What Should You Not Do When Remodeling?
Home remodeling is an expensive venture, and the last thing you want, as a homeowner, is to make costly mistakes that require you to redo the project. The cool thing is that you can avoid making these mistakes by avoiding doing the wrong things. What should you not do when remodeling? Well, there are plenty of things you shouldn’t do, with the common ones being: Hire the first contractor you come across Most homeowners will search for architects builders online, visit their site and if they like it, they contact the contractor and start working with them. This is wrong. Remember that how well the contractor ranks on Google or is well designed, doesn’t reflect the contractors ability. What you should do instead is to get in touch with several contractors and vet them. During the vetting, ask them as many questions as possible such as their experience, how many remodeling projects they have done, and any other pressing issue. During the vetting, gauge the contractor’s personality. If you have a large project, chances are you will spend a long time with them, and the last thing you want is to be stuck with a technician with an awful personality for months. Failing to do your research Besides taking time to vet the contractor you want to work with, you should also research what your project entails. You should know the materials you need, the labor that will be involved, and any other necessary details. Doing research helps you understand the project better to know what goes on in every stage of the project and what you should expect. Have a rigid budget As much as you have researched and know what your project entails, you shouldn’t go into the project with a strict budget. This is because a gamut of unforeseen issues arise once you start your project. For example, you will start a project and realize that you have to open up walls due to electrical, plumbing, or structural surprises. As you can tell, this slows the project’s progress, and it costs more. The situation is worse when you are remodeling an older house where you are more likely to have mold, leaking pipes, deteriorating wood, and plenty of other issues. To avoid surprises or even bringing your project to a stop, have some extra money to cater for miscellaneous expenses that might come up later on. Expect the project to take the planned time. Like your budget, you shouldn’t expect your project to take the projected time. Again, this is because many things are bound to come up later on. To avoid frustrations, give your project up to an extra week. If you are planning to have an occasion in your house, don’t have the event on the exact day you expect the project to complete as chances are the contractors won’t complete the project then. Beginning the project without the necessary permits Most local authorities require you to get remodeling permits before you begin your project, and you should get them. Some people try to cut corners and proceed with their project without getting the permits, […]
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Where to Spend Money on Home Renovations
When remodeling your house for sale, you should know that not all renovations will give you a return, so you should be cautious where you put your money. Are you wondering where to spend money on home renovations, so you get the best returns? Here are some of the best places as given by home remodeling architects: Kitchen The kitchen is the center of the house, and most buyers base their house-buying decisions on how the kitchen looks. This means that spending money on kitchen remodeling is an excellent move as you are bound to recoup your investment. Some of the remodeling you should do to your kitchen include: replacing the worn-out appliances, installing new countertops, re-flooring, repainting, and other tasks that will improve the look and functionality of the room. When remodeling the kitchen, take caution of the materials you use. While they should be attractive and add value to the room, they shouldn’t be too premium to put off potential buyers that you get an offer that is too low that it’s not worth it. Work with experienced contractors and renovate the kitchen using materials and appliances that you are guaranteed of getting a return. Bathroom The bathroom also plays a massive role in influencing a homeowner’s buying decision. When it’s clean and well maintained, homeowners will be interested in it, but if dirty and worn out, no one will be interested in it, or you will receive a ridiculous offer. Some of the worthwhile renovations you can make include: replacing the lights, re-flooring, toilets, bathtubs, and adding paint or wallpapers. Like with the kitchen, avoid installing costly materials, as you most likely won’t recoup your investment. Heating and cooling appliances There is nothing as off-putting as showing a house to a client when it’s too hot or cold. To create a good impression, install heating and cooling appliances that you can easily control. Most homeowners are concerned about the maintenance of their appliances so pay attention to the efficiency of the heating and cooling units you install. Some of the excellent units you can go with include: modern wood burner, heat pump, air conditioner, or central heating system. Of course, avoid high-end appliances or inefficient appliances that will be too expensive to keep running. Lighting No homebuyer will be interested in a dark den, so you should invest in your house’s lighting. As mentioned, homeowners are concerned about the house’s efficiency, so don’t just install traditional lights—concentrate on as much natural light as possible. When renovating, ensure that your home’s design takes into account how the sun moves across your property and place the windows and glazing in such a way that they suit your location and climate. Although, you should concentrate on allowing in as much natural light as possible, invest in high-quality decorative pendant light in an area of maximum exposure, such as the dining room. Floor The floor significantly affects the house’s look, so if it’s worn out, you should give it a touch. The cool thing is there are plenty of floor materials you can go with, including timber, carpet, tiles, and many […]
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How Do I Plan A Home Remodeling Project?
If you are having a home remodeling project, you need a plan. Are you wondering how do I plan a home remodeling project? There are several ways to go about it. Here is one of the best ones as given by architects builders: Have a vision How do you want your home to look once the project is complete? You need to think about this. A good way to go about it is to make a list of the must-have features. For example, if remodeling the kitchen, you can put a kitchen island as a must-have. You also should come up with blueprints and sketches of the finished project. Will you be doing the project yourself or hiring a professional? You need to think about this and divide the project into DIY steps and the steps that will require a professional. As you are coming up with a plan, think about the local zoning regulations and permits and ensure that your neighborhood is zoned for your remodel. While at it, find out whether you need a permit for your project. While different jurisdictions have different rules, most areas will require you to have a permit if your project involves changing the structure of the house or the use of a room. Find out the necessary permits you need but don’t hurry to apply for them—wait until you have hired a team and built a project timeline. Set a project budget Once you have the project’s vision, the next thing to do is to come up with the budget and financing. Of course, your budget should include all the projected expenses, including the miscellaneous. A great way to develop a project is to go through each goal and set a realistic estimate for it. For example, if you are planning on installing new kitchen cabinets, think about the materials you need, the paint, labor costs, and any other costs involved. The unique thing is that if you have been thinking about remodeling your home for a while, you most likely have a figure in mind of the projected expenses. To come up with better estimates, work with experienced professionals. Build your team Who do you need to complete your project? You should begin putting them together. Many homeowners go online and hire the first company that pops up in the search results. Don’t do this, as you often end up hiring the wrong professional. The right thing to do is to take your time and research the different companies in your area. You should then schedule meetings with them and settle on the best one after interviewing three or more contractors. Some of the things you should look out for when hiring include: Years of experience: You want a professional that has been in business for five or more years. This way, you are sure they know what they are doing, so they have a high chance of delivering an exemplary project. Licenses: Of course, the contractor should be licensed to work in your area. References: You should request the references that the contractor has worked with before. And don’t stop […]
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Will Home Renovations Pay Off?
If you are asking, will home renovations pay off? You must be thinking about remodeling your house for sale, right? The good news is that renovating the house can pay off if you invest in the right projects. Some of the best projects that always pay off include: Home additions When you hire home addition companies to add some square footage to your house, you have more room for your family and significantly add the value of the house. After all, who wouldn’t want a larger house? To maximize your investment, be cautious with the materials you choose. As a rule of thumb, don’t use highly premium materials as you might fail to recoup your investment. At the same time, avoid overextending your house as you risk not getting your money back. Redo the kitchen The kitchen is said to be the heart of every home, so you can’t go wrong by taking care of the heart, can you? You will even make a better return when you remodel an older, outdated kitchen. Some of the things you should do to your kitchen include: upgrading your cabinets, refrigerator, stove, flooring, and sinks and faucets. As you remodel the kitchen, think about older buyers and ensure that the kitchen maintains functionality and accessibility. Some of the things you can do include: installing lowered light switches, cabinets, and countertops. If you have the funds, install cabinets with a hydraulic system that allows the homeowner to move them up and down quickly. Remodel the bathroom If you have tried selling a house, you must have noticed that most prospective homebuyers rush to the bathroom to check its condition. This means that if they don’t like how it looks, chances are high they won’t even give you an offer. With this information, you can use it to your advantage and wow the prospect from the word go. According to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry report, you stand to recoup up 57% of your bathroom remodeling investment, so you should do it. Besides the usual, replacing the flooring, vanity, tub, toilet, or shower, you should develop brilliant ways to renovate the bathroom. If you have one bathroom in your house, add a shower to a half bath or add a half bath to the living area. Like with kitchen remodeling, don’t go overboard and invest in high-end materials as they might be too expensive and you fail to recoup your money. Amplify the outdoor living space Every homeowner wants a relaxing space to have as much fun as possible. The beauty of renovating the outdoor space is that you can be creative and use inexpensive materials that won’t take too much money. Some wise outdoor structures you can invest in include: fence, deck, and fire pit. While a pool gives your house a high-end look, chances are high you won’t get your money back by investing in it, as many homeowners view it as additional liability. This is because they need to maintain it, which isn’t cheap. There is also the risk of the children and pets falling into the pool. Unless you […]
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7 Home Remodeling Tips To Increase House Value
If you want to sell your house, you definitely want to get the best deal possible, right? Most home sellers rush to install new swimming pools, gazebos, and other expensive features. While these units increase the house’s value, they are sometimes too expensive that you don’t recoup your investment. And you don’t want this, do you? One way to get your investment back and still sell the house fast is to remodel the house. By doing this, you spend less and still increase the house’s value. Don’t know how to go about it? Here are expert tips given by home remodeling architects on what to do: Get creative with the garage. If you are lucky enough to have a garage, you can get creative with it and significantly improve the house’s value. Start with getting rid of all the junk there and turn it into an additional room. If it’s built onto the house, you can turn it into an office. If tied to the house and has a connecting door, remodel it into an extra bedroom. Do you actively use the garage? Add an extra floor on top, and you immediately double your space which, as you can guess, significantly adds to the house’s value. Make the most of the basement. If you are like other homeowners, you most likely use your basement as storage. Can you imagine taking a prospective house buyer to the basement and only find dirt and worn-out electronics? It’s not a beautiful sight, is it? Luckily, you can turn this around by getting rid of all the junk and turning the room into a usable room. You can turn it into an office, extra bedroom, game room, or any other room. Transform the attic Like the basement, many homeowners use their attics as storage spaces. If you are lucky to have a large house, the attic space serves as an extra floor that you can use to your advantage. You can turn the attic into a reading room, bedroom, extra living room, or other livable room. If you still need storage space, work with your contractor and install eaves in the walls. Touch up the bathroom Most homebuyers are highly sensitive to how the bathroom looks, so touching it up will go a long way towards making the house more attractive to housebuyers. There are plenty of things you can do to your bathroom: change the bathroom color, install new appliances, add paneling around the bathtub, add more storage space, among many other things. To ensure you are making the right addition, sit with your contractor and agree on what is valuable to you. Add more space in the kitchen. In most families, the kitchen is the hub of the house. Besides having the right appliances, the other important thing you should ensure your kitchen has is enough storage spaces. Work with your contractor and come up with ways to add as many storage areas for your kitchen as possible. This can be hidden cupboards, stand-alone pantries, breakfast nooks, and any other thing. Add a laundry room If your house is old, chances are […]
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Can You Live At Home During A Remodel?
In an ideal situation, when you are having a remodeling project you should find a hotel or any other place to live in to give the home remodeling architects enough space to work on. What if you can’t afford a hotel for extended periods of time? Can you live at home during a remodel? The short answer to this question is yes. You can definitely live in your house when having a remodel but you need to consider a set of tips that include: Separate the remodel space Since you won’t be leaving the house, you should talk to your contractor so that they can create a clear separation between the space you are looking to remodel and the rest of the house. The purpose of doing this is to ensure you are safe and at the same time prevent dirt and dust from getting into your living area. There are plenty of ways the contractor can separate the two areas. One of the ways is to erect a pole zip wall or a magnetic wall system. To keep the house clean, the contractor should use an air filtration system such as a HEPA filter that will constantly filter the air and also cover the ducts in and around the work area so that dust doesn’t get inside. Set up a temporary kitchen If you are remodeling the kitchen, it automatically means that you can’t use your kitchen area for some time. To continue preparing your meals, you need to set up a temporary kitchen. Bring the appliances you used to use in your new kitchen. They include: coffee maker, microwave, instant pot, toaster oven, burner hotplates, and any other necessary appliance. Besides the appliances, also think about the sink. Where will you be washing the vegetables? Work with your contractor and hook up the sink to the existing plumbing source of your home. If the laundry room is nearby and has a sink, you don’t have to stress yourself over setting up the sink as you can use that one. Tips to living through a bathroom remodel Living through a bathroom remodel can be complex or stress-free depending on whether you have another bathroom you can use while the other one is being worked on. If you have multiple bathrooms you can use you have nothing to worry about as you simply need to use the ones you aren’t remodeling but it will be a little tricky living through a remodel when you have only one bathroom. If you are in this situation, you should work with your contractor and come up with a plan. One of the things you can do is to set the toilet back at the end of the day. There is nothing fun about living without a toilet so if the contractor has to pull it up to undertake the project, ensure that they put it back to operation before the end of the day. When remodeling the bathroom, chances are high that your regular shower will be out of operation. Should you stop showering simply because you can’t use your shower? Absolutely not. […]
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What Do I Need To Know Before Remodeling?
A home remodeling project isn’t cheap, so you need to be cautious and ensure that you have all the details before the project commences. What do I need to know before remodeling? If you are asking this question, you should know that there are plenty of things you should know, with the common ones being: Work with an experienced contractor. This is a no-brainer as there is no way you will properly remodel your house if you are doing the work yourself or working with home remodeling architects who don’t know what they are doing. The contractor is the most crucial person in your project as they are the ones to guide you on what to do and the materials to get for the project. Remember, this is the first time you are remodeling the house, and you don’t know what to do, so the last thing you want is someone that doesn’t know what they are also doing. To be on the safe side, take your time when finding a contractor. In short, don’t be in a hurry to work with the first contractor you come across. As a rule of thumb, take time to sit with the contractor and understand them. As you are doing the interview, don’t only pay attention to the licensing, bonding, and insurance. Also, consider how the contractor conducts themselves. If you have a large project, you will spend a lot of time with the contractor, and you don’t want to be stuck with a contractor with an awful personality, do you? So ensure that the contractor is qualified to work on your project and has a beautiful personality that you will be comfortable spending long hours with them. Know what you want As much as you need a knowledgeable contractor by your side, you should remember that you are the dream carrier while the contractor is the executor. So before you even start scouting for a contractor, you need to know what you want. Walk around home improvement stores and design showrooms to see what is available. It also doesn’t hurt flipping through magazines and browsing online to see home renovation ideas available. It’s good to have your taste and preference, but it’s also good that you see what is trending and what other homeowners are doing with their houses. This will give you a sense of what is available, which gives you plenty of options to play around with. Have a budget Any home improvement project costs money, and in most cases, it isn’t small money, so you need to have a budget of the amount of money you are looking to spend on the project. Of course, your budget will be informed by the size of your project, the quality of materials you want to use, your location, among many other things. To come up with a more accurate budget, have a sitting with experienced architect builders Washington DC and draw it up. As you are putting together the budget, don’t just consider the top line renovation needs. Also, factor in the unexpected costs such as a few tiles breaking and […]
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What Should You Not Do When Remodeling A House?
When having a home remodeling project, you want the project to be a success, and part of making it a success is avoiding things that can bring it down. What should you not do when remodeling a house? Well, there are plenty of things you should stay away from. These things include: Don’t hire a cheap contractor. In the bid to save money, most homeowners hire the cheapest home remodeling architects they come across. Don’t do this. Remember, there is a good reason why the contractors are cheap, and the most likely reason is they are inexperienced and will most likely botch your project. And you don’t want this, do you? For your project to be a success, you should stay away from cheap contractors. You also should avoid hiring the first contractor that pops up in the search results. The right way to go about it is to schedule a meeting with the contractors and interview them. During the interview, ask them as many questions as possible. Some of the questions you can ask include: How long have you been providing your services? How would you recommend we go about the project? Are you insured? Are you certified to work in the region? Do you offer a warranty? For the best outcome, only work with experienced contractors that know what they are doing. While these contractors will be expensive to hire, they will be worth it. Don’t work without a budget. Even if you have unlimited resources, the last thing you want is to work without a budget, as you often waste a lot of money. The budget guides you in knowing whether you are still in the right direction. After you have settled on a contractor to work with, have a sitting with them and ask them to help you come up with a budget. You should include everything in the budget, from the countertops to the screws you need. As you are making the budget, remember to factor in surprises as they are bound to happen, and when they come, they drag your project behind and cost you extra money. A clear example of a surprise is you damaging the wall as you are installing the backsplash. When you damage a wall, even if it wasn’t part of the budget, you have to replace it. You also have to inspect the electrical lines and fix them if damaged. For peace of mind, set aside at least 15% of your total budget for unexpected expenses. Don’t be in a hurry When you have been thinking about remodeling your house for a long time, it’s tempting to start the project as soon as you get the money. Don’t do this, as it often leads to you making plenty of mistakes. For one, you end up hiring the first contractor you come across, which is often not the right one to work with. You also end up buying the remodeling materials at premium prices as you don’t have time to research and find cheaper stores to buy from. To hire the right contractor and save money on the building materials, […]
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How Can I Save Money Building An Addition To My House?
As much as homeowners love the extra space that building home addition brings, there is always the issue of cost as most of them don’t want to spend a fortune on it, so you will hear them asking, how can I save money building an addition to my house? Well, there are plenty of tricks you can use to your advantage. These tricks include: Do it yourself Do you have home-building skills? You shouldn’t waste money hiring a house remodeling professional. Instead, you should do the work yourself. Even when doing the building work yourself, ensure that you follow the right procedure and don’t cut corners. If you have the skills, you have the luxury of doing the work by yourself, but if you don’t the skills, you should hire a professional to build the house for you. When hiring the contractor, ensure that the contractor knows what they are doing. The last thing you want is hiring someone to botch up your work, and you have to redo it, which sees you wasting a lot of money. Although, you should be conscious of the price charged by the contractor, avoid an extremely cheap contractor, as the chances are high that they won’t do a good job. Source your own materials Did you know you can get the building materials at much lower prices on your own than through a contractor? The reason for this is that despite the contractor making money from the labor costs, they want to make a profit from the materials they supply you, so they mark up the prices. To save money, source the materials on your own. For example, if planning to have a kitchen addition, visit the home improvement stores and find cheaper countertops. If you don’t have a huge budget, find reclaimed materials for your project. Most contractors will do their budgeting while including the materials they will supply you, and if you decide that you will be sourcing the materials on your own in the middle of the project, the contractor may have to go back to the drawing board, and they might not be pleased about it. To avoid bad blood in your work, ensure that you let the contractor know beforehand that you will be sourcing the materials on your own. Shop around Whether you are looking for materials or a contractor, don’t work with the first company you come across—take your time, visit different companies, and see what they have. Many homeowners make the mistake of being in a hurry when doing their construction, so they rush to hire the first company they come across. Don’t do this as you end up spending a lot of money that you shouldn’t. The best way to go about it is to take your time and knock on several doors and see what is available. Sometimes you might not only find the company or supplies at a low cost, but also discover materials you have never heard about. Go the prefab way If you don’t have a lot of money to spend on new items, consider getting prefabricated materials. Some people […]
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Do I Need An Architect For An Addition?
Most home addition projects are small that many homeowners ask themselves, do I need an architect for an addition? The answer to this question is a resounding yes. Regardless of the size of your project, you should have home remodeling architects that will help you bring your dream to life. The architects you hire will be responsible for a variety of duties, including: Designing the house Regardless of the type of addition you are having, you should have a design for it. The architect will help you plan how you will execute the project and how the entire project will look once complete. Besides the architect helping you come up with the project design, he/she will also help you come up with pull permits and design changes to the house’s structure. Serve as a contract writer. If your home addition is going to be big, the architect can serve as a contract writer to pull all the pieces of the project together. This includes: The estimate House specs The scope of the job Hiring the subcontractors Hiring a contractor Since the architect always comes before the contractor, if you don’t have a contractor in mind or don’t want to get involved with the hiring process, your architect should help you identify a good contractor for your project and even hire them. The architect should also supervise the contractor and ensure that they are doing a good job. Advice on fixture and finishes The architect should also advise you on the best fixtures and finishes to install in your house. Some of the areas the contractor should advise on include: Painting and color pairing Drawers and cabinets Lighting Kitchen and countertop works Outdoor landscaping Knobs and metal accents Tiling and flooring Hiring the right architect Since we have seen the vital roles served by an architect, you should be cautious of the contractor you hire and ensure that you are hiring the right one. The cool thing is it’s easy to identify an experienced architect as all you need to do is to ask them questions. Some of the questions to ask during the hiring include: What roles and responsibilities do they think they will be handling? What is their role in choosing and handing fixtures? What strategy will they use to see through the project? Are there challenges they expect in the project? How will they go around them? How will they deal with conflicts in the project? What are their references? When it comes to references, many homeowners collect them, but they rarely follow up. You don’t want to be this way. After the architect gives you a list of customers they have worked with, take it as your initiative to get in touch with the mentioned people and ask them about their experience with the architect. Of course, you should work with an architect with a stellar record—the clients should be happy and proud to have worked with the said architect. What other things should you consider when hiring the architect? Besides asking the architect as many questions as possible that will help you nail down their experience […]
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