Become a more empowered homeowner with these five expert tips on hiring a professional and qualified contractor.
This article is the first of a four-part series about making smart decisions before embarking on your home remodel project.
So, you want to remodel your home in some capacity. How do you know how to find highly qualified professionals to make your desired changes? How do you find someone to actually help you articulate your vision and then help you take the necessary steps to make it come to life?
This has always been a complex process, with decisions at every turn. Home remodeling has become even more complicated by the pressure and unrealistic expectations perpetrated by the myriad of home remodeling shows on television, in which projects occur quickly and for an unrealistic price tag. These shows are enticing with their shiny and swiftly completed projects, but the reality is much more nuanced.
Building codes, materials, product specification differentiation, what makes something builder-grade versus box-store, the ability to assess the quality of the electricians, plumbers, framers, installers, site managers, contractors, architects, electrical/mechanical and structural engineers, designers, and kitchen and bath designers that you will inevitably need to work with… the home improvement industry can be overwhelmingly technical, difficult to understand, and more often than not, not totally transparent. How will you know that the “experts” you hire are qualified, connected to the community, loyal to the local codes, and familiar with the inspectors or at least capable of communicating well on your behalf?