Have you found the right general contractor for your upcoming remodel? If not, we recommend reading our post, How to Find a General Contractor in DeLand You Can Trust. There, we outline a few pre-hire questions to steer you in the right direction.
5 Important Questions for a Smooth Remodeling Experience
Once you’ve signed the dotted line, make sure you have clear answers to the following questions. Remodels and renovations often disrupt the household routine and rhythm, not to mention access to the areas that are actively in progress.
The better informed and prepared you are for the remodeling process, the smoother and less stressful the experience will be.
1. What is the projected schedule and timeline for the project?
Your general contractor should provide you with a projected schedule before starting the project. This is essential because you need to know how long your home space is disrupted to make necessary changes or accommodations. Also, you may have family events or scenarios requiring us to pause or take a break at specific points, and we’ll build those into the schedule as well.
There are general ballparks available for remodels. For example, the average kitchen remodel takes about six to eight weeks, while the typical bathroom remodel requires about four weeks or less. But, of course, if you are adding on, are changing plumbing or electrical placement, or have an older home that requires renovations as well as cosmetic remodeling, these timeframes are notably longer. Similarly, a whole-home renovation or remodel requires months, or up to a year, to complete, depending on the size of your home and the complexity of the project.
Your project schedule should be specific, including what is happening on any given day, as well as who/which subcontractor will be coming on-site or making deliveries.
Construction schedules are adjusted and changed along the way in response to factors such as:
- Unexpected snafus. This includes things like a major leak or mold/mildew issue or original plumbing/electrical work that wasn’t done to code and needs to be redone to pass the building inspections.
- Backorders or discontinued products. Product and finish availability are out of our control. If a product you selected in the design phase is no longer available or is on backorder during the remodel, we’ll discuss alternatives with you or may put things on hold until back-ordered or delayed shipments arrive.
- Change orders. Changes you make to the original design impact the remodeling schedule, as do some changes made around specific fixtures or furnishings.
Scheduling changes should be communicated to homeowners ASAP, which brings us to Question #2.
2. Who is my direct point of communication?
That question should also include a couple more, such as:
- How can I reach them?
- And, how often can I expect to hear from them in terms of response times or updates?
You should have a single point of contact throughout the project. Different construction companies use different titles for this person. For example, you might be given the contact of the site superintendent, foreman, or project manager. This is the person who should keep you informed of the project schedule, any changes, and update you on changes that may need to be made in your living arrangement (such as the when/how of setting up a temporary kitchen in the garage or laundry room).
The designated point of contact will let you know their preferred mode of communication, which is typically email or text to provide a written record. Or, you may have your own login/passcode to their cloud-based software to consolidate all communication, directives, change orders, etc. On that note, remember that any phone conversations you have that include changes or new agreements should be followed up with an email or text to confirm in writing as well.
The when of communication may vary from week to week, depending on what is happening. For example, some phases of the remodel require more regular communication and client approval or input than others.
3. How will you protect my home?
Remodels are noisy and messy. They involve busy entry/exit from delivery personnel and subcontractors, not to mention the general contractor’s team.
Your contact person should provide a strategic plan of how they’ll protect your home and furnishings (not to mention peace of mind), including things like:
- Temporary exterior fencing and signage
- Signage that enforces current health/safety advisories
- Plastic sheeting to protect other areas or furnishings from construction dust and debris
- Dust containment measures
- Instructions around what needs to be relocated and what doesn’t
- Support moving items out of the home into the garage or another secure storage area if necessary
- Reminders to remove art or valuables from walls or upper-shelves as they can fall off in response to construction vibration
Don’t hesitate to bring up other concerns you have, so we can ensure there’s a customized protection plan in place.
4. Do you predict any areas of concern or potential project challenges?
Some projects are more straightforward than others. That said, there are plenty of unknowns that pop up along the way. For example, here in Florida, a humid climate means we never know which walls or interior spaces may be full of mold, mildew, or structural rot invisible from the exterior.
Another common issue occurs when seemingly “loadbearing walls” turn out to be illegal, non-loadbearing walls, driving changes or design re-dos. Finally, older homes can have all sorts of issues lurking in interior walls that we won’t know about until we open things up. The most common one is not-to-code plumbing and electrical work that must be redone before building permits get signed off.
Knowing the potential “unknowns” ahead of time makes them far less stressful or difficult to accept. These “unknowns” are also one of the reasons we recommend homeowners add 10% to their remodeling budget. If you have a home that’s 40 years older or more, add 15%. That “emergency fund” provides serious peace of mind if unknown hiccups require extra finances to clear up. If you don’t use it – put it back in the savings account or take a well-deserved, post-remodel vacation!
5. How do you handle change orders?
Sometimes clients change their minds mid-stream, resulting in change orders. Other change orders become necessary due to the unforeseen issues we’ve already mentioned or market changes that mean we switch gears in response to product availability or materials pricing.
Usually, change orders occur in writing, with both the client and general contractor signing off on change details, new products/order numbers, and any changes in pricing. Charges for change orders vary from contractor to contractor. Some charge extra for each change order to account for their extra time and energy and to deter clients from making excessive changes. Having a plan to document change orders for both the expected and unexpected items keeps things predictable and organized.
Do you have more questions to ask about an upcoming remodel? Then, get in touch with the Fogle Constructors team. Our general contractors and construction staff pride ourselves on our professional, detailed, and honest communication.
