What are some home remodeling tips

Any remodeling project can seem overwhelming, but it can go more smoothly if you know a couple of insider tips.

• Plan ahead - Selecting products early can prevent delays later. Proper planning can also help keep you on budget.

• Focus on the big picture - Continued maintenance, loss of energy, and repair expenses add up quickly. Make sure to include them in your calculations when comparing prices.

• Find good help - Hire a remodeler that has three years or more of experience, membership in the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), a good Better Business Bureau record, and positive customer references. Most important, select a remodeler you trust.

• Check on the job site - When evaluating a remodeler, visit current job sites. The best remodelers keep clean and organized work sites, take measures to ensure safety, and keep a low profile in a neighborhood.

• Insist on a detailed contract – Never begin a remodeling project with an ambiguous contract or no contract at all. The contract needs the right address, a start date, a completion date, and a detail of what is and is not going to be done.

• Be aware of what lies ahead - Remodeling can be exciting, but there are unforeseen problems, delays, and inconveniences that come from living in a construction zone. You'll handle the frustrations better if you know they're coming.

• Communicate - Remodelers can do some remarkable things, but they are not mind readers. Let the supervisor or project lead person know if anything is unacceptable so they can deal with the issue. They may not be aware that something is wrong