Guide To Preparing For An Exterior Home Renovation
Your home is a great way to show off your personality and represent yourself to your neighbors. An unattended and worn down house, or even one with a lawn that is not mowed or the paint shows chipping can give the wrong impression to the people surrounding you. Of course, life gets busy and we run behind with projects or forget to do things, but the fact of the matter is that people don’t often consider these factors when they look at your home.
A dilapidated exterior not only presents a negative visual to your home, but can also be the cause to other issues such as leaks, mold, mildew, and a decrease to the property value. It is for one of these causes, or perhaps a different reason, that you might be considering an exterior makeover to your home. The renovation can entail something as simple as new siding and paint, or a larger scale exterior home renovation. By following some of our simple tips below, you will be able to approach your exterior home services in a simple and workable manner.
Get To Know Your Neighborhood
Double-check and observe the area that you live in. The exterior renovation you have in mind can become an eyesore for a long time. These mistakes can be from overbuilding to using the wrong vinyl siding color. You should want your home to stand out because it looks phenomenal, rather than out of place. Keep this tip in mind for interior renovations as well. If you are still trying to figure out a concept for your remodel or renovation, don’t hesitate to talk and ask questions to a realtor or your neighbors. Walk or drive around the neighborhood as well for some inspiration. Your contractor can also be of great help with any choices you’re uncertain of, as they’ most likely have redone a rood or installed siding to a home in your area in the past.
Avoid Under Budgeting On Your Renovation
To avoid an uncompleted or a shamefully completed remodel, be sure your project is set at a realistic budget. While you are more than welcome to mix-and-match parts & paints and work between different estimates, you don’t want to end up with a home that looks unfinished or poorly performed. If the renovation that you want is outside your budget, give it some time. Make sure that the contractor you are working with provides a definite quote on all labor and parts prior to allowing any work to begin. If it turns out that you cannot afford the work being completed, you could hurt your credit rating or have a mad contractor on your hands.
Keep in mind, a contractor is hiring the labor and buying the materials for the work he is completing, which costs time and money. Lastly, there is no certainty that doing a renovation as a DIY (do it yourself) home project will be a cheaper or more affordable route. The cost you can end up incurring to purchase the correct materials, tools, and possible code violations can turn out to be just as much as hiring a professional contractor. Just imagine if you end up paying a contractor as well to come out and correct some of the mistakes you made!
All Projects Must Be Completed In and Up To Code
Just a few years ago, one of my neighbors decided to build a walk out deck to the lake behind his house. Within a few days into the project, a code compliance officer came to his house and informed him that the construction of his deck was not up to code. In addition, he did not have the permits that the town village required for the type of construction he was doing. The neighbor ended up having to scramble to get the necessary permits in order to prevent getting a large fine. A mistake, like my neighbor’s, could have easily been avoided by reaching out to a home inspector. A home inspector will tell you how to stay in code and the permits required by your village for the exterior home renovation you plan on completing. Certainly, the easiest way to avoid any issues is by hiring a professional that is trained and knowledgeable in regulations and permits.
Hire A Professional and Quality Home Exterior Contractor
If you are looking to use a professional residential renovation contractor, which is always recommend, be sure you are using someone that is competent. Yes, we all love to get a good deal and can be tempting to select someone off of Thumbtack or Craigslist for a very cheap price. For a larger scale job though (such as a roofing, siding or windows replacement) it is absolutely recommended that you have a contractor with real credentials. Ask the potential contractor about their experience, look at their online ratings and see if they are licensed for the work you are looking to get done.
A great way to find a quality contractor for your remodel is by using online resources, such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Yelp. These websites can help you discover more about the potential contractors. Ask the contractor as many questions that you feel you need the answer to. I know many of us don’t want to feel like we are a bothersome by asking too many questions, but an exterior remodel can be costly and it would be much worse if you end up un-happy with the completed job due to not speaking up. When it comes to your exterior home renovation, you are the boss and the contractor is working for you, so don’t be afraid to speak up and ask them all the questions about the project you feel is important.
