Upland Contractor Herb Shares Insider Tips for Planning a Successful Home Remodeling Project
The New Year is upon us and with it comes endless possibilities for keeping ourselves busy during the ongoing Coronavirus health crisis we’re all experiencing. Is tacking a home remodeling project in your Upland, Montclair, Rancho Cucamonga or Pomona, California home on your radar? While any remodeling project can seem overwhelming, it’s guaranteed to go more smoothly during these difficult times if you know a few tricks of the trade. Here are trusted Upland General Contractor Herb’s top insider tips for making your home renovation or home improvement project a success.
Establish Renovation Goals
By developing a plan early on that defines your renovation goals, including your needs, wants and vision for your remodel, including your budget, you can prevent delays and improve your chances of staying on track with what’s most important to you. By outlining the work and prioritizing your needs and wants for your project, you’ll be better equipped to make decisions quickly and you won’t get sidetracked by details that aren’t really important to you or worth the cost. This includes picking out your product selections early so that you have the cost of the materials that matter to you most built into your budget from the beginning.
“By planning early, you’ll increase your chances of getting the most important elements of your remodel done the way that you envisioned, including securing the materials that are most important to you. You’ll know your costs ahead of time and can eliminate unexpected expenses for materials that aren’t as important to you” explains Herb Huehl, general contractor and founder of Upland-based H&H Huehl Construction.
Find an Experienced Local Contractor
Hiring a licensed and insured general contractor who is experienced is by far one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make with any home improvement project. Ask your friends and family for a referral and don’t be shy about asking your potential contractor for samples of their work or references. Ask yourself if you plan to take on the design elements of the project and need a general contractor or handyman to bring your vision to life of if you need more help with the design. By planning your design yourself, you can save on your overall costs by eliminating extra fees for project design.
Set Your Home Remodeling Budget
Your home renovation budget should include the costs for building materials, labor, building permits, and decorative finishes. Remember to reserve at least 10% of your budget for unexpected costs and prioritize project elements if your actual costs exceed your budget.
PRO TIP: Request a cost estimate from your contractor and be sure to prioritize your project elements as your actual costs for every element you desire may exceed your budget. You may end up eliminating lower priority elements of your project to save for a future remodeling project.
Create Your Home Remodeling Timeline
Once you’ve mapped out your project goals and secured your contractor or handyman, it’s time to create your home remodeling project timeline You and your contractor will need to calculate the length of time needed to complete each phase of your home remodeling project, including demolition, obtaining permits and receiving shipments of materials determining which aspects of your renovation need to be completed first and which phases of the project can be completed simultaneously.
In terms of your targeted renovation completion date, be sure to pack a few extra days (or weeks) into your timeline to address unexpected delays or issues.
Managing Your Expectations
Home remodeling projects are exciting. There are also a lot of headaches and inconveniences that go along with living in a construction zone so be sure to know what you are getting in to. By managing your expectations before your project begins and knowing what to expect, you’ll be better equipped to deal with having your living space discombobulated and by any unexpected snags or delays.
Communication is Key
Remodelers can do some amazing things, but they can’t read your mind. “Let your contractor or handyman know if you are unhappy with any of their work so they can deal with the issue,” says Herb. “The contractor may not be aware that you are unhappy, which can lead to a disconnect and thwarted expectations.”
PRO TIP: Before you start a project, exchange phone numbers with your contractor for calling or texting.
BONUS HOME REMODELING DESIGN TIP
Connect Design Elements
Looking to make a big impact with your home renovation project or increasing resale value? Creating an open living space by opening up walls and hallways is one way to get the most from your remodel. To make your open floor plan work, be sure to carry over one or two design elements from one room to the next. This can include carrying over the same tiling from kitchen to bathroom, or even the fireplace, and painting the walls the same color so as not to disrupt the architectural details and visual flow.
