You’re finally ready to undertake that home remodeling job that you’ve been postponing for days. But you’re an avid planner and don’t like to get caught by surprise. You also want to set a reasonable budget and stick to it. If there’s one thing that all home remodelers agree on, it’s that a checklist will help you stick to the budget that you set and enable you to accomplish all you set out to do. Here’s a good example of a checklist that you can use.
Research Some Reputable Home Remodeling Experts in Your Area
Researching reputable experts in your area will ensure that you get the best value for your money. This is because you will not only rely on someone’s word of mouth or reviews that you saw online. While this is a good indicator of customer satisfaction, you should also be able to go the extra mile by visiting their past sites physically. Seeing work that they’ve done in person will give you that extra confidence of being happy with the output that you’re most likely to get.
All home remodelers, however, have different styles and tastes. Keep that in mind as you do your research. Look for home experts who are skilled in the particular style that you’re interested in. For example, if you’re into a country living kind of style, don’t spend too much time with professionals who are experts in the modern type of style. That’s because you’re not likely to get a lot of value from those without the relevant experience.
After honing in on the home remodeling contractors that seem to be the best fit for you, do further research on their terms of engagement. Do they require to be paid upfront or after delivery of services? What will their scope of work be in terms of whether they’ll purchase materials on your behalf and seek reimbursements later, or will they simply charge you for the labor while you supply the materials yourself? These pertinent questions will ensure you’re on the right footing when you finally begin.
Determine if You Need an Alternative Bathroom During Remodeling
While working with all home remodelers, think about providing an alternative bathroom for the professionals that you hire. This is because of several reasons, the main one of which is privacy. A home bathroom is a very private and sacred space for most homeowners. It’s also where most people put their personal items like soap and bathing towels. That said, the idea of having to share it with all home remodelers is often met with some hesitation.
Another reason why most, if not all home remodelers seek an alternative bathroom, is if their bathroom is the only space that’s being remodeled. If you’re in this category, a portable restroom rental solution will be more ideal than using your neighbor’s restroom every so often. You don’t need the blow that this can deal to your reputation.
Whatever situation you might be in, having a portable toilet for you or all home remodelers in your home is a good call. Just ensure that the toilet is cleaned and disinfected regularly. In a case where it’s used by many people, ensure that it’s cleaned in the morning, lunch hour, and evening. This will greatly improve the experience for all parties using it.
Rent a Dumpster Before Remodeling Begins
One thing that all home remodelers often have to deal with is a lot of debris. This should come as no surprise because remodeling is synonymous with breakages, demolitions, and reconstruction. For example, tile remodeling will have a lot of chipped tiles that you’ll have to discard. To deal with this, have a dumpster ready before remodeling begins. The dumpster you go for should be sizable enough to take in a bit more than you expect to end up with.
To get a dumpster that fits your needs, explore the dumpster rentals that are available in your location. The companies offering those services sometimes give extra sales services of dumping the waste on your behalf. The ideal company will also top that one with regular dumping services, about once or twice a week. This will have your place looking clean and clutter-free while remodeling is still going on.
If, however, you estimate that the remodeling project will take a long time, like three months going upwards, think about a more permanent solution. That’s because a dumpster rental should not end up costing you more than the actual remodeling work costs. To determine the best option, do a cost-benefit analysis of the option of renting a dumpster compared to buying your own.
Assess if You Need Your Septic System Updated
All home remodelers know that for a septic tank to work at its best, it needs to be updated regularly. Regular updates also work as a preventative measure against blocked sewage systems. To assess whether your plumbing system is working properly, consider hiring the services of a septic tank maintenance contractor. Their knowledge and years of experience will save you the trouble of trying to figure things out for yourself.
The septic tank maintenance contractor will start by checking if all your tap drains are functioning properly. If they determine that they’re faulty and clogged, they’ll deal with the issue by cleaning them and degreasing them as necessary. They’ll then check the utility holes to ensure proper flow to the septic tank. If all is well, they’ll check to see that all waste is taken to the soak pit for absorption into the ground.
If there’s anything that most if not all home remodelers seem to have regrets about, it’s failing to reuse their wastewater. Wastewater from kitchen sinks and bathroom to be precise. To avoid joining the regret bandwagon, consider asking your septic tank maintenance contractors to separate wastewater from the toilet, the kitchen, and the shower. Then, have them channel the latter towards landscaping or something similar.
Ensure That You Don’t Have Asbestos Before Remodeling Starts
Asbestos exposure can lead to serious health issues like cancer and asbestosis. As stated above, remodeling is synonymous with breakages, demolitions, and reconstruction. This means asbestos fibers will be released into the air if any are present as the project goes on. The risk is so high that the law requires that you mention if your house has asbestos before selling it.
For this reason, all home remodelers need to spare a part of their remodeling budget for asbestos testing services. These services should be enlisted way before the remodeling work commences. They’ll check if places like the roof, the tiles, or the existing walls have asbestos-containing materials, which are commonly known as ACMs. If indeed they exist, then take precautions on how to reduce exposure to them.
The precautions taken depend on the severity of the asbestos amounts found in the various elements. There are instances where the exposed materials will have to be removed safely. If, however, the exposed materials are fixed or pose challenges in their removal, opt for sealing them properly. It’s advisable to use an experienced contractor for this as they’ll be able to determine the best treatment for each unique scenario.
Speak With an Exterminator About Pest Issues
Pests, if not kept under control, will cost you a lot of peace and comfort. Fancy having completed your remodeling projects, and just as you take a well-deserved rest in your lounge seat, you get bitten by a bedbug. Or even worse, imagine if you were to spot a snake roaming freely in your newly remodeled and well-manicured lawn. To avoid such interferences to your comfort, talk to an exterminator about pest issues.
The exterminator services you’ll need will depend a lot on where your project is located. For example, if you live in a place with a very hot climate, chances are high that your exterminator will recommend snake control measures. They’ll also be likely to offer services for mosquito control. Don’t let this daunt you, it’s the exterminator’s job to know the services that are needed in different environments.
There will be instances, however, where you will not need an exterminator to pinpoint the types of pests that are likely to be found in your location. This is when the pesky pests have already made an informal introduction to you. Rats, for example, know no climate, and the only language that they speak is the language of food. In this instance, you can visit your nearest agro vet physically and get chemicals that will exterminate them completely.
Decide if an Electrician is Required
Almost all home remodelers will require the services of an electrician. That’s because most of the remodeling will involve demolitions. In one way or another, demolitions can interfere with existing electrical wiring which is very sensitive. It’s therefore prudent to have an electrician on standby as you do your demolitions. They’re best placed to know the complexity of the wiring.
Electrical work is more or less standard all around the world, so you need not spend too much time looking for specific electricians to do your local remodeling job. Most if not all home remodelers, swear by using the services of their local electricians. This is because of the unpredictability of electricity. So having an electrician who is not only a call away, but in your neighborhood is a huge plus.
This, however, should not be misconstrued to mean that you shouldn’t look for a competent electrician. On the flip side of it being a standard trade is the sensitivity aspect. Go for a local electrician with a proven track record as well as one that’s highly recommended by the locals. A botched electrical job, though rare, can have serious implications on all members. Be it medically or by causing a huge loss due to issues like fire outbreak.
Install a New Water Heater
Water heater installation is another important aspect to remember to work on during a home remodel. This is especially the case if your home is in an area with a cold climate. In this case, failure of the water heater can cause a lot of unnecessary discomfort to you and your family. Finding a local professional for this is the best thing that you can do because they’ll be aware of the best water heater manufacturers to source your water heater from.
Look Into Updating Your Asphalt Driveway
If you have an asphalt driveway, remember that it’s bound to get damaged over time and will eventually reach the end of its lifespan. This means that you must add asphalt services to your checklist of home remodeling. By doing this, you can get your driveway repaired and saved from rapid deterioration as time goes by.
Some signs that should alert you to the fact that you need a driveway remodel done are things such as having cracks and holes in the driveway. These need to be fixed as soon as possible because they present tripping hazards. They also detract from your home’s curb appeal, and so they need to be handled the moment that they become an issue.
Invest in a New Fence
Last but not least, getting a new fence for your home is an important part of keeping your home in perfect shape. To this end, call a local fence company to help you identify the best fence for your home if you don’t have one, or to replace yours if it’s damaged seriously. They’ll let you know the fencing supplies that you need to get so that you can make the necessary preparations. These will depend on the specific material and type of fence that your home has. Make sure to keep up with the necessary maintenance so that you can extend the lifespan of your fence.
This checklist should help you get the basics and a bit more done so that your home is in perfect shape. You can add to this checklist or deduct from it as you see fit, and in a short time, you’ll have perfected it. Don’t forget to work with the right experts each time as this is the only way you can be assured of the quality of work that you get done.