10 Questions to Ask Before Starting a Renovation Project in Your Home

Well friends, if you didn’t think I was a bit crazy before, you can certainly confirm it now because Jermaine and I are undertaking not one but two renovation projects in our home, simultaneously. We are currently in the process of finishing our basement and building a pool. Our level of excitement for both to be completed probably matches the level of noise taking place both inside and outside. As I write this post, in my office/craft room, Jermaine has left his home office on the main level, to come upstairs, to my office, to finish his conference call because the drilling is off the chain. Oh and did I mention, now Chief is here, doing cartwheels and high kicks and whatever it is that only children do, to keep themselves busy. Fun times at Ridgemont High over here.

It’s been just 3 short years since we moved into our home, that we built from the ground up and from which, we gained a great deal of experience on the in’s and out’s of construction and what you should know and do upfront before starting. We had a very trustworthy company, Abernathy Custom Homes, build our home in Newnan, Georgia and we sought them out to come back and finish the basement. Our home builder also recommended our pool builder, Stillwater Pools, who they have worked with many times over the years. Some of the tips I will recommend, we were able to skip and/or relax because we were dealing with the same people who built our home. We know their caliber of work and because the owners have become our good friends, communication and professionalism is relaxed but remains important.

Before starting any construction, there should be a preparation phase, so you’ll have a general understanding of what you want to accomplish, how much funding you’ll have for it and the timeline you have available to get it done. Before starting a renovation or construction, be sure to have the answers to the following questions.

What Do I Want?

I’m usually very specific on the things that I want, within my home because I’ve Pinterest’d myself to death. I come with a full slide show of ideas, that can amended by a professional due to space restraints, budget or whatever they deem reasonable but I will figure out how we can make something similar work. You may not have a clue of what you want or how you want it set up but at the very least, know what you need to utilize the space for, to make the planning process go smoothly.

What is my Max Budget?

Let me be clear on this point. Your max budget should leave about a 10% buffer for unexpected costs. For example, if you have a budget of $100,000, try to get your job done for as close to $90,000 as you can get it, leaving you with a few extra dollars for incidentals that will likely arise. If you have to actually use your max budget during building, then try to stick as close to the budget as possible.

Does My Contractor Have References?

In this day and age we can easily find services on the internet, that may come with reviews but it is important to do your own due diligence. Anyone can put a review online but is it legit? Ask the contractor for references of at least the last 3 jobs that were similar to yours. Ask to actually speak with these people. The last thing you want to do, is invest thousands of dollars with someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing or who may be great in one area but not in the area that you need.

Where’s My Contract?

Once you do lock in a contractor, ensure that you receive a contract that details all the work that will be done and what is included in the job. Read this document very carefully and ask any and all questions, PRIOR TO SIGNING! I have watched enough Judge Judy to know, that the text within the four corners of a written contract is binding. Therefore, make sure you have a complete understanding of the services that will be rendered, prior to putting pen to paper.

Will There be a Warranty?

What will your contractor offer, after the job is complete, if there is an issue? Whatever the answer, ask that it be added to your contract, if it isn’t already. If a contractor offers no warranty on at least their workmanship, I would look for someone else.

What is the Pay Schedule?

Some builders require 10%-25% of the total cost to start and divide the remaining payments throughout the job. It’s important to know, what the pay schedule will be, so that you have funds available, if your require bank checks or need time for wire transfers. I’m sure that any professional would have this highlighted in the contract but if they don’t, ask that it be added.

What is the Timeframe for Completion?

Now I’ll be the first to tell you that construction timeframes are always subject to change. Weather, delays in the ordering of parts, limited crew and a number of other things can delay the end date. However, you do need a rough estimate to plan accordingly. The estimate for our pool completion is 8 weeks, which is ultimately after summer ends but we were able to make an informed decision and opted to proceed because typically warm Georgia weather lasts through October and we’d be ahead of the curve next year.

What is the Crew Schedule?

Typically the crews have been showing up at my home at 9am and leaving at 5pm and taking lunch around 12pm.  When you want work complete in your home, you’ll likely accommodate any schedule but it’s best to know what time they’ll be coming and going, so you can have on a bra,  decent clothing, in the event that anyone has questions or so you can make arrangements for quiet time, if a baby needs to nap or so that your entire family isn’t crammed into one room, trying to work.

How Many Workers Will be on the Job?

If they told me, that only 2 people would be working on my pool daily, I might raise an eyebrow about the allotted timeframe for completion. You need to know how many workers will be on the job, not only to have an idea of how many people will be in and out of your home at any given time but also to make sure that the amount of workers coincides with the size of the project.

What Covid-19 Precautions are Being Taken?

Since Covid is our new normal, it’s important to know what, if any steps are being taken to stop the spread of the Corona Virus, particularly with people coming in and out of your home? Just recently a worker from our builder’s painting crew contracted the Corona Virus and the other painters all had to quarantine for 14 days. Will your contractor take the same precautions? Will the workers wear masks? Do they do temperature checks? What is the procedure if one of the worker’s contracts the virus? These are important things to ask, especially if workers will be in areas that you frequent.

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Home renovations can be stressful. However, if you ask these questions and come up with a plan and a layout beforehand, you can save yourself unnecessary aggravation and frustration. I’ll be sure to keep everyone updated on our progress but in the meantime, please share with me, what renovations are taking place at your home.