different materials, looking at various construction
options, and proposing alternatives, their goal will be to give you a plan that you can both live
with and afford. Good designers will be creative and provide multiple solutions to accomplish
your design objectives. By being flexible you will find ways to create that new space that will
be just right for you and your family.

Think Through Your New Floor Plan

At the same time you are considering your budget, take a little time to think through and
review your proposed floor plan. Make sure that when new counters, cabinets, and vanities are
put in place, or walls are moved, that aisles and space between appliances and furniture will be
to your satisfaction. Think through furniture placement, traffic flow and visual appeal by
placing barriers in place so you have an accurate feel what the future changes will represent.
Altering your original design layout can be very costly in money and time once the project is
underway. Get the feedback of others and take the time to be comfortable with all aspects of
the project. Youll be glad you did.

4. Setting a Realistic Budget

As part of the Design Process the topic of how much you wish to spend will come up frequently.
Balancing your overall remodeling project goals with what you feel comfortable in spending will
direct the recommendations and final design presented to you. Formal plans by an architect,
designer, or design-builder will be needed in order to provide a firm, accurate quotation.
Knowing what to budget can be challenging. Thats where your professional designbuild
remodeler can provide guidelines that will help maximize your investment and also make
recommendations that will assist you in stretching your remodeling dollar.

Remodeling projects can be very costly, even if you do some of the work yourself, so having a
solid budget is essential to avoid having your project turn into a significant financial burden. By
setting a budget in advance youll be able to track your expenses and make any necessary
adjustments as your project progresses.

Items to be included in a remodeling budget:

Contractor costs These costs will cover the labor costs of all those involved including
management time. In many cases the contractors fees also cover the material used on the job.

Permits Depending on where you live, the cost of building permits can vary, but almost all
remodeling projects will require them. Getting all the proper permits is important to avoid
potential problems later, so make sure the costs of any required permits are included in your
budget.

Materials All materials for your project need to be accounted for. The price and quality of
materials can vary greatly, so be sure to specify what grade and quality levels you need so your
pricing accurately reflects what you expect. Be sure to allow for unforeseen expenses in this
area to account for incidental supplies.

Tools If your project requires additional tools like scaffolding, dumpsters, or other special
equipment be sure to include these costs.

Clean up and repair costs In some cases when demolition of walls or other structures takes
place, costs for repairs to surrounding areas will need to be factored in. Clean up costs
associated with the project must also be determined.

Relocation and living expenses There may be periods of time that your home is uninhabitable
while certain portions of the work are taking place. Or the inability to prepare meals on a
regular basis may lead to eating out more frequently. Depending on the scale of the project it
may be necessary to allocate some funds for extra living expenses.

Finance Costs For major remodeling projects many homeowners turn to financing these costs
through home equity loans and/or mortgage refinancing. Any upfront costs associated with
setting up these loans need to be included in the remodeling project budget.

Tax credits available

On the plus side tax credits are available that can help offset the cost of a number of energy
efficient home improvements. The Existing Home Retrofit Tax Credit (Tax Code Section 25C)
provides tax credits up to 30% of the cost ($1,500 lifetime limit) for installation in 2009 and
2010 of selected products in existing homes only. Insulation material, exterior windows, doors,
skylights, storm window and doors, and roofing that resists heat gain, are all covered. Talk to a
professional remodeler to find out which items in your project might qualify.

5. Picking the Right Contractor

Trying to complete a remodeling project on your own that goes beyond painting and
wallpapering, may seem like a good way to save money, but unless you have the skills and
experience to manage and complete a remodeling project, you are likely to spend more money
and stretch the work out for an extended period of time.

When you undertake a remodeling project, you should have the peace of mind that comes from
being in complete control and working with someone who you feel understands your needs and
your goals. Picking the contractor that is right for you and your project takes a concerted effort
to identify and qualify someone that will manage your project and meet your expectations.
When a group of NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry) remodeling
contractors was asked what questions homeowners asked most frequently, the group
unanimously agreed that their most popular queries were:

When can you start?
When will you be finished?
What time will you knock on my door each morning?
What time will you quit for the day?
Are you going to work every day?
Can you finish before (insert any major holiday or significant family event)?
How much will it cost per square foot?

Unfortunately, these are not the type of questions that are going to tell you much about a
particular remodeling contractor.

Getting Started

Finding a contractor that fits your needs and one that you can feel comfortable with takes time,
but this step is ultimately the most important to a successful project. Start out by talking to
friends, neighbors, or co-workers who have had home improvement work done. Get their
opinions on who has done good work for them. Depending on the size and complexity of your
project, you may choose to work with a number of different professionals.

General Contractors manage all aspects of your project, including hiring and supervising
subcontractors, getting building permits, and scheduling inspections. They also work with
architects and designers.

Specialty Contractors install particular products, such as roofing and siding.
Architects design homes, additions, and major renovations. If your project includes structural
changes, you may want to hire an architect who specializes in home remodeling. A word to the
wise: Architects should not be used to help you determine your remodeling budget. Most of
the time they do not have experience in doing estimates for remodeling. Therefore, you may
be steered in the wrong direction to design a project that is over or under your intended
budget.

Designers have expertise in specific areas of the home, such as kitchens and baths.
Design/Build Contractors provide one-stop service. They see your project through from start to
finish. Some firms have architects on staff; others use certified designers.

Asking the Right Questions

You can increase your chances of having a successful project by conducting qualifying interviews,
following up on references and credentials, and considering all aspects of the remodeling
project. You need to look for the professional remodeler you feel will provide the best allaround
service available above and beyond the necessary construction skills. It is also
important to learn as much as possible about the reputation of the remodeler and that you feel
treated fairly and with respect when dealing with them.

Here are some suggestions that will help you determine the qualifications and reputation of the
contractor/remodeler best suited for your project.

How long have you been in business? Look for a company with an established business history
in your community. Are they members of their local business and industry associations?
Companies with established reputations and those that have professional operations are proud
to be active in their communities.

What is your approach to a project of this scope? Small or large, projects vary in scope and
complexity. Youll want to be assured that your contractor has managed projects similar to
yours. A contractors response to this question should also give you an indication of their
project management skills and work ethic.

Is your company a full service or specialty firm? As noted earlier, different projects may
require a different type of contractor. If your project is small or specific to one area of your
home, you may be better off hiring a firm that specializes in that type of remodeling. However,
if your project involves multiple changes, entire rooms or additions, you should consult a full
service or design-build firm. On large projects you may need an architect or design services, if
the remodeler does not have design-build capabilities.

Do you use subcontractors? Does your firm use their own employees or do they hire
subcontractors? What are the job descriptions for their employees? What areas of the project
are they responsible for and which parts of the job are being subcontracted out? Do they use a
project supervisor or lead carpenter to oversee the project? Also identify who you should
contact if the supervisor is not available.

What types of insurance do you carry? Contractors should have general liability and workers
compensation coverage. Ask for copies of insurance certificates, and make sure theyre
current. Avoid doing business with contractors who do not carry the appropriate insurance.
Otherwise, you may be held liable for any injuries and damages that occur during the project.
Will a permit be required for this project? Most cities and towns require permits for building
projects even for simple projects like decks. Failure to obtain the necessary permits or to
arrange for required inspections can be lead to legal issues. In some cases, if a project violates a
zoning law or some other regulations, it may have to be demolished if there is no way to
comply with the law. A qualified remodeling contractor will know the permit process. They
should be willing to obtain all permits before initiating any work.

When can you begin my project? It is important to understand the contractors timeframe and
work schedules. What is the estimated time to complete my job? How early will your crew
normally begin work? When will they normally quit for the day? Who will contact you about
delays or changes in the schedule?

Could I obtain a list of references for projects you have completed which are similar to mine?
The contractor should be able to supply you with a minimum of three references, including
names, telephone numbers and addresses. As a follow up to this question, ask how long ago
the project was completed and if the contractor can arrange a visit to see the finished job. You
should also ask for professional references from suppliers, financial institutions, or
subcontractors to verify sound business practices.

What guarantees do you offer on your work? Will the contractor guarantee his work for a
period of time to ensure any problems are addressed once the job is complete?
What percentage of your business is repeat or referral business? This will give you a good
indication about the company's customer satisfaction. According to research conducted by
NARI, most remodeling businesses attribute over 50% of their annual volume to customer
referrals; some even claim up to 90% or more of their total annual sales.

How comfortable does the contractor make me feel? Of the many questions you can ask
during an interview, the most important question is one you must ask yourself: "Do I feel
comfortable with and trust the person I am about to hire?" Having a level of trust with the
remodeler of your choice will help you comfortably work through the details of your project.
The appearance of a companys employees, trucks, and equipment can also be a good indicator
of how professional and organized a firm is, and you should never feel pressured when making
decisions.

Following up on a Contractors References

It is a good idea to check and visit a remodelers references to talk with their customers and to
see their work. Although this can take some time it is essen

About the Author:
Zed Stoney is a 20 year construction veteran in the Plano, Texas area. He has completed projects ranging from building homes to projects for the DEA.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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