We all have a “dream home” in our minds. Something about the space you live in can always be improved, and taking the leap to get a major home remodel done is no simple task. But often, it can feel like you have more questions than answers regarding how to go about the remodel, who to choose, and when to get it done. The last thing you want thrown into the mix of an expensive home remodel is a poorly executed job. Whether you’ve had a home remodeling project done in the past or this is your first one, here are a few tips on how to avoid a bad home remodel:
Avoiding a Bad Home Remodel: Tips
Home remodels are truly an investment, and if you’re like the majority of us, it takes a while to save up the money and muster up the strength to pull the trigger on the purchase. We’ve seen varying levels of professionalism in home remodeling jobs over the years, so as a brief summary of tips, here are a few ways you can avoid a bad home remodel project:
1) Early Communication & Vendor Selection
The early stages of a home remodeling project are some of the most crucial. And we mean early stages – before you’ve even landed on a remodeler.
Remodeling is not a commodity – it’s a strategy. And while most people would love to balance price with value, the two aren’t directly correlated. All remodelers have similar underlying costs, so most quotes are going to come back in the same general ballpark as another remodeler.
Rather than focusing on the price, focus on the relationship. Find a remodeling company that you feel you mesh well with. A vendor you feel you connect and communicate with easily and smoothly. Gauge their communication strength through your early interactions and the level of detail and timeliness with which they reply to your messages. Communication early on can be indicative of how things will play out in the long run.
2) Making Decisions Up Front
Remodeling vendors are going to rely on you a ton throughout the process to call shots on what you want in a remodel. That means carpet, tile, paint, etc. – the major decisions in your remodeling project will more than likely be up to you, and you don’t want to leave a pivotal decision up in the air till the night before.
You know what you’re remodeling. Focus on getting your ducks in a row, making decisions, and getting your ideas organized before the remodeling company even begins. The more you know the colors, textures, wood types, or any other layout and material concepts before they begin, the more likely your project is going to come out looking just like you want it by the end.
3) Calling Out Things Your Don’t Like… Right Away
This is a problem we see all-too often. A husband or wife at home sees the remodelers doing something they don’t like. Rather than communicating it to them right away as the project is happening, they wait for their spouse to get home, complain about it to them, and they relay the information 2 days too late. The project has progressed past a conveniently reversable checkpoint and now it’s, well… a project of its own.
If you see something while the remodeling project is going on that wasn’t in line with the agreed upon vision, or you’ve even had a change of mind, bring it up right away. It’s the only way things will change in early stages and it takes such minimal effort to ask questions if you’re misunderstanding a certain step, or nixing ideas all together that don’t seem consistent with your vision for the home.
Conclusion
Bad home remodels are a complete waste of money and time. It takes a long time to save up the money, plan for the project, and make all the decisions surrounding what you want your home to look like after the remodel is done. You don’t want that to all go to waste in the end.
Spend the time scoping out the right partner. Early communication in the quoting and searching phase can expose who the right vendor is for you. Make sure you call out anything you notice during construction that seems off from your original vision, and do so immediately. Finally, get all decisions made before the project even begins. If you’re getting new carpeting, know the exact type you want. If it’s new tiles, pick them out beforehand. Don’t leave crucial details to be made the night before the team starts working on that section of the home remodeling project! Follow these tips and you’ll be well on your way to a smooth and easy home remodeling experience!
