Spring Remodeling

Spring will shortly arrive here in Northeast Ohio. After the snow and cold, it sure is a welcome sight. To many of us, Spring's arrival gives us an opportunity to clean the house and yard of all the leftovers of winter.

How of us begin to create a wish list of projects for the spring and summer? A new deck? Maybe and improvement on an existing deck? How about that screened in porch for those hot--mosquito infested--nights? Many of us will look at the opportunity to remodel the bathroom or kitchen, or prepare the basement for the upcoming cold.
Whatever it may be, the prospect of hiring the right contractor can be daunting. With so many so called "experts" out there, who to choose?

I would like to offer some tips for interviewing and assessing contractors--myself included.

1. WHAT DO "YOU' WANT?
This may be--arguably--the most important step. I have spoke to many friends and clients who complain that once they put forth the basics of an idea, the contractor takes over and proceeds to tell them what the contractor knows "they" want

How do I--as a contractor--know what "you" want? I don't. I always encourage a homeowner to brainstorm. Write everything down. Make a folder. Collect articles and photos from magizines and the web. Many times the best brainstorming comes from just walking around Home Depot, Lowes, etc. At the beginning think of everything you would like--shoot for the moon because as your project moves along many ideas will be cast aside and replaced with new or disregard altogether

Budget? On this topic I, most likely, disagree with many of my fellow contractors. As I said above, I tell homeowners to put all of their ideas on the table--whether you can afford it or not. I am a firm believer that a major part of my job is to attempt to make everything you want happen. Now, if you want mosaic tile from the middle east but your working on a smaller budget, that is when we sit down and attempt to get as close as we can to your dream. Why push an idea to the back and be sorry for it later.

We all know out budget. As the design and planning stages move forward, the budget will come in line with your dream project.

One last point on budgets. I recently read a brochure on hiring the right contractor. One of their first "tips" was to tell the them your maximum budget and let them work around it. I TOTALLY DISAGREE! If you tell them your max, I guarantee the project will come in at $1,000 more. You know your budget. If a contractor is in the business of improving your life, he or she will work on the project and you--as the client--will control the budget

2. SIFTING THROUGH THE HUNDREDS OF CONTRACTORS

* If a contractor does not reply to a call or e-mail within two days--move on. * Ask for insurance and worker's compensation forms
* Set a date for an estimate to be submitted.
* Protect yourself with paperwork. Ask for everything in writing.
* Professionalism, knowledge, and references should be judged before price.
* Ask questions and communicate frequently. Contractor doesn't have time--move on.

Finally, it is YOUR home, YOUR project, YOUR life. Contractors work for you, not the other way around.