Contractor photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOnce you narrow down your contractor choices, ask for proof of licensing and insurance. Work together with your contractor to write a detailed contract. Make sure to include clear milestones so they can get paid for their work in a timely manner, and the project can stay on track.<\/span><\/p>\nBe proactive and fair with your communication. Your contractor wants to earn your repeat business and future referrals. If you don’t like the way things are going, they will be willing to work together with you to find a solution that works for everyone.<\/span><\/p>\n4. Be Realistic with Expectations<\/span><\/h3>\nEveryone wants to be part of a home improvement show. Unfortunately, most renovations aren\u2019t as glamorous as they seem on TV. It is important to be prepared for how your home life will have to adjust during a renovation.<\/span><\/p>\nTake some time before renovation begins to pack up your valuables. This includes any family heirlooms or priceless artifacts. Unfortunately, with workers in and out of your house, theft is a risk you need to consider. Also, with lumber and tools being moved about, it is easy for an item to unexpectedly be broken or damaged.<\/span><\/p>\nYou will also need to prepare for interruptions in your daily routine. Communicate your typical daily schedule with your contractor. You don’t want the water to be unexpectedly shut off during your morning shower or evening bath time. Work with your contractor to schedule utility shut-offs or use of noisy construction tools during times when you will be away from home.<\/span><\/p>\nHammers and nails are dangerous in little hands. Come up with a strategy to keep kids and pets away from construction areas, especially when workers are active. Try to find a room in your house that can be designated as a construction-free zone and a temporary family hangout. You will also need to devise a strategy to keep pets safe and out of the way of construction.<\/span><\/p>\n5. Be Ready for Delays and Messes<\/span><\/h3>\nEvery contractor wishes they could have X-ray vision or a crystal ball into the future to prevent issues for their clients. Try to be patient and accommodating, especially when the delay is out of their control. Time is money in the construction industry, so delays are also affecting your contractor.<\/span><\/p>\nEven the best meteorologists make errors when predicting the weather. A string of rainy days or an unexpected freeze may delay portions of your project. Be understanding with your contractor, and keep in mind that it is likely not just your project that is being affected.<\/span><\/p>\nSometimes underlying problems with your house are only exposed after construction begins.\u00a0 Addressing things like foundation issues or drywall problems will cause additional delays. Keep in mind that fixing these problems may be unavoidable. Dealing with the delay now will pay off in the long term.<\/span><\/p>\nContractors may suggest a valuable addition to improve your project. Sometimes it is convenient and cheaper to add fun amenities, like a pot filler above the stove, when the kitchen is already under construction. If their idea fits in your budget, you should consider the long term benefit and investment.<\/span><\/p>\nConclusion<\/h4>\n
So much time and work are involved with renovating a home. Make it as seamless and pleasant as possible by having reasonable expectations and open lines of communication with your contractors. Carefully planning ahead will ensure that the project has a minimal impact on your day-to-day life.<\/span><\/p>\nQuality construction takes time, and delays occur. Sometimes it may feel like an endless road to completion. But it will all be worth it when you sit back and enjoy your newly renovated home.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
So you’re ready to give your home a facelift. From updating a kitchen to making a bathroom more luxurious, a total home renovation can bring new life to a house. Budgeting and choosing finishes are just some of the many decisions you\u2019ll have to make every step of the way. But where do you begin…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3955,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36,114],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3951","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-decor","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.homedecorbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3951"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.homedecorbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.homedecorbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.homedecorbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.homedecorbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3951"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.homedecorbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3951\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3956,"href":"https:\/\/www.homedecorbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3951\/revisions\/3956"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.homedecorbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.homedecorbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3951"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.homedecorbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3951"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.homedecorbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3951"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}