Maybe it’s time to update the kitchen in your DeKalb-area home. Or perhaps you’re ready to make changes to the bathroom in your home that just isn’t providing the comfort and convenience you want. It could be that your family is expanding and you need to put an addition on to your Sycamore house. What are your first steps to solve those problems? If you’re planning a remodel, here’s what you need to know.
Great Remodeling Results Don’t Just Happen
You may be ready to make some significant changes to your home, but home remodeling isn’t like buying a new toaster oven or a microwave. Great remodeling results don’t just happen: They require a combination of thought, planning, and excellent execution. Let’s take a look at some of the steps involved before a contractor shows up at your house.
Identify What You Want and Need
Let’s say that you want a new kitchen. You need to think through how you actually use your kitchen—or how you’d like to use your kitchen. How do you cook? Do you need a more efficient workspace? How else do you plan to use your kitchen? Will you eat casual family meals there? Do you entertain a fair amount? Do you want your kitchen to be open to your family room or dining room? Once you identify how you want to use the room (whether it’s a kitchen or another room) you can begin thinking about what specific changes you need to make to allow that to happen.
Getting Your Finances Together
Figuring out the finances (and this would include establishing a budget and possibly securing a loan) for your remodel may not be the most fun part of the process, but it’s essential. Here’s why. The Internet is full of great pictures of fantastic kitchens, beautiful bathrooms, and gorgeous additions. Your budget, however, helps keep things real. That’s why setting a realistic budget is so important. It doesn’t help you much to look at images of $100,000 dollar kitchen remodels if your budget is in the $35,000 to $50,000 range. You need to set a budget that works for you.
If you’re planning to take out a loan for your remodel, you’ll want to get started on that process early. You don’t want to be sitting around waiting for approval when you’re ready to get going. Plus, getting yourself prequalified helps you know what your limitations are. It’s a big help in setting your budget.
Educate Yourself About the Process
Sometimes homeowners are a little surprised at what all is involved in the remodeling process. Understanding the steps involved helps you set expectations and avoid frustration. One great way to begin understanding the process is to sit down with a remodeling professional and have him or her provide an overview of what’s involved. You’ll learn about planning and design; creating the plan; deconstruction; construction; and finishing. Another option is to gather information on your own. For instance, if you are thinking about a kitchen remodel, you might want to download something like our free Kitchen Design Guide that guides you through the process of remodeling your kitchen by helping you understand your personal style, and how to communicate this style to your designer and your remodeling team.
Understand That Not All Remodelers Approach Things the Same Way
Different contractors approach projects differently. We are what is known as a design/build remodeler. That means we’re involved with you from the beginning to design a solution that will meet your specific needs before any construction happens. Here’s a recent post that walks you through some of the fundamentals of the design/build process to help you get a handle on what’s involved to achieve the great results you want.
One of the biggest advantages of the design-build process is the need to communicate with a single point of contact from design concepts all the way to the finished build. One company handles your entire remodel which means there can be no blame game and any issues can be worked through quickly and effectively to keep your remodeling project on schedule and budget. If you have any questions about the design-build process, please contact us. We’d love to help you find the best option for you and your home remodel.
Interview Potential Contractors
Choosing the right remodeler is an extremely important part of the remodeling process. You’ll probably want to contact two or three contractors before making your decision. Obviously, you’ll want to evaluate potential remodelers based on experience, expertise (in the particular type of project you have in mind), references, and price. Perhaps the most important characteristic, however, is trust. You’ll want to select a contractor that you can trust to listen to your ideas and deliver what’s been promised. That may sound a bit subjective, but it’s important that you feel comfortable with the professional you select.
We’d be happy to answer your questions about the remodeling process so that you can end up with the design and the remodeling professional to make your remodeling dreams come true!
