Finding someone to remodel your kitchen or bathroom can be one of the hardest and most stressful things you will ever do. It’s very important to choose your contractor wisely… I’m sure you’ve heard the horror stories! Below we list 4 common blunders people make when choosing a contractor and some helpful tips for avoiding these mistakes.
1. Using price as a determining factor:
I’m sure you’ve heard not to go with the lowest price for your remodel. But does that mean you should go with the highest price? Or should you go with the middle guy? I believe it’s very important to spend a lot of time interviewing your potential contractor. You need to be able to work with them well. If they are a reputable remodeling business they won’t have anything to hide and will welcome the opportunity to explain their process, look at their past projects, etc. Try to determine what value the company will bring you. I just spoke with a client today who had hired a guy to remodel their small master bathroom and 4 months later, he still isn’t done. He gave them a great deal, but I bet they would’ve gladly spent a lot more money on the project to have it completed in a timely manner.
2. Neglecting to design the project:
This is a huge mistake! It is nice to save a few bucks and go and pick out the selections yourself, but in the long run, you will most likely regret it. You are going to see the space you are remodeling every single day. You want the space to be impressive and cohesive. Be sure to hire a remodeling company that has a design specialist to help you through the process!
3. Not paying attention to what’s behind the walls:
Just because a company has a lot of nice pictures and maybe the finished product looks nice, doesn’t mean that it’s a quality job. The quality behind the walls is crucial: plumbing, electrical, insulation and water proofing, to name a few, need to be done well in order to keep your home safe and protected from costly problems down the road. We have demoed so many bathrooms where the shower water proofing failed – the outside looked great but the studs were molding and rotted! It’s important not to try to save a buck by going with a company that doesn’t pay attention to “behind the scenes” details.
4. Rushing into the job:
Remodeling a kitchen or a bathroom takes a lot of time. I wish I could start the Monday after you call and be in and out in a couple of days, but that simply is not the case. It can take months to plan, provide details and drawings, and purchase all items for the project. That’s even before we start demo! Details get missed when things are rushed. Make sure the company you hire is not rushing into the job!
I hope this list is helpful to you. If you would like more information about Pinnacle Homes, please contact us any time!