| When you think about remodeling your home there
are many things to consider: the scope of the project; being able
to achieve what you want; staying within a specific budget; integrating
the area of remodel into the existing style; or whether to completely
change the character of your entire home, or even building a new
one.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about home
remodeling and new construction.
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Q - What happens when I decide to remodel
with a design/build company?
A - PROBUILDER offers
the complete design/build experience. From start to finish, PROBUILDER
clients are involved in the design process. Your project will follow
the steps outlined below:
1. Project programming & budget
development:
Project designers meet with the client to identify preliminary
concepts, site conditions and to create a prospective budget.
2. Site measurements of existing conditions:
Designer and drafting technicians record detailed field measurements
of the house and site in preparation for conceptual drawings.
3. Presentation meeting with the client:
Concept drawing and budget ranges are presented to the client
for further development of drawings and specifications.
4. Agreement:
After presentation drawings, details and specifications are
agreed upon an agreement between PROBUILDER
and the client is executed.
5. Construction drawings:
Having identified the current conditions and the desired improvements,
our drafting technicians will prepare working drawings for the
building department.
6. Building Permits:
Construction drawings are submitted to the appropriate city/county
Building Officials for building permits.
7. Selection of material:
Our staff will work with the client to select materials for
tile, cabinetry, countertop surfaces, flooring, plumbing fixtures
and lighting.
8. Approval of building permits:
Having secured building permits, a pre-construction site meeting
is held with our production team and the client to review the
project before construction begins.
9. Communication with the client through construction:
During construction the PROBUILDER
team holds weekly production meetings to discuss the status
of each project in order to keep it on schedule and on budget.
Our project superintendents will also keep in contact with each
client every step of the way to insure a healthy relationship
throughout the project.
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Q - On what criteria should we choose
a contractor?
A - Quality, reputation, and value are the main things to look
for.While your budget is always a factor, beware of low ball offers.
If you needed surgery to correct a serious health problem, would
you select your doctor based solely upon the lowest bid? If you
are like most people, the answer is a resounding 'NO'. However,
many homeowners think nothing of spending tens of thousands of
dollars and opening their homes to virtual strangers whom they
have selected solely on price. Granted, a remodeling project is
not a life-threatening operation, but it does have the potential
for serious impact on the family's well-being and financial health.
There can be many reasons for a low bid including, lack of experience,
low quality materials and workmanship, and incomplete proposals
or bids. That's why it is important to select a contractor by
quality, value, and reputation. |
Q - What should I expect when I remodel or
build my home?
A - Remodeling and new home projects seem to have some common high
and low points for many homeowners. If you are a seasoned remodeling
veteran, you may already know what to expect. If you have not lived
through a remodeling project before, however, you are probably approaching
your project with some degree of both anxiety and excitement. We
don't want to create apprehension before your project starts, but
rather simply point out some of the high and low points that naturally
occur in the course of most remodeling projects. This way, you will
have a realistic idea of what to expect.
Major things to be prepared for:
1. Your normal routine will be disrupted.
The PROBUILDER team
does our utmost to make the experience as pleasant as possible,
but it's pretty hard to have workmen in or around your home
and still function in your daily patterns.
2. Dust... No matter how well we seal off
the work area, dust is going to get through . This is one of
the more unpleasant but unavoidable aspects of remodeling.
3. Budget some extra money for rest and relaxation . Take a
few day trips to get away. Go to dinner or visit a friend in
the evening. And, at least once a day, think about how great
everything will look when it's done.
Roofing:
The roof should prevent rain/condensation from entering the
building.
Concrete:
Concrete continues to cure/dry forever. As this process continues,
concrete will crack. Control joints are placed in the concrete
in an attempt to "direct" the cracking in a visually
pleasing way.
Plumbing:
The water supply and the waste piping should not leak. Faucets
will require maintenance to provide drip-free operation. It
is reasonable to need to replace a faucet washer every once
in a while. Porcelain surfaces on plumbing fixtures will chip
when hard objects are dropped on them. Grout around tubs/showers
will eventually shrink and crack and will need to be replaced
periodically.
Electrical:
Light bulbs will burn out and need to be replaced as a matter
of course.
The ground fault circuit interrupter outlets (GFCI), located
at selected code-mandated use-points throughout the building,
might "fail" without notice. Such potential for failure
is inherent in the design.
Walls/Ceilings:
Objects hitting or bumping these surfaces will mar the paint
and the sheetrock. Hairline cracks may appear as the wood framing
moisture content stabilizes.
Stucco:
Stucco continues to cure and dry forever and is a solid/rigid
surface on a moveable object (your home). Stucco will crack,
especially at doors and windows.
Doors and Windows:
These should close and latch with a reasonable amount of effort
expended by the user. Wooden units will change size as the seasons
change. Wet weather makes wood expand, dry weather makes wood
shrink. This might affect the units' operation.
In General:
All finishes and fittings require regular care, cleaning and
maintenance to remain in good shape. Without such care, finishes
and fittings may deteriorate and/or fail. Normal wear and tear
will occur regardless of any precautions to prevent it from
occurring. Every attempt will be made to match existing materials
when necessary (ie. roofing, stucco, stains) but there will
be variations.
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Q - How do I go about budgeting and financing
my project?
A - Once you find a contractor that you like, and are confident
of his or her honesty and ability to deliver a quality product,
work with that person to develop the scope of work that fits your
budget.
Keep in mind, sometimes making a minor change in the course of
your remodel, such as product selection, different flooring materials,
or slight change in design, can make the difference in meeting
or exceeding your budget.
There are various financing plans available to homeowners. Among
the most popular is the equity line of credit that bases the loan
amount on the equity in your home. Research various sources of
funding to compare individual qualification guidelines, interest
rates, terms and tax considerations. |
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