Hiring a Contractor or Designer

Hiring a Contractor or Designer
Knowledge is key in finding the best contractor or designer.

Locating the Best
Your first step in a remodeling project is to decide which trades belong on your team. An architect will develop a design, refer you to contractor, and oversee construction to make sure the plans are followed. Contractors and their crews make the plans happen by tearing out old components, moving and upgrading plumbing and electrical systems, and completing the new construction. Certified kitchen or bath designers flesh out the rough plan draw by the architect, or they can design the kitchen or bathroom. Interior designers have a variety of roles from drafting layouts, to helping make decisions about which projects are most important, to picking products.
Finding the Right Pro
When looking to hire a builder, be sure to do your homework: check references, visit job sites and past projects, and spend time talking about your needs.
Kitchen and Bath Perfection
If you're looking to renovate or update your kitchen or bathroom, a design or remodeling pro can help. Look for a professional with National Kitchen and Bath Association certification. A NKBA certified designer has mastered rigorous instruction in room layout, storage planning, cabinet installation, plumbing, and lighting.
Finding the Funds
What's the best way to pay for an addition or remodeling project? If you don't have the cash, taking out a home equity loan or home equity line of credit are popular options. A home equity loan, or second mortgage, is a fixed-rate, fixed-term loan based on the equity of your home. It's paid back in monthly installments. A home equity line of credit is a form of revolving credit, similar to credit cards, for which your home acts as collateral. Once you've set up a line of credit, you can access these funds whenever you want.
Whole-House Networking
Chances are, your family room is also a multimedia room, with TV, stereo, DVD, gaming system, and computer. Remodeling is the perfect time to update the room's wiring to meet these equipment needs.
Legal Limits
Before your build your deck, porch, or addition, avoid disappointment by making sure your project meets zoning laws and setback requirements.
Safety First
Short and well-trimmed hedges, well-maintained windows, and strong locks help keep your family and possessions safe from unwanted intruders.
Gardening with the Pros
Lush landscapes take work. If you want help creating or maintaining your lawn or garden, check out the variety of professionals available. Landscape architects have gone to school for landscape architecture and work with engineers to plan a landscape design. Landscape designers provide homeowners with ideas, create a budget, and design a plan for a budget that can be phased in over time. Horticulturists provide consultations on which plants do well in your particular soil and climate.
Dollar Stretchers
Wondering how the changes you make will affect your home's resale value? Minor and minor kitchen remodels, bathroom additions, master suite additions, attic bedroom conversion, siding replacement, and whole-house window replacement generally have the good returns on investment.