The process of renovating your existing space is a big undertaking
and one that is personal on a lot of levels. Not only are renovations a
monetary investment, but these projects require you to really consider
your space and the people that live in it in order to make your home the
best it can be with the funds and spacial parameters you have
available.
There are a lot of details, selections and hours of
planning that go into a successful project and it can be really
difficult to navigate where to start. It is crazy how fast a project can
go from a thrilling dream to an overwhelming nightmare, so in order to
keep your stress level down and your project enjoyable and on track it
is important to surround yourself with a solid team, one that is 100%
dedicated to the success of your project. But how do you go about doing
that? Where do you find this team?
Word of Mouth Referrals:
The
best way to get the ball rolling on selecting your dream team is to ask
friends, family and neighbors who have done a remodel or new
construction project about their experience.
No one has more opinions than someone who has
experienced some one’s work first hand. Of course no individual or
company is perfect, but over the course of a project it is easy to tell
if the person or persons you have hired are people you would use again
or recommend to a friend.
Research and Observe:
Today the word research means one thing: Google search. Try typing in your city with the word Kitchen Remodel or Remodeler and see what comes up. There are tons of sites like Angie's List and Kudzo.com full
of reviews on hundreds of companies and individuals all over the
country. Equally as important as reviews based on experiences are
reviews based on aesthetics. Sites like Houzz are
a great resource to pursue thousands of photos not only for ideas but
once you land on a picture or pictures you like the site will tell you
the remodeler, builder, designer, architect, etc…which can really help
kick start your search.
Interview:
Once
you have narrowed down your top contenders it is time to meet them. So
much of this process and experience comes down to relationships and
personalities. The same person that might work for me and my project may
not be the best fit for you. The company and or person you choose will
be a big part of your life for a period of time and it is important you
feel a connection with them. I always say the remodelers have their job
cut out for them because most people continue to live in their house
during the renovation, meaning this person and their crew will be in
YOUR house with YOUR things and YOUR family all day, every day for
awhile. Making communication, time management, organization and honesty
just some of the qualities you need to be on the look out for,
especially when it comes to a remodeler.
As a rule of thumb it is
always a good idea to interview at least three people to ensure you are
getting the best bang for your buck. In order to get the most apples to
apples comparison on everything from their price to their personality
it is important to give them all the exact same information. It is also
important for you to really listen, take notes and ask questions
regarding the specific details within each companies offerings. Every
company will have different policies and procedures and it is important
you understand any differences prior to making your decision.
Renovations
and remodels can be overwhelming, expensive and exhausting, no doubt,
but with a good team on your side, words like rewarding, satisfying and
improved will be better adjectives to describe your experience. Go
imagine, improve and enjoy bringing some function, organization and pretty to your home!
source: about.com
