I don't think it is any surprise that a major home improvement project will not only take time and money, but it also takes proper planning to get the job done right. When it comes to planning, probably the most important aspect of the project is buying the materials for the job. By doing a little research you can, not only find the materials you need, but cut some cost and time out of your budget as well.
Comparison shopping is the single most important part of your planning for the job. This takes time and effort, but you will quickly find out about the wide variety of prices and quality in the market place. The old adage "you get what you pay for" is very true in the remodeling world. Super stores or big box supply stores have great prices, but a good amount of their product is manufactured for their own private label, therefore the super store dictates the quality of the product. You might see some good prices, but the quality may very well be lacking.
Don't be afraid to shop online. There are a ton of websites out there that specialize in various categories that can save you a ton of money since they don't have the high overhead that is associated with the retail environment. When it comes to lumber (2x4's, plywood, etc..) you won't find much of a difference, but for the fixtures, cabinets, lighting, and items like these, you can save as much as 50-60% by doing a little bit of research. There are literally thousands of websites for building supply products. By searching for closeout deals and alternative products to the name brand items, you can easily trim down your budget.
I touched on this earlier, but it is important to take a moment to talk about quality. The big conglomerates that supply the mega home improvement stores do a very good job of convincing you that they have a name you can trust (and that the quality will be there). While there are a lot of categories in which they do offer high quality products, there are some that you are better off getting from a specialty store. One example is paint If you're buying paint, don't go with the big box retail brand. These stores tell you it is quality paint, but if you go to a real paint store like MAB or Sherwin-Williams; you will get a much better product and they will be more knowledgeable about the product.
The same thing can be said for flooring and countertops. Once again, you can find all of these items in the mega stores, but the quality is just not there. Ironically, Home Depot and Lowes have very little to do with the flooring and countertops other than brokering the sale. They outsource the installation and they certainly don't stock any of it there. If you were to run into a problem with the product or how it was installed, it just becomes of battle of who is at fault. By working with a special flooring place, you can usually find a better deal on some closeouts and you know exactly who you are dealing with when you are signing the contract (it all comes back to the perception that the big stores have created about having the best price on everything, which is nearly impossible in the real world).
The other advantage of dealing with the smaller businesses has to do with the installation. Scheduling deliveries and installs can throw off your entire project time line if just one of the components isn't completed when you need it to be. Time is money, so having an installer that you can rely on is just as important as what you are paying for the work to be done. By working with a local company, they are more likely to work around your schedule than the bigger outfits that will force you to work around theirs.
A good home improvement contractor would be able to follow up a project from start to finish, and deliver the required results within a given time frame. But the challenge is to find such a contractor, and ensure a smooth deal, from hiring the contractor to handover. Some of these easy tips on hiring a contractor should help you with the process:
First and foremost, remember that hiring the first contractor you come across is not the best idea. You need a to shortlist a few likely contractor candidates before hiring the best out of them. Try to consider only those home improvement contractors who have been recommended by friends, colleagues or acquaintances.
In case such recommended contractors are fewer than you would like to choose from, ask other contractors for references from previous clients. Hiring a contractor who has been recommended online is also a great option. Check out and interact with all such references before hiring. A good tip is hiring a contractor who has done similar jobs before.
Before hiring the final contractor for the job, ask all the contractors in your shortlist to give you a formal bid for your project. Do not automatically choose the lowest bidder. Do your home work by asking about charges from people who have local experience in hiring such contractors and ask them for tips. Determine the cost of materials, fixtures and finishes that your contractor will use by visiting a home improvement store yourself.
While hiring a contractor, also ensure that he or she fulfils any licensing requirements of your state. The home improvement contractor should have established his credentials beyond any doubt, and have a good reputation. The contractor should also preferably carry insurance against issues like worker's compensation, damage to property, and any personal liabilities.
Have a very clear, fixed idea of what sort of home improvement you need done before you start off with the contractor. The clearer you are in your mind, the better the contractor would understand you. It will also save you from unplanned costs incurred due to changes during the process of home improvement.
Once you have decided on your contractor, the hiring process should include the signing of a very clear contract with your home improvement contractor which would clearly state the materials to be used, the terms of demolition, required cleanup, and elimination of trash. The time frame for completion, payment terms, and release from any lien for any sub-contractors used should also be arranged to your mutual satisfaction.
Payment plans should be well thought out. Keep in mind that payment is the only leverage you can use to get the job done by the contractor according to your expectations. A good tip is to make final payments to the home improvement contractor only once you are happy with the finished job.
Hire a contractor you can get along with very well, because the contractor would be in your house for quite a duration. Hiring someone who would have the right amount of time to devote to your project is also crucial, because sometimes hiring an extra-busy contractor can turn out to be a mistake.
Hiring a contractor is often the best way to carry out major improvements in your home. With the help of these tips you should be able to hire a great contractor, and carry out your home improvements without a hitch.
Both Gary Nealon & Joseph Then are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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