Your home is likely your largest asset. A renovation will add to its value, but more importantly add to your enjoyment of living in it. There is a tremendous amount of planning involved in a home renovation. Doing your homework upfront will pay dividends later.
Start your project by following the three R’s: Research, Reviews and Recommendations.
Research
Start online. Visit design sites like Pinterest for inspiration. Dream about what you want done to your home and how you want it to look when you’re finished. You should also research potential costs to help determine your budget.
Reviews
Once you’ve envisioned your renovation, it’s time to find someone who can execute your vision faithfully and affordably. This is where HomeStars comes in – with thousands of reviews, it’s a great starting point to develop a shortlist of contractors and companies in your area. Check out their ratings and read recent homeowner reviews and how the contractor responds to those reviews.
Recommendations
Share your shortlist with neighbours, friends and family to see if they’re familiar with your choices or have any recommendations of their own. Of course, smaller jobs may not warrant an exhaustive shortlist of candidates. But for larger projects, a positive referral from a close friend who recently hired a great general contractor is invaluable, although it may add to your shortlist and the time required for research.
A note to Condo owners: Make sure to check with your property manager to ensure your desired changes are allowed within the unit. If approved, ask for a status certificate so you have written proof of your compliance to the rules and regulations in your unit before moving forward. Unauthorized work can result in the homeowner paying to revert the condo back to its previous state.
About Our Survival Guide
Home renovations, whether upgrades, repairs or new construction, are a reality most homeowners face at some point in their lives. While there often seems to be an endless supply of independent contractors or companies available to do the work, finding the best one for the job can often pose a challenge. Although online resources exist for homeowners, there has yet to one that addresses the entire process from start to finish. So the experts at HomeStars have developed a comprehensive guide to help homeowners along every step of the way.
Stay tuned for the second of our six instalments: Selecting the Right Contractor
