Purchasing your dream home is a huge stepping stone and a goal for many people. However, not all dream home come with the specifics that you would want which is when remodeling your home will come into the picture. Remodeling your home doesn’t necessarily need to happen when you first purchase your home instead it can happen months or even years down the line. The idea behind a home remodel is to make your home as unique to you as possible.
One major piece of advice, we give every homeowner before considering remodeling their home is to hire a design contractor. Do not attempt to redesign or remodel your home on your very own as this can actually backfire, causing you more money in the long run. Instead, hire a design contractor and keep these 4 tips in mind in order to get the most out of your first meeting with them.
Discuss Your Needs
When you are seeking a design contractor communication is key. Therefore, you need to be able to share with them what exactly are you looking for. Whether your project takes building an extension to your home or remodeling your bathroom you need to know exactly what you want your design contractor to achieve. When you are deciding on how you want your remodel to appear you want to create a “wish list” with all the necessary items that will be needed for your project. This will help give the contractor an estimate of what you want, how long it will take to build and what the budget should be. This is considered the starting point of your project.
You also want to create a list of what problems you are currently having with the space you want remodeled, as well as what you enjoy from the current space. This will give your design contractor an estimate of what should definitely not be included in the design and what could become part of the design aspect.
Share Your Vision
During your initial meeting with your contractor, you may want to collect images from a home magazine, Houzz.com or even Pinterest in order to give them a visual on what you want. When creating and collecting these images sharing with your contractor what makes you so drawn to them. This will enable your contractor to know what elements from these images they can take to create your own unique design.
Keep in mind the more specific you are about what you seek the easier it will be for the contractor to be able to bring your vision to life. Having images will further the contractors, visual knowledge of what you are looking for.
Discuss Your Budget
Before you reach out to a contractor it is important to have a budget set in mind. It is also important to have a bit of wiggle room when it comes to your budget. The reason being some pieces that you want in your new remodel may be more-costly than you have expected. Although, during the first initial meeting the contractor may not be able to give you an exact estimate of what your project will cost they will be able to guide you in the right direction. They can also tell you if your budget will be able to cover your project expenses.
Ask Question
Do not be afraid to ask questions. Asking questions is extremely important when you are working with a design contractor. It will make you aware of what you need exactly in order get the job done. Getting these questions out of the way from the very first meeting will help you have a better understanding of what to expect during the remodel. You want to ask questions such as:
- When can you start?
- How long will the project take?
- Are there any reasons why this project could take a little bit longer than anticipated?
- When will you begin purchasing the remodel items that are needed?
Following the tips above will help you choose the best design contractor for you and your needs. Hiring the proper design contractor when you are seeking to remodel your dream home can make all the difference. A good design contractor will be able to take your vision and bring it to life effectively.
