Home Improvement Solution

Posts Tagged ‘Bathroom Tiles’

Hiring the right contractor will probably be the most crucial decision you make after making the initial decision to renovate your home. More important than the color of your bathroom tiles or the type of flooring you install in the kitchen, your contractor will oversee your entire renovation project, hopefully keep you on budget, manage any hired workers, and act as your professional quality control. The work of an inattentive contractor can result in a project that runs weeks beyond its deadline and thousands of dollars over budget. That would be a formula for failure!

This is why it’s so important to select a reputable contractor. But how do you do it? Keep reading for some easy tips on how to hire the best home improvement contractor.

1. Come Prepared with a Plan

Before you even begin to search for a home contractor, develop a solid idea of what you want to accomplish with your home improvement project before you start. Consider, though, that a contractor is not a designer, so begin a project with your own ideas about how in the end you want the final outcome of the work to look.

Taking that initial step will make it easier for you to set a budget and for your prospective contractors to give you an accurate quote and project timeline.

2. Obtain Contractor Referrals

Ask your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors for contractor recommendations out of their own experiences – whether positive or negative. If, for example, your prospective contractor did a wonderful job on your sister’s house, then chances are he’ll do a great job on yours as well.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask any prospective home improvement contractors for references that you can actually call. If the person you are considering for the role is a high quality professional, then there should be no problem supplying you with the names and numbers of other satisfied customers. Once you have secured those references, make the calls!

Another avenue is to type your contractor’s name into an online search engine and see if any negative or positive reviews pop up in the search results. For example, “John Smith contractor references.”

3. Don’t be Timid about Asking Questions

When interviewing a prospective home improvement contractor, don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions, and make them the right questions.

Inquire about details of their contracting background and how it relates specifically to your project. For example, if your project includes a major overhaul of the deck and backyard, verify that they have experience managing landscaping projects.

Ask your potential renovation contractor how improvements might be made on your prospective plan and changes necessary to complete it under budget. An experienced contractor should be able to take a brief look through a plan and offer a number of practical suggestions.

When he presents you with a time estimate, always ask how that timeline was derived and what work will be completed in each phase. A knowledgeable contractor will have reasoning behind why he’s pegged this particular project at 6-8 weeks.

Finally, always ask to see a portfolio of previous work. The additional work to ensure you have an experienced and reliable home improvement contractor will be well worth the effort in the end.

Whether you’ve just purchased a new home or are looking to upgrade your long-time family home, home improvements and renovations can be daunting. Because any remodeling project takes up so much time and money, it’s important to have a clear plan before you start.

Keep reading for great ideas on simple-to-major home renovations. First up are the simple fix-its. These are easy solutions with a big “wow” factor that can be done in under a week, but can go a long way toward improving your home.

1. Tile and Bathtub Resurfacing

Getting your bathroom tiles and showers resurfaced or redone can make a huge difference and really update your bathroom, giving it a contemporary and modern look.

2. Upgrade Your Fixtures

Upgrading your sink faucets, light fixtures, door knobs and cabinet handles is a quick and easy way to spruce up a home. Start this simple home improvement project by taking down those decades-old frosted glass light fixtures and throwing up some hip and modern spotlights. Next, update your shower heads and sink faucets to make the bathroom shine.

Upgrading fixtures is also a great way to add value to a home that you’re planning to sell. Not only do they modernize the look of a house, but they also give buyers a sense of value.

3. Paint

Painting can be done in a day. It may not be fun – although some people enjoy it – but this quick and easy fix will brighten a room right away, taking it from dull and lackluster to shiny and new. For a professional looking finish, be sure to spackle over and sand any holes in the walls.

4. New Carpet

Sometimes replacing that dingy, old carpet can be all you need to make a house feel new again. For a clean and modern finish, try wood laminate or hardwood floors.

Next are two major home improvement ideas that will take a few weeks to a few months for completion. These are significant undertakings that you’ll want to seriously plan and budget for, but can have a major impact on the value and appeal of your home.

However, before you begin a larger home improvement project, especially one that’s going to be done in stages, verify that all your pieces fit together. If you’re updating the kitchen in a modern and contemporary style, for example, check whether it will fit with your country barn plans for the living room.

If you’re stuck for ideas, one option is to hire an interior designer for a consulting session and ask that individual to come in for an hour or two to provide ideas about the best way to use your space. Interior designers are not normally cheap, but in the end their expertise is well worth the cost.

1. Make Your Home Energy Efficient

Give your home a complete energy overhaul by upgrading the windows, redoing the insulation (especially in the attic), revamping your venting and heating systems, installing water recycling systems and putting solar panels on your roof. Though these home upgrades can cost a lot up front, they’ll save you tens of thousands in the long run.

2. Adding Space

Any time you build an addition to your house, you’re taking on a major project. You’ll need an architect, a qualified contractor and all the licenses and permits that your city requires. Take special care if you’re adding an extra story, as most counties allow a certain time period for neighbor complaints.