Here's what you need to know about hiring a renovation team, the costs and time involved, and how to get your plans approved by a board. Even if you follow the essential advice we've been giving for years, building a 20 percent mattress to cover unpleasant surprises, get references from contractors and check them out, banish words while doing it from your vocabulary, it's hard not to end up shelling out more than you want. DIY enthusiasts can make big savings with recycled or rarely used building materials and accessories. Habitat for Humanity operates around 400 stores across the country, offering reclaimed materials at half the prices of domestic centers.
If your addition requires a clapboard coating, for example, you can save more in the long run by opting for the pre-primed and prepainted variety now. It costs an additional 10 to 20 cents per foot, but you'll end up paying half of the painting work in the future, says Paul Eldrenkamp, owner of Byggmeister, a remodeling design and construction company in Newton, Massachusetts. Don't program your reindeer in the middle of summer or between September, when the children return to school, and Christmas. That's premium time, explains Lisa Stacholy, owner of LKS Architects, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Suppliers tend to be more busy, labor is scarce, and deliveries are slower. A Virginia-based contractor is offering discounts of between 4.5 and 5.5 percent (based on the overall budget) on projects during their downtime, right after the new year. The beauty of a complete home remodel is that you can create exactly the house you want, so it's worth investing time and energy in understanding exactly what's important to you and your family. The remodeling of this 19th century townhouse in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood focuses on the stairs.
That's why most homeowners prefer to work with experienced and trained design and construction contractors when it comes to remodeling entire homes. The point is that planning an entire home remodel is an important project, and it can be overwhelming to make sure you're making all the right decisions. If you have a major remodel in mind, it's worth consulting with a remodeling professional as soon as possible to find out what changes are feasible and what challenges they may entail. A complete home remodel can address all of these issues and even allow you to create the ideal home of your dreams without packing or selling your home.
If you don't see yourself living in your permanently remodeled home, you should also consider its resale value. If you're planning an entire home remodel, it's important to get the remodeling process right the first time. Remodeling your entire home is a significant investment of time and money, and quality work will last you a lifetime.
