Our goal has always been to promote the knowledge base of every Arizona homeowner. Our weekly articles are written to support that goal.
Many of our blogs cover choosing the best contractor for your project. Starting your project off right is the single most important decision you will make regarding your remodeling project. Your contractor needs to be your guide through the complex process of remodeling.
Research Before Hiring
Take the time to research the contractors you are considering. Rosie’s How To Choose A Contractor Consumer Guide outlines the steps from checking the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC) website, to interviewing, and how to dig deep into a prospective contractor. This thought bears repeating, “If you are shopping for the cheapest price, there is nothing I can say to help you choose a good contractor,” says Rosie.
Skipping Homework = Poor Outcome
There are nine critical questions you need to ask a potential contractor.
Of those nine, one the most important is whether they are licensed by the ROC. Choosing an unlicensed contractor leaves you without recourse should the contractor fail to keep a timetable, provides poor-quality workmanship by cutting corners, or simply takes your down payment and never returns. Besides, contracting without a license in Arizona is illegal.
A contractor that skips the permitting process will, not maybe, WILL, cause project delays that last months, if not years, and potentially cloud your home with hidden dilemmas and problems.
We spoke with leaders from Rosie Right | Design. Build. Remodel. regarding how they have been called upon to “clean up” the aftermath of a poor contractor choice.
It didn’t take long for Bruce Stumbo, co-operations manager and estimator, to relate a tale of woe regarding a client whose home was built in the 1960s.
When the team was asked to construct an addition, they discovered the home was built in violation of an existing easement. Therefore, the addition could not be built. A several thousand square foot garage was constructed without a permit on the same property. This caused the current owners to spend over $30,000 to bring the buildings up to the current code, so the other remodeling work could be done on the property. The current homeowners are incurring the calamities of the previous owner’s poor decisions.
Don Brees, production manager, tells stories of work done without permits by incompetent contractors including several problems missed in the disclosure process. These issues included inadequate beam sizing resulting in new engineering and existing beam replacement. Another issue was buried electrical junction boxes (they are supposed to be accessible), with as many as 13 Romex wires in one box — danger zone! Without recourse from the ROC, the homeowners spent an additional $20,000 just to start the remodel they initially planned for.
More Really Important Stuff
A lot of important “stuff” goes into the preparation or design phase of your project. There is no way to put too much emphasis on their importance during this stage. This is where every detail, every material, and every fixture such as cabinets, colors, and finishes, are decided. Sounds like an ominous task, but with the right designer and contractor, you will be led step-by-step through the process of making your dream home end up right under your feet.
The people who will build your project need every scrap of information from this process to complete the project successfully. The plans and specifications established through this process become the “how-to” manual for your specific project. This step takes time; time to think about all the pieces. Your designer and contractor need to be with you every step of the way, helping you make choices and decisions as they show you what your project looks like.
A qualified remodeler will be able to convey what your remodel will feel like when completed. When choosing a contractor, selecting a firm with in-house design capabilities is a major plus. Communication between the designer and builder must be clear and timely.
Romano Klepec, the project developer, says that the Rosie Right process ensures a comprehensive building package. He notes that communication is critical. That communication includes himself, the homeowner, the team designer, the production manager (this is the construction guy), the sales team, and the estimator. This team meets several times as the project design develops to ensure the homeowner’s approval and budget compliance.
“When done under one roof, this process works best. With the whole team in-house, communication is much easier than when we get a design handed to us from the outside,” he says.
In that case, communication through the critical project development process is lacking. “Our in-house process develops trust between the homeowner and our Rosie Right team,” he states.
The next “really important stuff” is your budget. Shut down your inner cheapskate. Don’t shop for the cheapest price. If “cheapest” is your goal, then you are probably a new listener/reader of Rosie on the House. Go back to your first thoughts when considering a remodel. Are you faced with outdated finishes, a kitchen, or a bathroom, trying to fill a need for more space, or just wanting to create a change instead of moving? Doing your homework here will serve you well.
Talk with friends or relatives about the successes or hiccups encountered with their projects. As part of the contractor selection process, ask how they assist in establishing budgets. Online research can be sketchy if you are not sure where to look. Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report is a good starting point in establishing the likely cost associated with several types of projects in your area. This resource provides likely project costs. It is worth a look. One piece of information you can glean is the potential return on investment, typically within a year or two from the date of the project’s completion. So, if you think you need to remodel your kitchen for your house to sell, this report might help you think through that mistake and other projects too!
Always do your homework. This is not the time to “ditch class.”
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CONTENT PARTNER: Rosie Right | Design. Build. Remodel.
Rosie’s award-winning business is back! Rosie Right | Design. Build. Remodel. Depending on your job size and location, we would be pleased do the job with you and get it done right! Our design team will meet with you to listen and learn what it is you would like to have done to your home. Our team will offer design options, assist you with product selection, work with your HOA, prepare construction drawing, procure the building permit, and manage all phases of your project. Give us a call today! (480) 248-8699
PODCAST
Rosie Right Remodeling team of Bruce Stumbo and Romano Klepec join Rosie to give you the proper steps for a successful remodeling project. From researching licensed contractors to asking the right questions creating a relationship with the prospective contractor. Investing the time and details is key!
Podcast Archive With Expanded Content and Resources
PHOTO CREDIT
- Rosie Right | Design. Build. Remodel.
- Shutterstock
