Home renovation projects can be a hassle sometimes. Often there are unforeseen circumstances that can impact your project. The idea of transforming your house into a new reality requires you to think about all the details and undergo careful planning. You must think about a lot of things to make your project a successful experience. Some of the hassles of a home renovation project that you might get into are delayed completion, expenses exceeding the budget, and your contractor leaving the job mid-way.
A thought-out renovation project adds value and beauty to your house. It enhances your comfort and makes it more attractive for on-lookers. But it is not the case the most renovation projects. Here are some tips to avoid hassle during a home renovation.
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Call The Professional Contractor For An Inspection
Some people hire a general contractor for the whole house and all kinds of repairs. This can be a big problem for your project. A general contractor may be well-versed in working with all other professionals and workers and ensure that project remains on schedule. However, it cannot know the nitty-gritty of a particular issue, let’s say electrical works. For that, you need to discuss the details of your project with an electrical contractor if your project mainly involves changing the wirings, making underground electrical connections. The electrical contractor can then work with the general contractor and streamline their work together.
Sign A Contract With The Contractor
People often face the problem of their contractor leaving the project midway or increasing their fee if they get a better offer elsewhere. This change can severely impact your budget or may halt your project completely. You have to be prepared for such an issue and make proper arrangements from the start of the project to avoid these problems too.
The best way to ensure that your contractor does not bail out on you or change their fee during the project is to sign the contract and write all the terms in the agreement. The contract should also mention the start and end date of the project. Clearly mention the agreed-upon price in the contract with the signatures of all the parties involved. You should also highlight the penalties in case any of such events happen. Make sure the penalties are enough to deter to prevent your contractor from any such mischiefs. Finally, only sign when you are sure of all the aspects of the project.
Set The Right Budget
Budget is a fundamental part of your home renovation project. Before starting the project, you have to decide how much you are willing to spend on your project. The budget will determine the extent of change that you can achieve from your project. This way, you will also set some limits for your project and prevent unnecessary overspendings. The budget should be according to the details and change you want to achieve. Consider the price of the material and the amount paid to the various general and expert contractors.
For making a realistic budget, you must undergo a market analysis to check the prices of the materials such as paint, ceramic, sanitary, and more. You should also include the factor of inflation too. Often, home renovators don’t consider that the prices can increase during the length of their project. So, they don’t keep a surplus budget. This can be a serious hassle for the continued progress of your project.
Be Ready For Experiencing Excessive Expense
Even if you have made the most realistic budget and kept in mind the inflation factor, always be ready to experience excessive expenses than your budget. This could be unforeseen changes made during the project, something that was not planned at the beginning. For instance, while renovating the bathtub in your bathroom, you may discover water damage behind the tub. Issues such as water damage need immediate attention. These sudden changes can impact your budget and timelines of the project. Being prepared for them can prevent you from taking undue stress.
Be Prepared To Deal With Property Damage
It is common to experience some kind of property damage during a renovation project. If you have hired the general contractor for the whole project, they are responsible for smoothly running the entire project. If there is property damage due to their carelessness or faulty work, your contractor is liable for it. This is because this property damage can turn out to be really costly, and you should not be left with cleaning the mess. While you make the contract, write down these details too. There should be a clear fine listed in black and white for any property damage that happened due to negligence or faulty work.
Make A Background Check Of The Contractor
Many projects fail due to a less than confident contractor. People try to go for the contractor that bids them the least price without considering the repercussions on the project. So, when you are hiring a contractor, conduct a thorough background check. If the contractor has an online presence, check their ratings online. If you can access their previous customers through social media, ask them about their experience and suggestions about the contractor.
Shortlist at least three candidates for the job, discuss your project’s details. You might ask how many hours they work each day, the number of labor they will employ, the time the project will take, and how they will accommodate the changes in the design and layout. Also, ensure that the shortlisted contractor has the proper license issued by a government body. You can check that from your city’s building department.
The process of renovation is tiring and complicated. Making it hassle-free should be the foremost priority of a home renovator. Issues such as a contractor bailing out on the project, increasing project cost, and a shady background of the contractor are some of the common problems faced during the home renovation project. Some simple tips and ideas can make this process significantly less stressful and hassle-free.
