Every home remodeling job cannot go perfectly. There are usually time constraints, missing permits, delays on product arrivals, or worse, hidden problems. How do you account for the things you do not know are coming during your home remodel? We give you four tips for an easier renovation below.
Research the job
Understanding the project may be a huge part of planning a bathroom upgrade or other home renovation. The tools, materials, and time to do the job are important things for every homeowner to know whether or not they are doing the work themselves. This knowledge can help the owner know when a contractor is telling the truth or stretching things.
Figure in an emergency budget
Every home remodeling expert tells homeowners to prepare and plan for additional expenses because no one knows what they will find when working. For example, taking down a wall might not be so easy if the project head finds out the wall is load-bearing. Opening up a house might cost thousands of dollars more to move the electric and pipes in the wall.
Vet contractors before starting the project
Since there are good and bad contractors out there, it is important to check out the people who will be working in your home. For example, if you are installing a new kitchen, then you will need plumbers, drywall experts, painters, and a general contractor. Each of these people must have the right licensing and insurance to do the job. It is the homeowners responsibility to find out this information should anyone get hurt or damage occur.
Oversee the project
One of the best ways to plan for any additional repairs is to make sure you are present for the daily work. Showing up every day can give you an idea of how the project is going. If there are problems, then you will likely get a heads-up at the morning briefing.
Not all projects will have additional repairs and costs, but planning for these things will help you prepare for surprises. If there are no problems, then the job should go according to schedule and stay on budget. Planning extra money is only one part of the preparation. You will want to put an additional one to two weeks into the timeline, just in case materials are on backorder or you need to find a replacement item for products that have a longer timeline.
