Hello friends from your favorite Realtor, Darla Luebbe, CRS/GRI/ABR w/KW Capital Partners at www.DarlaDoedRealEstate.com I have so many folks ask me for referrals for home services and vendors which is another valued service I gladly share w/my clients! One of the many joys of living my entire life in the Buckeye State is I know LOTS of people!! Since most folks are living in their existing homes a little bit longer these days, (10 years verses 7), I thought this article might be helpful when hiring contractors and repair folks. Please feel free to allow me to answer your every real estate need! Dial Darla! 614-395-1516 or www.DarlaDoesRealEstate.com
The Ten Do's and Don'ts of Home Renovation
If you're planning a home renovation, here are a few tips on hiring a reputable contractor and setting realistic project expectations from Jim Caruk (www.thecarukgroupcom), host of Life Television's Real Renos in Canada.
1) Make sure you're hiring a professional. Check that contractors carry liability insurance and workers' compensation. It's even better if they are members of one or more professional associations (e.g., the National Association of Home Builders; www.nahb.org) that help regulate industry standards.
2) Ask for references, and check them out.
3) Go see contractors' work - in fact, see work in progress, or else a contractor will show you only finished gems, not how you can expect a project to go.
4) Don't pick the cheapest or costliest guy on the block. Some companies quote low but nail you for extras, while those with higher quotes may actually be more honest in spelling out everything right from the start.
5) Allow for the final bill to come within 10 to 15 percent of the original quote. There are always additional expenses along the way, but the final price shouldn't be more than 15 percent from the budget set out.
6) Plan months ahead. It's true of construction people too: All the good ones are taken, so don't expect to pick up the phone and have someone start next week. If they're any good, they're likely booked solid.
7) Propose a retainer instead of a deposit. There's no need to pay one-third up front, which some contractors typically ask, unless it's for things, such as kitchen cabinets or windows, that need to be paid for right away. For big jobs just a monthly retainer should be acceptable until the job officially starts and you agree on a pay schedule; a retainer isn't necessary for smaller jobs (e.g., $10,000).
8) Know the scope of the work to be done. The more you know about what you want and the better you can communicate that to the contractor at the inception of a renovation project, the smoother things can go. Making up your mind, or changing your mind, along the way only eats up time and drives up the final price.
9) Don't get mad at Mother Nature. Expect weather to affect the project's timelines and maybe even create challenges and setbacks.
10) Check your ego at the door. Emotions can flare up wherever there's drywall and nails, and some clients start to think they should be directing the project. People ire a contractor because they don't have the time or skills to do the project themselves, so let the professionals do what they know how to do.
Be realistic, and keep an open mind. That means setting a realistic plan, then realizing that projects are fluid things that change and that there are always labor pains. Be ready to roll with the punches. ~Angela Pirisi, The Costco Connection, 5/10
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