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Planning to 'add value'
with new paint, floors, fencing or a deck is a smart thing.
These improvements, among other renovations, will certainly add
value to your home!
So you've made the decision to add
value, great. Now what should you think about before entering
the next stage? Here are a number of things to consider:
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Have you set aside monies to
pay for the project? Determine your 'expected' outlay for
the project and be ready to pay a down payment towards the
total Contract up front.
Have you balanced your 'wish list' versus your 'afford to'
list? Sometimes your wishes outweigh your financial where
with all. Determine what is a 'must have' and what is a
'nice to have' for your project. If, for example, you want a
Cedar deck but Pressure Treated is all you can afford, be
practical, don't over extend yourself, if Cedar is what you
want, postpone your project until you can afford it.
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Have you considered the value
you expect to get out of your project?
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Did you select your materials
or paint colours? Shop the local Home Improvement Stores to
gather ideas and pick materials.
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Have you finalized your design
concept? Don't forget permits may be required.
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Are you and your partner in
agreement about the final design? Sounds crazy, but you
would be quite surprised to find out that sometimes people
don't always agree on the same things!
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Did you meet the Contractor
and did they convey a feeling of Partnership and Honesty? A
Contractor should never come across as someone that either
doesn't respect you or your opinion or worse, is only
interested in themselves and your money.
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Are you and the Contactor
speaking the same language? When discussing your project,
make sure you go over the project description a couple of
times to ensure you both agree on the details.
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Are you prepared for the
inconveniences' that come with renovation disruption? You
may have to give up access to that area for some period of
time.
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Who cleans up? A good
Contractor at the end of a work day will leave the jobsite
in the same condition as when they first arrived at the
beginning of that day.
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Do you know how long the
project may take? Be prepared for unexpected delays that may
add to the length of a project. If you have a time
constraint, ensure the Contractor is aware of it and that
you have contingency plans to complete the project at a
later date if necessary.
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Does the Contractor you choose
have Insurance? Many people pass themselves off as a
Contractor without having Insurance. Insured Contractors'
provide you with piece of mind that if they have an incident
while on your premises, they take on the liability.
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