Everyone knows a renovation nightmare story. Either directly through first-hand experience or indirectly through someone they know. They are real. People have suffered.
Here are some friendly suggestions on how to help ensure your next renovation is an enjoyable experience for you and your contractor.
Don’t think the cheapest deal is the best – you get what you pay for.
It is standard practice to get at least 3 quotes for any job you need to hire for renewal. Whether you’re tiling your vanity, building a deck, or looking for a general contractor to oversee the entire project, you need to make sure you don’t get ripped off. This is the most crucial part of any home renovation project. If a contractor offers you a deal that’s too good to be true, or if you don’t have a realistic budget, prepare to be disappointed. Like any industry, quality takes time and money, so if you offer quality without the cost, something is wrong. Often times, those who choose the cheapest route will end up with a “contractor” who will cut corners, use second-rate materials and practices, and ultimately leave them disappointed. In many cases, these night-flying criminals will taunt everyone, take your deposit, and never be seen again.
Trust your gut, it’s usually right
When I started as a renovator, I realized very quickly that people wanted to see what I had done to judge my qualifications for their own project. Obviously I didn’t have a wallet and the main winner of my order was my personality and the promise that I was giving them the best value for their money. Fortunately, I managed to get enough work and always kept my promise at a price they could afford; a great stage for my clients. The important part was developing the relationship – I made sure both parties were comfortable with each other before signing any paperwork. Today, as then, I never ignore my instincts when it comes to eliminating problem clients, and homeowners should definitely follow their instincts when it comes to contractors. Get to know potential contractors well. Your personal relationship with them will make a difference.
Have a backup budget (buffer) for contingencies
The nature of home renovations means that you are removing layers of old things and replacing them with layers of new things. During the ‘old coat removal’ phase, there are always discoveries that neither the owner nor the contractor could have planned; I could dedicate an entire book to the subject of surprises I have discovered in clients’ homes. So if you are financially at the deep end of your renovation, you are going to drown when your contractor discovers that you have been growing an entire ecosystem of mold and mildew behind your leaky shower wall wall for the past 63 years. As an example, I recently removed the drywall from a client’s kitchen ceiling only to find that the previous contractor had practically completely cut the floor joists to install a vent, and there were no fewer than 8 junction boxes. concealed electrical outlets that powered various lights and outlets (per code, any electrical junction box must be easily accessible). Always, foreverMake sure you have a little hidden away so that in case the time comes you can easily stay afloat.
If you want a pleasant renovation experience, you will do well to follow these guidelines. However, if your goal is to attract a lot of unreliable, shoddy, and unreliable contractors and have a miserable renovation experience, the best bait is an insufficient budget, an overly frugal mindset, and an inadequate buffer. You are going to catch some beauties.