Successful Renovation
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Article by: Gil Strachan 1. Planning Renovations Any project will be more successful, given well-defined goals. In every household , Insulating Foundations project, the following three points can be applied: FORM: What do you want it to look like? FUNCTION: What do you want it to do for you? COMPATIBILITY: What factors exist that might limit what you can do, and will the finished product , How to Assemble Log Furniture look good on your house? Once you've completed this part of your homework, it's time to decide if you'll built it yourself, , Choosing a Professional Home Inspector hire a contractor, , Are Your Ducts Making You Sick? or be your own contractor , Castle Blueprint Layout - Are Popular and perhaps sub-contract some of the work. Sub-contracting may sometimes seem to over-complicate things and even look wasteful, but just remember - some jobs can look deceivingly simple until you actual get into the nitty-gritty of them. A general contractor's job is to co-ordinate and orchestrate the whole schmozzle to completion. 2. Finding A Contractor My card...The process of finding a good contractor , Wrought Iron, the Newest House Guest is essentially the same, whether you decide to hire a general contractor, , Furnishing Your Home In Style or one or more sub-contractors. The best reference for a contractor , How to Assemble Log Furniture is word of mouth from a satisfied client. If you don't know anyone who has had renovations , Yoga for the Home or repairs , How to Find the Right Vacuum Cleaner for Your Needs done in the area you need, look for work trucks or signs in your neighborhood. Knock on doors, , Gain Space With Clever Designed Kitchen Islands and ask the homeowners if they are satisfied with the work being done. Once you contact a contractor, , Finding The Right Window Cleaning Service ask for references, and follow through by calling their previous clients with a set of questions that will give you the information , How to Assemble Log Furniture you are looking for. The following are samples of questions that could be asked of any reference: 1. Did the job come in at the quoted price? 2. Did the job come in on time? 3. Was the work site left clean each day? 4. Was the quality of the workmanship satisfactory? 5. Was the quality of the materials used satisfactory? It is always recommended that you talk to more than one company, so that you have a basis for comparison. Listen to their technical information, , Awnings Save You Money on Your Energy Bills and note their customer relation skills. , Garage Door Opener Climate Control Systems of the Future If the contractor , Rainscreen Technology doesn't do a very good job of communicating with you before you hire him or her, there may be a higher likelihood of miscommunications during the work. Sometimes the best companies will be very busy and you will have to wait for their services. Other times, good companies may have time slots between large projects that smaller jobs can fit into. Ask what the company's schedule has been like for the past 6 months to a year. Reputable companies are usually busy all year round in any economic situation. 3. The Estimate, or Quote Meeting the Contractors Remember that the contractor , Caulk Like A Professional - Put Away Your Finger you choose could be spending a lot of time in your home, , Getting Stains Out of Your New Rug so look for someone you feel at ease with. You should meet individually with each potential contractor. , Are Your Ducts Making You Sick? Be prepared to discuss products , Rainscreen Technology and designs; know what you want and how much you can spend. Take note if the contractors , Pressure Washer Reviews are on time, if they listen and answer questions, willingly give information , Tips In Choosing Area Rugs about their company and their customers; and if they seem to have any aversion to your ideas. The Estimate This is where you'll likely make your choice of contractor. , Energy Savings from Solar Products Each potential contractor , Information to Help You Understand the Difference Between Mini Blinds, Wood Blinds, and Vinyl Blinds will present a proposal, including design , Choosing a Furnace Humidifier and cost information. , Rainscreen Technology Review the estimates, ensuring that they accurately relfect your wishes, and make comments and/or any changes , Selecting Right Types Of Air Purifiers that are required. How Are Jobs Estimated? Work that involves structural changes , Wrought Iron, the Newest House Guest to the home, , Tips In Choosing Area Rugs custom designs, , Harnessing the Sun for Your Home - Key Components or enlargement of some of the mechanical systems is typically quoted by the job. It can be very difficult for a contractor , Improve Your Kitchen With Better Lighting to know exactly how much time an intricate custom job will take, particulary if a number of trades are required, and the different parts of the job are interdependent. Get it in writing!Simpler, straightforward jobs are often quoted by the square foot. Examples are laying sod, painting, , Wrought Iron, the Newest House Guest roofing, , Redesign Your Home Into Your Dream Home drywall or refinishing floors. , Home appliances, Select them on Price or Energy Efficiency? The quoted price will typically be set to include everything (ie. labour, , Selecting Right Types Of Air Purifiers materials, travel, etc.). Smaller jobs may also be quoted buy the hour, and if the job is fairly routine, such as installing addtional electrical outlets or drywalling, the figures are typically in line. In this situation you will pay the tradesperson for time, plus the cost of the materials used in the project. The Final Design , Electric Pressure Washers and Quote If you have a contractor , Construction Equipment – Are You Qualified To Rent? with good references and the estimate looks good, you now need to get a firm quote, including final designs. , Insulating Foundations The design , Tips In Choosing Area Rugs should include detailed specifications for the work and the materials to be used. (Another option is to have an architect or designer , Wrought Iron, the Newest House Guest produce the plans , Helpful Household Hints: How to Make a Relaxing Bath and More and ask the contractors , Tips In Choosing Area Rugs to bid on the job, based on these plans. , Duct Cleaning - Proper Principals and Practices ) Make sure the final specs are accurate and reflect your wishes, and make your final comments and changes. , Rainscreen Technology After you accept the final quote, the cost of further changes , Do You Realize You Live In A Solar Home? Yes, you. will likely be added to the job. Ask how long the stages of the work will take, so that you can monitor progress. 4. The Paperwork Cash is King, however... ... take care, lest the cash deal of the century turn into the mistake of a lifetime! One reason for cash payment is the avoidance of paperwork and taxes. Taxes and other legalities aside, the absence of contracts and permits can be extremely risky. Ooh, I love to save , Redesign Your Home Into Your Dream Home money!Cash contractors , Enhance Your Lifestyle and Save Money - Exciting Home Automation Applications often don't pay Workers' Compensation fees, and you could be held legally responsible for any worker injured on your property. , Basic Insulation Buying Tips If the contractor , Do You Realize You Live In A Solar Home? Yes, you. gives you the product , Insulating Foundations warranty cards, you'll be covered for defective materials provided they were properly installed, but don't expect good follow-up service on a cash deal. You would also have difficulty supporting any legal actions without any paperwork. The overall quality of a project may be compromised in the absence of paperwork, and cash paid in advance (rather than by cheque) will be all but impossible to retrieve if things go sour. Building, plumbing , Carpet Cleaning Tips and electrical codes may require that all or parts of your project be performed by licensed , Weatherproofing Your Deck tradespeople, and sometimes licenses are required to obtain the permits. If the tradespeople aren't licensed, , Quartz Countertops As An Alternative To Granite or Laminate the contractor , Insulating Foundations probably isn't insured. And if your contractor , Advantages of Satellite TV isn't insured, then depending on the nature , Gain Space With Clever Designed Kitchen Islands of the job, neither is your house , Rainscreen Technology while he works on it. The Contract Agreements in writing are less vulnerable to miscommunications, than are verbal ones, and far easier to enforce. Some of the points included in a good contract are: 1. Full job description, including all aspects of the work; demolition, renovation, reconstruction and finishing. 2. Material specifications, including type, model, number, color, , Electric Pressure Washers and size where applicable, and who's supplying what. 3. Start and finish dates. 4. Payment schedule; 40/40/20 is generally acceptable. 5. Permits, and who's responsible for obtaining them. 6. Clean-up and trash removal. 7. On site behaviour. 8. Change , Duct Cleaning - Proper Principals and Practices order clause: Have any changes , Energy Savings from Solar Products to the original job specifications in writing with a requirement that you "sign off" any change , Castle Blueprint Layout - Are Popular before the work is performed. 9. Arbitration: Aree how disagreements will be handled before the work begins. 10. Contractor's insurer and policy number. 5. The Work MORE POWER! Problem Avoidance: If you've carefully chosen your contractor, , Castle Blueprint Layout - Are Popular and made adequate preparations (including making the site ready for the trades people and workers), this part should be easy! The actual work should closely follow what was written into the contract, however you still need to monitor the ongoing project, and in some cases you'll be required to make additional decisions. There are often unforseen difficulties, or you may simply wish to ask for changes , Finding The Right Window Cleaning Service as the work proceeds. Site Preparation: Remove furniture , Carpet Cleaning Tips and stored articles from the work area, and cover carpets , Enhance Your Lifestyle and Save Money - Exciting Home Automation Applications and other items that may not be moveable. It is in your own best interest to make arrangements for storage, clean-up and refuse areas convenient to the work area. Project Coordination: Effective communication is the greatest secret to successfully completing any project. Maintain regular contact with your contractor(s) so that the unexpected can be dealt with expediently. Hidden Conditions: A thorough inspection performed in conjuction with estimation should preclude any major changes, , Basic Insulation Buying Tips however there are structural and mechanical conditions initially hidden from view, which even the most experienced renovator may not be able to predict. Be prepared to negotiate changes , Log Home Design Specialist - 3 Places to Find Designers for "hidden conditions". What to do if a problem develops: 1. Bring all problems, perceived and real, to the attention of your contractor(s). 2. Is it major or minor? If minor, and the contractor , Information to Help You Understand the Difference Between Mini Blinds, Wood Blinds, and Vinyl Blinds is present at the time, discuss it and negotiate a resolution. If it's minor, and/or looks like it can wait, start a list of minor observations that you can bring to his or her attention when appropriate. 3. Major problems should be dealt with immediately. If your contractor , Selecting Right Types Of Air Purifiers is not present at the time, make every effort to contact him or her as soon as possible. This may avert furtherance of the problem. 4. Given that your contractor , Leather Is A Great Choice In Your Decor responds satisfactorily, carry on. If not, try again and if necessary, write a letter. If you still don't get satisfaction, look to a third party such as the Ontario Renovators Council or the Ontario Home , Redesign Your Into Your Dream Home Builders Association. These agencies should be approached only if you are certain that a resolution cannot be achieved with the contractor. , Art and Design Legal counsel should be an absolute last resort. There's no use making a mountain out of a molehill, and thereby delaying succesful completion of the project. THE BOTTOM LINE: careful contractor , Designing Your Log Home: Tips To Keep You Out of Trouble selection + a good contract = successful job Gil Strachan is a professional home , Advantages of Satellite TV inspector, representing Electrospec Home , Basic Insulation Buying Tips Inspection Services in east-central Ontario, Canada since 1994. Visit http://www.allaroundthehouse.com to learn more about home , What Is Medium Density Fiberboard And What Is It Good For? inspections. "The Home , Dish Network receivers and DVR systems 101: Know more about your satellite TV systems Reference Book" You can probably find a home , Furnishing Your In Style inspection for a little less than what we ask, but you probably won't find the Home , Finding The Right Window Cleaning Service Reference Book. A $60 value, this solutions-oriented reference tool , Information to Help You Understand the Difference Between Mini Blinds, Wood Blinds, and Vinyl Blinds comes free with every inspection we perform. It's the first tool , Do You Realize You Live In A Solar Home? Yes, you. you should have around the house! , Carpet Cleaning Tips |
  
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