HOUSE REMODELING 2nd PAGE
2. Room by Room
When you look at your list, ask yourself..."Which room is the most important?" Most likely, it will be your kitchen. Unless it has been remodeled within the last couple of years, it probably looks dated. In the late 90's, there was a lot of bad work done. Granite counter tops were not yet in vogue, and there was still a great deal of fake whatever made out of plastic that looks really awful. The average cost of remodeling a kitchen can run from $25k to $75k or more. However, the kitchen is, undoubtedly, the most important room in your house, so do not neglect it.
If you have a party, where do your guests congregate...the kitchen, of course. If you tally up all of the untold hours you spend unloading groceries, planning and executing meals, you will see that those hours were spent in ...where else? The kitchen.
Price out appliances. They may vary wildly. A Viking or Vulcan stove is not a GE. You will get what you pay for, but not everyone can afford an augur. Make sure and tell your contractor just what you are going to buy. He will need the exact dimensions of each appliance. Even a 1/4 inch mistake can be disastrous. Also, decide...do you want him to make these very important purchases, or do you want to get them yourself? If you allow him to take care of the purchases, it will cost you more, but the burden of responsibility rests on his shoulders.
Realize, initially, that granite, marble, soapstone, and even aggregates are not cheap. Choose your counter tops and flooring carefully. Once again, this might be a place where you might hire a professional designer to help you.
The same goes for your bathrooms...the havens of solitude. You want them to be beautiful, even for your guests. Apply the same principles that you apply to your kitchen here.
The adjacent rooms are a little easier to design and produce. Look at their purpose, and their architecture. If there is a fireplace, how do you want it to look? Leave no stone unturned.
3.Your Contractor
Here we come to the most important element of your remodeling project. This man, or woman, will be seeing you almost every day for the next 2 to 6 months. You need to have compatible personalities and visions.
Before you call your first contractor, make sure that he or she is listed with the "Better Business Bureau." This is very important. If a contractor is not, you have no way of knowing what his past history is. If his record is clean, that is a good sign. It is always worth a call to find out.
Choose a contractor because of his work, not because of his price. You want your project to be done perfectly, not cheaply. Most contractors have a Website, and you can go there to see their work.
Also, ask for references. Not only ask, but call them. People will tell you just what kind of work the contractor did for them. It is worth the time to call.
Finally, be prepared for your house to be a mess for the duration of the project. Do not expect perfectly clean floors. Tear out is messy business. Be willing to work with your contractor. Be willing to be patient, and look forward to having a beautiful house.