Kitchen Remodeling
Date: Apr 9th, 2008 9:46:45 pm - Subscribe
Mood: hardcore
Remodeling projects take time, money, patience and forethought. By following these general guidelines, you can make the process more manageable and stress-free.
Prepare yourself. Remodeling is not an easy process. There will be personal intrusions, noise, distractions and inconveniences, but they can be avoided if you plan in advance.
Determine your needs. Sit down with pen and paper and try to define what it is you really want. Start an ideas folder, making lists of what you like and don’t like in your current room and look for possible ways to improve on them, using this website, product brochures, wood samples and ideas you’ve seen in magazines. Determine how the room is to be used and tie that into features you’d like to add.
Know your limits. Have a solid budget in mind before getting started. This will help keep you on track as you begin visiting showrooms, exploring options and talking with contractors. You don’t want any surprises.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Make sure you completely understand what you’re getting before you buy anything or begin work. Keep the lines of communication open with your dealer/designer/contractor and let them know when you have any hesitations or misgivings. Once a contract has been signed, it’s much more difficult to slam on the brakes.
Be open to new ideas. Your contractor and/or designer are the experts and may have solutions and options that you’ve never even thought of.
Plan to visit the dealer showroom more than once. There will be several major decisions involved in the execution of your project. To make the most of everyone’s time, consider bringing a blueprint or drawing of the room to help dealers/designers grasp your particular situation and offer you the most viable options. Make use of our convenient planning guides so that you can have this information in hand.
Check your contractor’s references. It’s also a good idea to contact the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against them. Since everyone operates differently, it’s wise to let your contractor know up front what your expectations are so that they may live up to their end of the agreement.
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