(1) Identify your needs: Take your time recognising the exigencies and come up with the most cost-effective yet simplest solution.
See if you really need another bathroom, or a few improvements to an existing one can do well.
Determine your budget and talk to your partner, if any and start transforming your home into the space you’ve always wanted it to be.
(2) Self Analysis and Research: Collect ideas, inspirations from Home improvement magazines or simply explore the web.
Stay away from expensive constructions. If you can make an improvement or conversion of an existing room, do so.
(3) Depict a Design: Make a sketch, use graph paper and measure the room you’re building/converting. This will help better express your expectations to the Construction service providers.
(4) Talk to several contractors: Look out for Home Remodelling service providers in your region.
Ask your friends or neighbours who have done home renovations work before, talk to them about their experience with their contractors.
Make an appointment with these Contractors, discuss your plans and come up the overall construction cost.
(5) Choose a Contractor: Finally go for a contractor that will turn your ideas to reality, obviously within your budget. Make an estimate on each part of the construction changes in your house.
Show them your design plans, get a feel for how they work, and most importantly, be sure you’ll be able to work smoothly with the firm or the individual you hire.
It is important to develop a good relation with your contractor, as you will be working closely with them.
After choosing a trusted contractor, ask him to recommend an architect. Contractors work with architects all the time and will be familiar with the ones working locally. Go with your contractor’s opinion, as the relationship between the architect and the contractor can make or even break a project.
(6) Hire an Architect: If you are looking for simple updates to your house, Contractors can simply do it by themselves. Replacing fixtures and finishes like cabinetry, flooring, paint or lighting are contractors work.
However if you want to reconfigure any walls or change the overall floor plan, an architect is what you need.A good architect will understand your thinking about the project and offer ideas and suggestions you may not have thought of.
Architects will give you unique, critical and connected view of your project.
(7) Hiring a design-build firm. An alternate to not hiring an Architect or a contractor is Design-build firm. These design-build firms are companies who keep both designers and contractors on staff, thus combining the design/construction process and improving communication.
If you are not having a contractor in mind, Design-build is a rising trend.These design build firms specializes in small projects like home renovations and constructions.
(8) Fees Situation: Once you have hired a contractor, architect or a design build firm, it’s time to make a written item estimate for the cost of work, including labor and materials.
Don’t just go with low bidder, cause price is not necessarily quality.
(9) Set Deadlines: Once you have agreed on cost and fees related matters with your contractor and architect, you will be presented with a contract specifying the completion dates of your project.
The contract will have all the details of your project, For example, provisions for completing before the rains begin or at least completing the roof before the rains begin.
(10) Read the contract carefully. Once the contract is prepared, understand it well. Agree to all its provisions before signing. You can also consider having a lawyer look over the contract with you.
