Stonehearth Remodeling

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How to Choose the Right Remodeling Company

Major home remodels are a big deal. We recognize that selecting a remodeling company isn’t just about getting the job done – it’s about trusting a vendor with a major decision and hoping they see your vision for the project. Unfortunately, far too many people commoditize the remodeling industry, believing that any company can do what another can. The truth is, there are huge distinctions between experienced, reliable, and trustworthy companies and new, inexperienced remodelers.

Choosing the Right Remodeling Company

On one level, you’re worried about expertise. You want a company that’s been around for a while, has a large network, and is trustworthy. But that’s not enough – you need to know that they have experience with the specific type of remodeling you are doing to your home. That being said, the decision over the “right remodeling company” is a multi-layered decision.

If you are looking to choose the right remodeling company for your next major home remodeling project, here are a few tips:

Area of Expertise

A lot of remodeling companies will tell you they can handle any type of remodeling project. And while it’s most likely true that any company has the tools and know-how to “get the job done”, not everyone can do it well.

As your researching remodeling companies, ask them what their primary focus is. Is it small remodeling projects, or major home renovations? Get a feel for where their primary area of expertise is and gauge whether or not it is in line with the type of work you are hoping to have them do.

Communication

You finally think you found the right contractor. The contract gets signed, the work starts, and you immediately realize they don’t hear anything you’re telling them or give you a response in any reasonably acceptable period of time.

Communication is everything when it comes to home remodeling projects. You’ll more than likely have a few pointers as the project is happening, and if you don’t know who to talk to about what, or your remodeling company is failing to communicate with you, your remodeling project will be far more stressful than necessary.

The quality of communication you can expect from a remodeling company is often given away in the quoting stage. Are they on top of quotes? Do they return your emails or phone calls quickly? Be on the lookout for telltale signs of bad communication from a remodeler in the early decision and quoting phase.

Major Home Remodel Impact Reduction

Having a major home remodel means major homelife implications during the construction process. It can be loud, messy, and inconvenient, and unfortunately that’s how it has to be to get the job done. However, a good remodeling company will work closely with you to reduce the impacts of a major home remodeling project. They should have solutions in place for proper dust control before work begins. They should work with your schedule in a convenient and reasonable manner – i.e., not asking you to pick out the tile you want to use at 8:00pm the night before they’re laying it down.

In essence, a good remodeling company shouldn’t be focused on how they can finish the project – they should be focused on how the project affects your homelife and how they can lessen the impact. Ask to see a schedule/blueprints of how the entire project will flow. Pay attention to components that may interfere with your daily life and whether there is a workaround.

Conclusion

It’s a scary decision. Selecting a remodeling company is a huge choice that affects not only your home, but also your lifestyle during the renovation. If you are looking to choose the right remodeling company for your upcoming remodeling project, take into consideration the communication practices of a vendor. If they are distant or hard to reach in the early communication and quoting stages, you can’t expect them to get better later.

Make sure the type of work you need done is in their wheelhouse – have they done a lot of home remodels like this in the past, or are they just claiming they’re “capable” of it? Lastly, how are they going to work to lessen the impacts on your daily life (dust control, scheduling, project timelines, etc.)? Finding the answers to these questions up front can help you drastically in your search to choose the right remodeling company for your next project!

 

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