Remodeling your home can be a very exciting time but it can also be stressful, overwhelming many homeowners and preventing them from truly enjoying their home improvement project. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Take these tips to heart to not only make the most out of your remodel but to ensure its success as well.
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Compile a wish list
At this stage you’re unlikely to have any fully-fleshed plans yet and that is fine. What you want at this point are ideas, ideas on what you want to do with your remodel, things you may have wanted to do but never got around to. Think big. Shoot for the moon. Go through your home to give you an idea of what you want to add or change. Don’t even stop to consider budget or finances just yet. That will come later. The more remodeling ideas you can set down on paper now, the better.
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Do your homework
Now that you have an idea of what you want, it’s time to draft a preliminary budget. Use the internet to find out more about the items on your wish list. How much do they cost? Are they even available? How much are you willing to spend? This isn’t your final plan yet, but it will help narrow down your options to what you can reasonably expect to pull off in a remodel.
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Hire a professional remodeler
This is where the first draft of your remodeling plan meets reality. You’ve got your ideas and an idea of how much you’re willing to spend. It is now time to run it through a remodeling professional. A competent remodeling professional will be able to size up your remodeling plan and tell you if your budget for it is realistic. Here’s where the two of you will work to hash out and, if necessary, trim down your preliminary plan into a final, detailed remodeling plan, complete with time-tables, details on the work being done, and the permits necessary for the project. Depending on the scope of your remodel too, you may end up needing to hire an architect and/or an interior designer.
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Get a detailed contract
Your contract should include all the details of the project, down to what exactly is being installed, when it is being installed, and who is doing the installation. It should include details on the remodelers’ insurance, what warranties they are giving for their work, and who is responsible for obtaining the necessary permits. Do not sign anything until you’ve gone over all terms and conditions and agree with them.
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Let the professionals do their work
The last thing you want to do is get overwhelmed once work gets underway. You hired professionals to do a job so let them do their job. You should focus instead on ensuring your home is ready for the remodeling, packing away any valuables and other items that could be damaged and rearranging furniture as needed to facilitate movement around your home. Depending on the scale of the remodel, you may also have to make plans to temporarily move out for the duration of the project.
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Author Bio:
In addition to leading Nuss Construction for over 40 years, Bob Carp has been, among other things, a volunteer firefighter; president of a wetlands conservation group; and past president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. Currently, his main passion is mentoring his daughter, Tammy, in the construction business. Check out the company blog for updates from Bob and Nuss Construction!
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