It’s that time of year.
Summer is here in full force, and most of us are taking some time off from our busy schedule to enjoy some well-deserved vacation.
It’s also a good time to think about getting some work done for your Connecticut Home Improvement, whether inside or outside.
After all, before you know it the kids will be back in school and then the holidays will be right around the corner.
Successful home improvement tips
Before getting some work done on your home you might want to consider the following points about your upcoming project:
- your home’s market value
- size and scope of project
- timetable for completion (deadlines)
- choice of remodeling company
- return on investment
Though it may seem odd to consider your home’s current market value, there are two reasons for including it here. First, any home remodeling project should have an eye towards how it may improve your home’s value, both now and in the near future.
And secondly, if your property has appreciated in value since you purchased your home it may be possible to refinance in order to help pay for any planned home renovation.
Next up you’ll need to consider both the estimated cost of the project and the possible increase in property value.
Ultimately, every home improvement project should address three main points:
- to improve the look and feel of your home
- to address any functionality issues, such as a better use of space or adding space
- and getting the best possible return on investment from your renovation dollars
Design considerations
Maybe you already have a good idea of what you want the end result to look like.
If so, that’s great.
However, you’ll still have to communicate your “wants” to someone to make sure they understand what you’re looking for, and then pull it off successfully.
In many cases, though, people don’t have a clear idea in mind other than changing “what’s there.” In both cases, it makes sense to schedule a free, in-home consultation so that the remodeling company can get a sense of what you want, what you need, and what’s going to be required to complete the project to specifications.
For example, in the case of a total kitchen redesign that may mean gutting the entire structure down the studs and rearranging the layout, including moving plumbing and gas lines.
As you can image all of these changes would impact the cost and timeline of the project.
So it’s good to understand that the more complex your renovation project becomes the more experienced your contractor will need to be to meet the demands of the job.
Additionally, you may want to work with a design/build firm, rather than hiring out an architect, then a separate interior design firm, and finally a home remodeling company. Design/build firms incorporate all of these elements under one roof, allowing for a seamless (and more budget friendly) renovation.
Deadlines and work schedule
Ask around and I’m sure it won’t take long to hear about a friend of a friend who hired a contractor that showed up at the beginning of the project, only to seemingly disappear half way through.
This happens all the time with smaller companies, since they don’t want to turn down any new jobs that come their way despite how many projects they may be currently working on.
So, regardless of the scope of your upcoming project ask the company you’re thinking of hiring the following questions:
- how many people will be dedicated to my project?
- will you be here every day until it’s complete?
- who will supervise the work done to my home?
- do you guarantee the project deadline and completion date?
Yes, life happens… and it always seems to happen once a large project is undertaken. And this is enough of a reason to make sure that the company you decide to hire is large enough to handle your project in a timely fashion.
Does that make sense to you?
Design changes and disruptions
Finally, you’ll need to consider your own threshold for inconvenience and disruption.
Once work begins dust will be flying, despite the best efforts of hanging plastic across all the open doorways, etc. And if your project involves remodeling your kitchen or master bathroom it can be even more disruptive for your lifestyle.
One issue to ask about is the need for any subcontractors for your project.
Getting the job done, done right and done on time in large part requires that the scheduled work happens at the proper time, and with the proper supervision. Clearly the remodeling company should be able to properly coordinate all the work, ensuring that the project is completed on time and on budget.
But what about possible design changes?
It happens more times that you can imagine where, once the work gets underway and you get used to the noise and dust, that you expand your project list or scope of work.
Design changes do come up, so make sure the company you’re working with can accommodate your new “needs and wants” while keeping to a reasonable completion date.
After all, you’ll want to actually get the project finished so you can enjoy your renovated home, right?
Experience, experience, experience
When you get right down to it, this is the MOST critical factor.
There’s simply no substitute for experience. And that actually means a number of concrete factors to consider, such as:
- years in business
- size of company
- experience of the crew working on your home
- number of similar projects completed
- number of similar projects completed in your area over the past couple of years
- references
- licensed and insured
By following this list of tips and advice I’m sure the final result will turn out just as you imagined it would… possibly even better.
Schedule your free in-home consultation today
Do you live in lower Fairfield County, CT?
When it comes to choosing a CT home improvement contractor consider choosing us for your next project.
With more than 50 years of experience Remodeling Consultants (a family-owned and operated remodeling company located in Westchester) has literally completed thousands of home improvement projects — just like yours.
To schedule your free in-home consultation give us a call at 914-381-6900 or 800-552-2680 today. Or click the link above.
Either way, we’re looking forward to hearing from you soon.
