The housing market is still in a state of chaos and many people are choosing to remodel their homes instead of moving to a new house or building a new house. Remodeling can be a great solution to help you get the house you have always wanted without going through the hassle of selling your home, paying closing costs and buying a new house. Remodeling can also improve the value of your house in case you ever need to sell. However, remodeling is a big decision and not one that you should enter into lightly.
When you have made the choice to remodel your home, it is important to make sure that it is done right and that no corners are cut. It can be overwhelming to do everything necessary to have a remodel project be successful, so here are a few key things to think about to help you get started on your remodeling project and to assist you in making sure your project turns out to be a success:
• Choose a quality licensed builder or contractor. It might be tempting to just hire a handyman or to try to act as your own general contractor, but this can be a recipe for disaster. Coordinating all of the different tradespeople who need to do work on your home, sourcing materials and ensuring you get the proper permits and comply with building code requirements can be a major undertaking. Instead, hire an expert to handle all of this for you.
• Be clear on the scope of your project from the beginning. Once you start making major changes in your home such as taking down walls, changing electrical wiring or moving plumbing, it is easy to fall into the trap of adding additional projects and improvements while you are at it. This can make the project budget quickly jump out of control and it can cause significant construction delays. Avoid this by having a clear plan for what you want to do before you get started and by discussing that plan with your general contractor or home builder.
• Be prepared for surprises. Remodeling is different from new construction and you never know what you are going to find when you start opening the walls of your house- especially in older homes. Make sure you are prepared for unexpected things to occur and make sure you have a financial cushion so if problems do arise or something that wasn’t planned happens, you can afford to deal with it as it comes up.
• Never cut corners. You want your remodel to add value to your home and to improve your house. This means making sure it is done right. Don’t skimp on labor or materials or you could end up with a poorly-done remodel that doesn’t end up adding anything except trouble. You should always make sure that you get the proper permits, have the work done up to code and work with skilled builders and contractors so that your remodel turns out well.
These are just a few of the essential things to think about when remodeling your home. If you keep these principles in mind, your remodeling job is sure to be a great success.
As a Design+Build General Contractor, I offer my clients a one-stop shopping approach to all of their home remodeling projects. I work with my clients from initial conception of a project through its completion. Every aspect of the job is managed by me and my professional crew. You will be included in every step of the design process until the final drawings are completed. No detail is left to chance. General Contractor Specializing in Kitchen & Bathroom Design and Remodeling Throughout the Los Angeles area.
Written By:
Offer Steuer
President
OTM Designs & Remodeling, Inc.
For more information you may contact us via email at service@otm1designs.com or you may call us at 888-981-1415. Our website is www.otm1designs.com.