23. Trying to be your own general contractor
by Admin
Posted on 09-05-2024 05:14 PM
The number one tip we can give you for home remodeling is to hire the best possible team to do it.
We’re aware that “best” can be a pretty subjective term, but there are aspects of a remodeling company that you should consider non-negotiable when narrowing down your list of potentials. For instance, you want to be sure that the company has experienced remodelers and contractors. You also want to be sure that they’re licensed, both as individual professionals and as a business in general. The best design-build team for you is one that you feel comfortable communicating and working with.
According to jean brownhill—founder and ceo of sweeten, a platform that matches renovators with general contractors—it's best to renovate your entire house at once. "while it can be tempting to apply à la carte prices to individual spaces, a renovation is an integrated process that involves design, demo, framing, installation, electrical, and plumbing," she says. "a bigger scope tackled at once allows you to plan more broadly. You can get more done, in the right sequence, and [it's] more cost-effective. "brownhill adds doing a renovation in one fell swoop is an easy way to get on a contractor's schedule; plus, you'll only have to move out of your house or order back-to-back takeout for a few months one time.
If you’re planning to use a general contractor, we recommend obtaining bids from at least three different contractors. It’s not uncommon for bids to differ wildly. If a contractor is particularly busy or charges a hefty percentage, then you can bet that bid will be higher. According to angi , most general contractors charge “between 10 to 20 percent of the total cost of the job. ” the total cost of the job includes materials, supplies, labor, permits, etc. Be aware of contractors that give you a too-good-to-be-true estimate. For example, if three different contractors tell you that the project will likely cost between $30k and $40k, but one contractor tells you he can do it for $10k, this could be a red flag that the contractor is either lying to you or is inexperienced.
Is it Cheaper to Remodel or Build a New House?
Many homeowners consider obtaining a building permit as an unnecessary headache which can slow down the renovation process, but permits are a necessary part of the process in most cases, which can come back to haunt you if not obtained in the first place. Building permits are necessary to ensure your house remodel meets structural and fire safety requirements and code inspectors in most jurisdictions can make you rip out non-conforming work if not up to snuff.
This can create a very expensive headache when looking to sell your home down the road. It's always advisable to think ahead and ensure the permit process is followed.
If you’re remodeling a house that includes a staircase, don’t make the mistake of leaving the large space under the staircase unused. Add some shelves to display your bookcases or music collection, or fans of fine wines can make a fancy wine rack and create your cozy nook. You can even transform a small room inspired by your childhood fantasy of living like harry potter and make your lovely secret reading nook. Read also – 27 hidden door ideas that make you want to build a secret room today.
19 Ways to Save on Your Home Remodel
How to live through a kitchen or bathroom remodel, or any for that matter requires being mentally prepared for chronic dust. Even after contractors clean the site, it is impossible to eradicate construction dust from every nook and cranny. We recommend packing away items you won’t use and investing in adequate furniture storage during renovation. It’s also a good idea to seal doorways between your make-shift living and renovation area with heavy-duty plastic drop cloths and tape up vents so dust doesn’t infiltrate your home’s ventilation system. If there’s a chance material worked on contains lead paint, then you will need to follow epa renovation, repair, and paint guidelines.
You've done hours of research, read all the blogs, and, yes, maybe even watched a youtube video. But embarking on a home renovation project can be daunting! but fear not, these tips, tricks, and gadgets will have you tackling that next project with confidence. Remodeling projects always seem to cost way more than you expected! sometimes it's like peeling back the layers of an onion: one small update leads to the next one, which leads to the next one. But you don’t have to go into debt to renovate, remodel, or refresh a room. Sometimes little changes reap big rewards.
50 kitchen island ideas to perfectly suit your personal style 04 of 19 dustin halleck paint , wallpaper, peel-and-stick wood products: all are great options to give a new face to old cabinets. Corbels can be added below cabinets or under floating shelves for a classic, built-in look. Removing doors on some upper cabinets offers you easy-to-access open storage without having to add new shelving. Look for ways to refresh your home that not only fit your budget but also how you use the space on a daily basis. How to remove cabinet doors for open shelving storage in your kitchen 05 of 19.
How many corners in your home are unused? and how much storage and function would you get if they were utilized properly? we bet you’ve answered “a lot” to both questions! in fact, when furnishing a home with ready-made pieces, it’s normal that they don’t always fill the space exactly. Some examples would be those few-inches between the kitchen cabinets and the wall or above them. Or the space between the wardrobe and the wall. Or the empty space above your living room bookshelf. All these awkward tiny spaces here and there may seem irrelevant, but they could add so much value to your home!.