How to Plan for a Remodel

Bathroom Remodeling Mar 23

Updating a dated space in the home or getting more space in a certain room is beneficial to the homeowner. It gives them a chance to get the house of their dreams. Getting ready for a remodeled bathroom or doing kitchen remodeling in Livonia can be a daunting process. It’s always fun to imagine how the final product is going to look, but there are a lot of steps and processes that have to occur before reaching that stage. For people who are getting ready to do a remodel project, below are some things to consider.

1. Be aware of the end goal

When getting ready for this project, it’s important for a person to decide why they want it done. Is it to increase the value of the home? Do they want the space to be more functional? The answer to these questions will be personal, but having some idea of the end goal in mind before starting will be beneficial. It will also help a person determine exactly what needs to be done and how they want the space to look.

2. Set a budget

No one has an endless supply of money, so creating a budget and sticking to it is incredibly important. How much a person can spend will depend on a variety of factors, and it will also determine how much work can be done in the home. In addition to having a budget, it’s also important to set aside some funds in case of emergencies. Something unexpected will inevitably arise when work begins, so being able to cover those added expenses is important. After the work starts, a person may find that they want to add even more upgrades to their space than they originally thought, or they may find that certain elements will work better than what they had originally planned. Having some extra space in the budget can be beneficial to making the area that much better.

3. Research contractors

Finding a contractor to work on a person’s house will reduce a lot of stress and headaches. There’s a drive for people to do work on their homes themselves, but this can end up taking much longer than necessary and get the person in way over their head. Having a professional work on the home from the start will ensure that the job is done right and within a reasonable amount of time. When looking for a contractor, start the process by talking to friends and family. See if they’ve had any work done recently and who they would recommend. Start a list of potential companies. Once you have a list of several different contractors, get online and do a search to check out their websites and see what other people are saying about them. This can be incredibly beneficial in giving a person an initial idea of what they can expect from the company. When investigating their website, look to see if they have photos that show their work. This can be a really good way to see if they produce quality results. While not having photos isn’t necessarily a bad thing, having them should move them up on the list. When considering online reviews, it’s important to remember that a company should have a mix of both positive and negative reviews—no business can please 100% of their customers. Of course, they should have more positive reviews than negative, and if they don’t, they maybe shouldn’t rank as high on the list.

4. Contract contractors

After a person has made their list of potential contractors, then it’s time to contact them by phone or pop into their business. This will allow them to gauge how they answer questions and what kind of customer service skills they have. They may be in a person’s home for weeks, so it’s important that the homeowner feels comfortable with the contractor. If there are any issues when talking to the contractor or they seem vague or unwilling to answer questions, then they may not be the best ones for the job. They should also plan to come to the home to see the space and get an idea of what the homeowner wants to do. This will allow the contractor to get a better idea of how long the project will take and how much it will cost. If they won’t come to the home to look at the space, then take them off the list.

5. Decide on a contractor

After talking to a few contractors and getting their bids, then it’s time to find the right one for the job. Keep in mind that the cheapest person may not produce quality work and may have lower quality materials, including vanities. At the same time, they may not. Maybe they are running a special. That is something you’ll have to consider. Conversely, just because a person has the highest price, that doesn’t mean they will do quality work. They may just charge more to make a higher profit. The homeowner will have to carefully consider all of these things before making a final determination.

6. Make a calendar

Once the homeowner has decided on a contractor, then it’s time to make a calendar. This should indicate when the work will begin and end. The owner may also ask the contractor to put in when certain tasks will be completed. That way, they’ll be able to keep the contractors on schedule and have an idea when they’ll get their house back. Of course, when making a calendar, it’s important to remember that these dates aren’t set in stone. Shipments can be delayed, and unexpected issues can arise. Being flexible and understanding if any of these occur will be important. Having work done on a person’s house can be an incredibly exciting time, but it can also involve a lot of work and planning. These projects generally aren’t cheap and can’t be completed in a day, so knowing what to expect and getting the right contractor to do the job is beneficial.