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How To Get The Best Home Remodeling in Michigan
Home remodeling jobs in Michigan can vary
dramatically in price. Your final cost depends in
large part on the price of the materials you want.
Labor costs can be affected by some material
choices, because of the additional time or necessary
skills to install certain products. But most of the
time, you can assume all hardwood floors take
similar labor hours, tile floors will be about the
same regardless of the tile cost, etc.
Ask the mortgage company if they can finance you
based on the future value of the home (after the
remodel) instead of its current value. This may be
the key to a larger budget. Finally, don't out build
your neighborhood. Unless you plan to stay in your
Ann Arbor home forever, you will want to make sure
that with the remodel you don't price your house out
of the available market.
Find Some Examples
Open up those magazines, and find what you want.
Gather the brochures you have picked up from all the
home shows and hardware stores for the last year
with the products you want to use. Focus on the
features you want most and prioritize your list.
Establish The Price
Creative Remodeling Solutions can do a
much better job in planning your project if you give
us an idea of your home remodeling budget. If you
give us a chance, we can develop a workable plan for
your Michigan home remodeling plans using the budget
you have versus the dreams you envision. By
adjusting the type of products used in your remodel,
or altering your plans for size and scope, you can
do the project as you planned in one step. Or you
can have more than your budget allows if you stage
your remodel into logical steps - starting with
Phase One now and completing Phase Three over a one,
two or three year time frame.
Contractors spend a tremendous amount of time
preparing your estimate, and these costs are
reflected in your final project bid. Be specific -
and most importantly be sure you are comparing
apples to apples when the final budget is delivered.
It is impossible for you to gauge the best estimate
if each contractor is presenting you with three
different proposals based on square footage, quality
of appliances and products or scope of work. Don't
let your imagination change what you tell each
contractor. Write down the scope of the work, the
quality of the raw materials and the expectations
for time involved to complete the project, so each
contractor bidding on your project is estimating the
same work.
Get It In Writing
Here a little extra time goes a very
long way. Be sure you have material specifications,
work schedules, clear understanding of what, if any,
warranty is being offered, payment schedules and
expectations for how the daily and end of project
clean up will be handled. Additionally, it is a good
time to talk about how change orders will be handled
and how payment for those changes will be handled.
Event the best of pre-planning often has a change
during the process which will materially affect the
final contract price and delivery schedules. You
should also get a copy of the lien law information
and the three-day right of contract rescission.
What To Do During the Project
You should establish a regular walk
around with your contractor, and don't be afraid to
point out things that don't seem according to
specifications. Every Michigan home remodeling
contractor (and every homeowner) makes mistakes, and
the key to resolving most remodeling conflicts is
early detection.
Chances are there will be subcontractors doing many
parts of your project. They are not authorized to
make substantive changes in your project. You should
discuss all changes with the contractor - and be
sure that physical change orders, including any
changes in price, scope of work, time frame
adjustments or material substitutions are put in
writing BEFORE the changes are undertaken. This will
avoid conflicts at the end of the project, and
insure a smooth finish to your project.
How To Close The Project Out
The final walk-through is a critical
element to bringing closure to your job. Develop a
"Punch List" of things that need to be completed
before making your final payment. Set a specific
date for completion and be sure you and the
contractor sign the document. It is common for there
to be "little things" that are still to be
completed, so don't be frustrated. Being clear and
specific during this walk through will make the
final steps to completion go smoother. Finally, sit
back and enjoy! Your home is the biggest investment
most people ever make, and a beautiful home
remodeling project is something you and your family
will enjoy for years to come!
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