There are really only two ways to complete home renovations – you can decide to do it yourself, or you can hire qualified home renovation contractors.
Some people may hesitate to hire a professional, because they think it will end up costing them more than it should. However, good general contractors will provide you a written estimate up front with no pressure tactics, and they generally have a track record of past projects to draw from.
A general contractor will also have all the skilled trades needed (whether they’re on staff or subcontractors) to complete a project – that includes plumbers, electricians, and roofers. This means you can hire one company that offers all of these services, rather than searching out multiple local residential contractors. Having a variety of tradespeople from one source also means the project will probably go smoother, as the scheduling and logistics will all be taken care of on your behalf.
General contractors that have a history in the building industry most likely have a trusted network of material suppliers, helping to keep costs down. Working with good home renovation contractors also means you can probably expect a warranty on certain materials as well as the workmanship.
Another big plus of hiring qualified remodeling contractors is that they are insured against anything that happens to go wrong. This also means you won’t be held liable if there’s an accident on your site.
So, if you’re considering a home renovation, ask yourself some key questions – such as do you have the time and skills to complete the job? You may think you can tackle a big renovation, but then run out of time (or money) and end up hiring general contractors to complete the project. You also should consider whether you have the proper permits to do the work yourself – in many cases, you could face fines and even making additional alterations to meet safety standards if you do it yourself. In the case of electrical and plumbing in particular, unless you’re a trained professional, you should always hire home renovation contractors that specialize in these services so you don’t get burned (or flooded).
If you decide to do the job yourself, by the time you calculate how long it will take and how much the materials cost (unless you get contractors’ rates from a supplier), you’ll probably end up paying more than you expected. It makes a lot more sense to let general contractors handle the work, so you have a budget and a timeline up front. Also, more than likely the end product will look and function better than if you do it yourself – and isn’t that the most important element of a home improvement?
