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: Home Contractor vs. Homeowner

Preparing Yourself for a Home Renovation Project

By Andrea Goldman, Esq.

A couple of weeks ago, I gave a presentation along with a home contractor to a group of professionals. The contractor, Paul Monaco, brought up a number of terrific points about the effect that a home renovation project has on one's household. So, in no specific order:

1. Be ready to have your life turned upside down. Doing renovation work in your home is very disruptive.

2. Do not put in a new lawn or beautiful new shrubs just prior to putting in an addition. Assume that your landscaping is going to get ripped up.

3. Prepare to eat off paper plates and wash your dishes in the bathtub or a temporary slop sink.

4. Understand that different workers will come and leave at different hours.

5. Do not count on workers to arrive on a daily basis. For example, a plumber may need to attend to an emergency and put off work at your home for a day.

6. Unforseen events may occur. Weather may interfere with the progress of your project. In addition, there may be hidden defects that must be addressed. A recent change in the building code in Massachusetts is also placing new demands on contractors and there may be more work involved to bring your project up to code.

7. Communicate, communicate, communicate. Keep the lines of communication open and many problems will be prevented.

By the way, this is my 100th posting!

Full post as published by Home Contractor vs. Homeowner on March 20, 2008 (boomark / email).