Home Remodeling FAQ - Remodeling Questions and Answers

Have all of your remodeling questions answered, review the links below:

Why remodel your home?

Remodeling your home can improve its look and style, make it more comfortable, save energy costs by improving its energy-efficiency, increase its value, and make upkeep and maintenance more pain-free. Remodeling is a sure investment in your home to ensure longevity, usefulness, and home value.

When is it time for a home remodel?

Perhaps it was that moment when you realized that avocado green and harvest gold are no longer the “in” colors for today’s trendy kitchens. Or maybe it was the day as you had to wait in line to use your own bathroom. Whatever the reason, the reasons for remodeling are as varied as the projects we handle. Some of these include:

Adding more space.
Upgrading cabinets, counters, appliances, and fixtures.
Creating a floor plan that’s customized to the way you live.
Improving energy efficiency with new windows, doors, insulation, and climate control systems.
Increasing the selling value of your home.

Should I remodel my house?

Remodeling can improve not only the value of your home but how happy you feel when you’re in it. While it is oftentimes a great improvement, it may not always be a good investment based on your situation. Before you head too far down the remodeling process, it’s beneficial to think through your wants and needs to make sure a remodel will benefit you and your home:

Decide what changes you want to make.
Ask yourself and other family members what you like and dislike about your home. Create a list of priorities.
Scan through magazines and collect images of what you like.
Think about traffic patterns, furniture placement, colors, and lighting, and imagine how you would enjoy renovated space now and in the future.
Visit our website more thoroughly, for more ideas on remodeling to make it more comfortable, up to date, and valuable.

How to plan a home remodel/renovation?

The first step is to develop an idea of what you want to do. Create a prioritized list of your needs and wants. Look at magazines and websites. The clearer your vision is and the better you can describe it, the more prepared you’ll be when it comes time to make your decision.

Think about traffic patterns, furniture size and placement, colors, lighting, and how you expect to use the renovated area. If your decision to remodel involves creating better access for someone with limited accessibility, it may be best to consider contacting a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist.

Figure out how much money you have to invest on the remodeling job, furnishings, landscaping, or any other cost you might incur. If you’ve decided you want to hire a remodeler, investigate how to choose a professional, avoid contractor fraud, and make the dreams for your home a reality.

How to pay for a home remodel?

Financing is one of the most important considerations for your home improvement project. After all, the project will go nowhere if you can’t pay for it. Fortunately, there are several options that can provide the dollars you need. Four of the most common are a home improvement loan, a home equity line of credit, a home equity loan (2nd mortgage), and a cash-out refinancing of your current mortgage. However, the simplest method of financing is cash.

What are the Qualities of a Professional Remodeler?

When you hire a professional remodeler, you are buying a service rather than a product. The quality of service the remodeler provides will determine the quality of the finished product and your happiness with the result. Make sure you hire a qualified, professional remodeler to guarantee your complete satisfaction.

QUALITIES OF A PROFESSIONAL REMODELER

Many remodelers may have experience and offer you a good price, but the best professional remodelers have some special qualities you want to seek when you hire someone to remodel your home. Be on the lookout for remodelers with these attributes:

Promptness—Does your remodeler keep his or her appointments? Do they show up on time and prepared?
Trustworthiness—Make sure you trust your remodeler and if not, then move on to another candidate.
The remodeler is an NAHB Remodelers member—Membership with NAHB Remodelers demonstrates a remodelers commitment to professionalism and excellence. NAHB earn competitive awards, achieve higher training and education, and lead the industry in innovation.
Past clients return to the remodeler for repeat business—When a significant amount of a remodeler’s business comes from repeat and referred clients, it’s a safe bet that previous customers applaud their work.
The remodeler makes it his business to protect your home—Construction can be dirty and messy. Make sure your remodeler will take appropriate measures to control dust and protect your home.

What should I expect during the remodel?

Remodeling is an exciting process, but sometimes also sometimes presents unexpected challenges. Many problems can be avoided by planning all the details out ahead of time. Check out these 10 Tips for a Smooth Remodel. Read the article here.

Are you licensed and insured?

DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen associated with Pinkerton Homes Inc. is a local family owned and operated remodeling company in Colorado Springs, Colorado. DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen is fully licensed and insured (License # 11140); members of the Better Business Bureau, NAHB (National Association of Home Builders), the Colorado Springs Remodelers Council, NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry), and NKBA (National Kitchen & Bath Association).

What is the kitchen work triangle & why is it important?

The “work triangle” is the kitchen area from the refrigerator to the main cooking area to the main sink. Connect the three and it should form a triangle (unless you have a ‘one-wall’ kitchen). It’s important because at or immediately adjacent to the triangle’s points, all the key kitchen activities—food preparation, cooking, and clean up—take place. The work triangle helps to ensure that your kitchen will be functional. It keeps cooking activities centered in one area, with all the necessities close at hand.

How is Dreammaker different from other remodeling contractors?

DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen differs from ordinary remodeling contractors in these important ways:

We are committed to building lasting relationships with our clients by delivering a high quality experience through nationally renowned products, professional craftsmanship and excellent customer service.
I’ve dedicated my business to helping you and other clients understand professional remodeling design and construction.
We have taken thirty years of experience and refined the design-build process. This process guarantees that each of our clients has a first-class remodeling experience.
Utilizing the design/build process allows us to identify and prioritize the parameters of your project. We help you establish your remodeling goals, priorities and budget.
We take responsibility for the entire project, from start to finish. We eliminate the confusion between the client, designer-architect, sub-contractors and engineers.
Everything is included; there are no surprises. The contract clearly defines the phases, products and services, virtually eliminating the potential risk of exceeding your predetermined budget.
We commit, in writing, to completing your project in a timely manner.
We assign a “Lead Carpenter” to manage each project ensuring that you will receive the personal attention that each of our clients deserve. He is the person that makes it all happen. This person is much more than a very talented craftsman. The Lead Carpenter is your guide through the daily activities of remodeling your home. The Lead Carpenter becomes your own personal project manager and craftsman all in one.
We are licensed, ensuring that your home is safe and in compliance with all applicable codes.
We are fully insured, protecting you and your home while we build your dream.
We guarantee your project with a 3-year workmanship warranty: The best warranty in the business. No maintenance headaches – every job is guaranteed. If you need service, we will come back with no hassle.

What questions should I ask potential contractors?

NARI members share the short list of questions they are usually asked by homeowners and offer a list of questions that you should ask:

Timing and money are the most common questions a home improvement contractor hears, but during an interview with a homeowner when homeowners should be asking about credentials and verifying business practices what is often heard is, “When can you start? When will it be finished? How much will it cost?”

These simply aren’t enough. Yes, timing may be “everything” in comedy, but that certainly isn’t the case when it comes to remodeling. If you are going to have a successful remodeling project, you need to learn the right questions to ask and how to ask them.

When a group of NARI remodeling contractors were asked what questions homeowners asked most frequently, the group unanimously agreed that their most popular queries were:

When can you start?
When will you be finished?
What time will you knock on my door each morning?
What time will you quit for the day?
Are you going to work everyday?
Can you finish before (insert any major holiday or significant family event)?
How much will it cost per square foot?

Unfortunately, these are not the type of questions that are going to tell you much about a particular contractor.

While a reasonable timetable and budget is important, it shouldn’t be the primary focus of an interview or a job. Homeowners should also focus on trust and quality.

Start by asking questions about a company’s business practices and experience in a similar type of project. If you decide you want to hire a particular remodeling contractor, then you can discuss when your project will start, what time someone will knock on your door each morning and when your project will be completed.

Here are some questions NARI members recommend you ask before signing a remodeling contract:

Have you been in business longer than 5 years?
Who will be assigned as project supervisor for the job?
Will your employees or subcontractors be working on my project?
Can you verify that your company carries workers compensation and liability insurance?
What does it take for you to do a project like mine?
In the past year how many projects like mine have you completed?
Do you have a list of references from those projects? May I have access to that list?
May I have a list of business referrals or suppliers?
How much of your business is repeat or referral business?
Are you a member of a national trade association?
Do you or your employees have certifications in remodeling or have had any special training or education, such as earning a Certified Remodeler (CR), Certified Remodeler Specialist (CRS) or Certified Lead Carpenter (CLC) or Certified Kitchen & Bath Remodeler (CKBR) designation?

It’s also important to realize that sometimes it’s not the answers you get that are significant, but what you don’t get. Asking the right questions is not enough. Pay attention to your instincts and to what information is missing.

Unlike your accountant or stockbroker, your remodeler will be a part of your daily life and available for some on-the-job education. He or she will be privy to your personal life, more so than your doctor or lawyer. Your contractor will know how you look early in the morning and how well behaved your dog is. It makes sense that you should take some time to carefully select this person and make sure that it is someone to whom you can ask questions.

Remodeling can be a fun experience. You get to create your dream room or home and learn a little about design and building along the way. All you need to do is ask questions. Questions that, according to NARI members, remodelers don’t feel that are getting enough of. So tap into your curiosity and ask away.

What’s my next step?

Thank you for considering DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen. Whether your project is large or small, choose the company you can trust. We look forward to working with you.

Best Regards,
Michael Pinkerton, CAPS