{"id":337,"date":"2011-06-21T06:55:48","date_gmt":"2011-06-21T11:55:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kerznerinc.com\/?p=337"},"modified":"2018-03-07T16:36:07","modified_gmt":"2018-03-07T22:36:07","slug":"remodeling-and-romance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kerznerinc.com\/remodeling-and-romance\/","title":{"rendered":"Remodeling and Romance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thinking about a remodeling project but don\u2019t know where to start? Hire a couple complete home remodeling contractors in Orange County<\/a>. Here\u2019s a few tips, and fair warning, unlike many of my articles that are written in my light hearted and comical style, this one is tough love! Over 90% of potential clients break the rules and then wonder why they can\u2019t win.<\/p>\n

First you need to understand the scope of your project. Is it a simple kitchen update or a complete remodel? Are there structural concerns? Do you need a professional design \/ build firm? Will it require financing?\u2026\u2026. Next establish a budget. Too many times I am asked to give a ballpark estimate based on an hour long conversation and review of some magazine pictures pulled from a manila folder. In today\u2019s economical climate self preservation dictates, that a contractor \u201clowball\u201d the project in the initial phases, to remain in the game. Now I know how it sounds, but how many times have you heard from someone who has done a project, something like: \u201cIt started out at one price, but then it went up and up\u201d Another question, \u201cWhat\u2019s the average __________remodel run?\u201d Well, you\u2019re not going to like the answer because averages take two extremes and use the mid point. In other words if we use, say a $200,000 rec room as a high, then a $35,000 rec room as the low, the average is, well still quite ugly. I always use this example, if you place one foot in a bucket of ice water, the other in a bucket of boiling water, on average you should be comfortable, but \u2026\u2026well you know the rest. This whole exercise originates from apprehension to share the budget because if the budget is shared, there\u2019s this underlining worry that the estimate will come in at that number. Excuse me, but yeah! Isn\u2019t that the idea? to come in on budget? Here\u2019s another eye opener, if you don\u2019t trust the firm your sharing info with\u2026\u2026..DON\u201dT HIRE THEM!!!! Now I warned you this was going to be tough love.<\/p>\n

So how do you know who you\u2019re talking to? Two words, due diligence! I suggest you start with organizations and associations. The Better Business Bureau will rate potential contractors from A+ to F. The BBB also has an upper echelon known as Accredited Businesses, the crem de la crem. (French for best) Next, check industry associations The National Association of the Remodeling Industry or NARI (pronounced \u201cnarry\u201d) screens member companies and requires adherence to a Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. MBA or Metropolitan Builders Association also screens member companies. If the firm you\u2019re talking with is not a member of these organizations, you may want to reconsider. Visit potential contractor\u2019s web sites to see if they offer examples of your type of project. This should get you to the short list. Now, trust your gut, yes that\u2019s what I said \u2026.trust your gut! When first meeting with a contractor, I call it the romantic stage. It\u2019s never going to get better than at that first meeting. This is as good as it gets, if you feel you aren\u2019t communicating well here\u2026\u2026.bail! Inevitably, there will be rubs and uncomfortable moments in EVERY project, good communication will be paramount during these times, if it\u2019s not present in the beginning, it won\u2019t magically appear as the project progresses.<\/p>\n

Another thought I hear often, can you provide me with references. Here\u2019s an industry rule that EVERY contractor abides by\u2026\u2026\u2026.ready \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.\u201d Don\u2019t give potential clients bad references\u201d Cats out of the bag! Sorry peers, I had to let it out! References don\u2019t mean anything! No contractor is going to give you a bad reference to contact and, let\u2019s face it if they do, they\u2019re simply too stupid to work on your house! Here\u2019s a good question, \u201cHow many industry awards has your company won?\u201d Remodeling awards are typically based on these criteria: craftsmanship, compatibility with the home and ability to stay within budget. I\u2019m guessing that maybe, just maybe, you could narrow the three major concerns any homeowner has when doing a project to some form of those three criteria.<\/p>\n

Next, remember NOTHING IS FREE! If a contractor is offering free design, free material, free labor or free anything, someone is paying for it, and that someone is their paying customers\u2026\u2026accountants call it overhead! Or as I like to put it \u201cyou don\u2019t always get what you pay for, but you NEVER get what you don\u2019t pay for. Another thought, if it\u2019s free how can you hold them accountable if something does go south?<\/p>\n

Remember remodeling is a practice. There are no remodeling schools or degrees one can earn in our profession. Remodeling contractors learn by doing. As a potential client, you must rely on the reputation, ethical conduct and reliability of the contractors you choose to deal with. Asking questions, is not enough, you have to ask the right questions. I know this was a little rough and I promise to lighten it up on the next one\u2026..maybe faux finishes or textures 101! I think it was Mary Poppins that said something about medicine and sugar, but then again, she never punched a dormer out of a twelve pitch roof, to house a third floor full bath with a whirlpool tub, a 15 hole body spray, glass tiled shower stall and low voltage halogens.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Thinking about a remodeling project but don\u2019t know where to start? Hire a couple complete home remodeling contractors […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nRemodeling and Romance - KERZNER INC.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kerznerinc.com\/remodeling-and-romance\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Remodeling and Romance - KERZNER INC.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Thinking about a remodeling project but don\u2019t know where to start? 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