Just the thought of starting a remodeling project can evoke a multitude of emotions. Beautiful kitchens with plenty of counter space, up to date bathrooms with miles of tile or that dreary basement turned into the family play center. Close behind these delightful visions come thoughts of strangers invading your home, disruption to your daily routine, noise, dust, messes, and major stress.
Key steps to the remodeling process are:
1. Understand your wants and needs
2. Think about your preliminary design
3. Decide how the job will be managed
4. Agree on a well written contract that covers all the bases.
5. Come to a mutual understanding on day to day jobsite etiquette
6. Establish good two-way communication
7. Decide on how Change Orders will be handled
8. Discuss and understand the importance of the job schedule
9. Determine method of financing up front
10. Be flexible and maintain a sense of humor
Let’s expand on these keys:
1. Sort through your wants and needs
Prioritize a list detailing your needs and your wants. Look at the area of your home you want to change. Think about traffic patterns, furniture size and placement, colors, lighting and how you expect to use the remodeled space.
At first don't rule out things that seem difficult, undoable or expensive. What you want to do is collect as many ideas that appeal to you as possible. Try to get your whole family involved in this process if possible. It will help foster understanding for the process and enthusiasm for what lies ahead.
Check out home and remodeling oriented books and magazines. There are many publications available at grocery stores, hardware stores, and your local library. Save or photocopy pages of the ideas or products that appeal to you. Visit your local product and material showrooms. Tile shops, lumber yards, plumbing showrooms, cabinet showcases, lighting showrooms, anywhere you can find inspiration.
Check out websites and print pictures of what interests you. Check out friends houses that have recently completed projects or have design details you admire. Go to area Home Shows, Product Expos or Tours of Remodeled Homes. Take pictures if allowed.
It may be difficult but this is the point you need to determine a rough budget of how much you are willing to spend versus how much you are able to spend. Until you have a detailed plan you won't have much precise pricing information so establish your list of priorities.
The more clearly you can envision the project in your head, describe it on paper and have a rough idea of costs, the better prepared you'll be in communicating your choices to others. You’ll be better prepared whether you decide to do it yourself, bring in professional designers, contractors, sub contractors or any combination of the above.
I'll expand on the remaining keys in upcoming blog posts.
