7 Ways To Keep Your Home Remodeling Project On Track

Beyond the written contract you and your home remodeling contractor draw up, there can be many bumps before completion of the project. To keep everything going smoothly and to limit the number of hiccups that may happen along the way, follow these seven steps. They should keep you and your contractor on the same page, on time, and on budget.

1. Cement Your Plans Early

It's one thing to know you want to renovate, quite another to put those changes on paper in clear and certain terms. Play around with your ideas until you know exactly what you want and can communicate it to a contractor. You want to anticipate how renovations may affect adjacent areas, such as walls or ceilings. See the project from start to finish in your mind before creating the blueprints a contractor is going to follow. Once you know exactly what's going to happen, you can begin the process of negotiating a contract.

2. Limit Changes To Your Plans

Although it's common for minds and plans to change as a project advances, doing so can complicate everything, from the existing contract to cost of goods and the duration of the work going on around your home. This is why it's so important to try to cement your ideas completely in the beginning. You may suddenly get a burst of inspiration as the remodeling proceeds; however, for the contractor to realize your new vision, the original blueprints may have to be scrapped.

3. Compare Prices On Remodeling Materials

Most of the time, a contractor can get a better deal on materials than members of the general public. If you feel you have an insider price that can't be beat by anyone, discuss your connections with the contractor long before the shovels meet dirt. Particularly if you want some unique materials incorporated into your renovations, look for the best prices, compare your figures to what the contractor can promise and make your decisions based on all available information.

4. Keep A Journal Of The Ongoing Project

Even when a remodeling project goes according to plan, things can get pretty hectic. You'll want to keep a journal of the work, beginning with what you hope to accomplish. As your dreams are realized and set in stone (or marble or knotted pine, etc.), jot down the progress, along with any complications or information you'll need moving forward. This journal will help you and your contractor see the project to its glorious end with as few snags as possible.

5. Visit The Remodeling Site Every Workday

Don't take anything about your project for granted, even if you have every reason to believe it's going perfectly. Visit the site of your remodeling or if it's within the home you're living in, conduct close inspections after each workday. If even a small adjustment to plans was necessary, you'll be aware of the changes, rather than being surprised later on. See the project materialize will also give you a better idea of how your completed renovations are going to turn out.

6. Communicate With Your Contractor

Talking regularly with the people doing the work is essential to the short and long-term success of any home remodeling project. If you see the workers everyday, get to know their names and have brief conversations about their individual responsibilities. Daily talks with the person in charge is going to keep you reassured that everything is going according to plan and that your home is in good hands, whereas being out of touch could leave you feeling frustrated at different points of progress.

7. Pay In Agreed Upon Increments

While paying in one lump sum may be the easiest way to go, it's not always the smartest. Look over your blueprints with the contractor and decide at which points you're going to come up with a certain amount of money. Such a plan is more likely to keep everything within budget and on a more predictable schedule. It also protects both you and the contractor from anything unforeseen becoming a major point of disagreement.

Remodeling projects may look cut-and-dry in a contract, but in reality, once the hammers start hammering and the saws buzzing, many complications can arise. Follow these seven steps to stay closely involved with your contractor and the job they do. Eventually, after the dust settles, you should be in awe of the work they've accomplished and have nothing left to do but enjoy it.