Reams have been written
about the glamorous part of remodeling — the
architect's (often incomprehensible) commentary; the
client's bubbling enthusiasm; the glossy magazine
spreads. A lot less is said about the bumpy road most
remodelers travel to arrive at a great project.
Problems and surprises are
endemic to the remodeling process, but they can be
minimized by careful planning and a healthy dose of
pragmatism. Herewith are seven rules of survival:
Educate yourself.
Discover remodeling pitfalls the painless way — by
taking a class or seminar — not by living through a
disastrous project. Learning from a pro is easier and
a lot less expensive than enrolling in the school of
hard knocks. Look for homeowner education
organizations in your area, or check the architecture
department of your local junior college; many have a
wide variety of classes on design and remodeling
topics.
Set a realistic budget.
The days of $35 per square foot construction costs
are just a distant memory now; realistically, you
should allow from $200 to $300 per square foot,
depending on the size, complexity, and quality of your
remodel. Extensive kitchen or bath remodels will cost
even more. If you plan to hire an architect, add an
additional 12-15 percent fee to the total.
Know where to save and
where to spend.
It's easy to be seduced by trendy design, but
high-fashion items are notoriously bad investments.
Spend your money where it counts: on top-quality
doors, windows, roofing, and exterior finishes. The
frou-frou can be easily upgraded later.
Do as much of the work
yourself as you can, but be realistic about how much
you can do and how well you can do it.
Finish work, especially, is not the place for
on-the-job training — novice work can ruin an
otherwise first-rate job. And be forewarned: Many
contractors dislike sharing construction
responsibilities with owners, since any tardiness on
owner's part can raise havoc with the contractor's
schedule. If you're confident of your time and
abilities, fine; otherwise, forget it.
Choose
a contractor (or an architect) by what he builds, not
by what he says.
Always ask for references, and then follow up on
them. Most contractors and architects are dedicated,
competent and take great pride in their work — and
they'll be glad to let their references prove it.
Be prepared for more of
everything…
…more expense, more time, more disruption, and
more problems than you planned on. Surprises of one
kind or another are endemic to working with existing
buildings — expect them.
If you need design
help, get it.
That 12-15 percent architect's fee may sound like
a waste of money until you find yourself spending
$30,000 to correct errors or add items you've
forgotten. If I do say so myself, investing in a
professional's experience will usually repay itself
many times over. In any case, a well-detailed set of
plans is an absolute must if you plan to bid the job
out, since vague plans will invite many costly
"extras" later on.
All of the above point to
two fundamentals of remodeling: Being informed, and
expecting the unexpected. A little mental preparation
will go a long way toward smoothing out the road to a
remodel.
Article
written by Arrol Gellner
Distributed by Inman News Features
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