When hiring remodeling professionals, always remember their service is their product. The better the service, the better your project and the higher your satisfaction will be. Listed below are some questions you may want to explore during an interview with a potential builder. [Expanded content]
• Business Management
A high percentage of remodeling companies go out of business, and it's usually while in the middle of someone's job. So the company's business management does have a direct effect on you and your home.
• Technical Expertise
Don't trust your home to an inexperienced builder! Design and building knowledge and experience do matter! Does the builder…[Checklist]
• Client Satisfaction and Attention
How is client satisfaction and attention measured within the company? If it's not measured, maybe it's not taken that seriously. Would you invite these people over for dinner?
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Gathering Ideas For Remodeling
Good design planning can often make the difference between a good remodel and a great
remodel. However, it’s often difficult to think critically about where we live, a place
we’ve seen day in and day out for years. These exercises can help you set your
remodeling goals.[Link to expanded content]
• Think About Spaces
Look at the places where you live, work, visit. Browse through pictures in magazines, websites, books, etc. for colors, styles, items, or buildings which catch your eye. Don't edit yourself – just go with your instinctive reactions to the space.
• Understand Where You Live Now
List the existing rooms in your house. Under each room, list what activities the room is used for, and how often. Then, prioritize the list according to most/least used.
• Make Need-to-Have/Want-to-Have Lists
Some items will be more important than others. Those most important items might be your remodeling priorities. They are the elements you need in your environment to make daily living more enjoyable.
• Some Notes About Design
The greater the complexity of the project, the more structured your plans will
need to be. Detailed plans not only help you visualize your ideas as you're
creating them, but are also necessary for the construction that will take place later.
remodel. However, it’s often difficult to think critically about where we live, a place
we’ve seen day in and day out for years. These exercises can help you set your
remodeling goals.[Link to expanded content]
• Think About Spaces
Look at the places where you live, work, visit. Browse through pictures in magazines, websites, books, etc. for colors, styles, items, or buildings which catch your eye. Don't edit yourself – just go with your instinctive reactions to the space.
• Understand Where You Live Now
List the existing rooms in your house. Under each room, list what activities the room is used for, and how often. Then, prioritize the list according to most/least used.
• Make Need-to-Have/Want-to-Have Lists
Some items will be more important than others. Those most important items might be your remodeling priorities. They are the elements you need in your environment to make daily living more enjoyable.
• Some Notes About Design
The greater the complexity of the project, the more structured your plans will
need to be. Detailed plans not only help you visualize your ideas as you're
creating them, but are also necessary for the construction that will take place later.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Plan Your Remodel for the Future
We have heard this story in a variety of different ways, time and time again.
A homeowner decides to “just add a room” for more space. However, in preparing the
design, there isn't enough time devoted to the family's plans for the future. Also, the room
is added to an existing portion of the house, which might not make sense with the flow of
the rest of the house.
10 years later, the addition has to be torn down because the family needs to enlarge the
old room and the new room is in the way.
Lessons Learned:
• Think about the future when preparing your design
If the designer had asked how the family planned to live in the next ten or fifteen years, the addition might not have been placed in such a way as to limit the size of the old room.
• Invest your money wisely the first time
Remodeling is an important enough investment to take seriously and do right the first time. This homeowner might have saved some money initially by not preparing a detailed design, but that amount is minor compared to the cost of tearing down the addition and remodeling again.
A homeowner decides to “just add a room” for more space. However, in preparing the
design, there isn't enough time devoted to the family's plans for the future. Also, the room
is added to an existing portion of the house, which might not make sense with the flow of
the rest of the house.
10 years later, the addition has to be torn down because the family needs to enlarge the
old room and the new room is in the way.
Lessons Learned:
• Think about the future when preparing your design
If the designer had asked how the family planned to live in the next ten or fifteen years, the addition might not have been placed in such a way as to limit the size of the old room.
• Invest your money wisely the first time
Remodeling is an important enough investment to take seriously and do right the first time. This homeowner might have saved some money initially by not preparing a detailed design, but that amount is minor compared to the cost of tearing down the addition and remodeling again.
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