The Homeowner’s Guide to Planning a Remarkable Renovation

There is so much to think about when considering a renovation of your greater Seattle area home.

Maybe you’ve been living with an outdated kitchen that just isn’t working for you. Perhaps the flow of the entire living area doesn’t meet your growing family’s needs. Too few bedrooms? No room to work from home? Maybe you love your neighborhood and haven’t been successful in trying to purchase a larger home in the area.

The first question to ask yourself: Does renovation make sense for us right now? There are alternatives that may be more cost-effective, so the answer is not an automatic “yes.”

But sometimes alternatives are not all they’re cracked up to be.

Maybe you’ve been searching for a home in your area, and the right fit just isn’t there. Or you are working out of an RV or co-working space because there just is no room in your current home to do your job. If space is at a premium, but you are happy with your neighbors and your neighborhood, then a renovation might be the most sensible solution to your needs.

Your first thought might be, “We can DIY this project, no problem!” And if you or your friends and family have the time and skills to make that happen, that is a feasible solution.

Homeowners who decide to begin a DIY home renovation project don’t realize that they are also taking on the role of the general contractor. This could mean that vendors and trade professionals fail to respond to inquiries because the homeowner lacks credibility and industry relationships.

What will the DIY budget be? 60% of homeowners think that DIY projects will be less expensive, but 1 in 3 go on to hire a professional to get it done right. This includes the cost of the DIY homeowner’s materials and time spent, plus hiring someone else to finish the project or even redoing the work that was done incorrectly.

Often a small project turns into a big deal. For instance, a homeowner could decide to re-tile their bathroom and, after completing the demolition, realize there is rot on the wall behind the tile. The homeowner didn’t sign up for whatever needed to be fixed to replace the rotten material and ensure the underlying problem that caused the rot was solved. In addition, many don’t have the expertise to mitigate mold and keep themselves safe while they do it.

If you legitimately have the skills and experience, DIY can be a reasonable approach. But if you are not an expert, the financial and emotional risks — not to mention the risk of physical injury — are very real.

Purchasing a fixer-upper can be a good investment, but you will want to work with a professional contractor to make sure the remodeling you want is feasible and financially viable on the property before you put in an offer.

There is one more way homeowners can get ahead of themselves. Starting a multi-phase project without advanced planning can cause a lot of headaches. For example, if a second-story addition is part of the construction phase, you must consider the impacts on the rest of the home and plan accordingly. A skilled and experienced contractor will efficiently plan and organize the phases so they make the most financial and logistical sense.

In fact, it makes the problem worse. If a problem arises — like mold spots on a ceiling — and nothing is done to remedy the issue, the problem will only grow.

Painting over the spot or putting a bucket up in the attic to capture moisture only prolongs the inevitable. That roof needs fixing, and if you don’t take care of it, there will be cascading problems from the roof on down. Costs will escalate, and with problems like mold, health and safety become a higher risk issue as well.

Homeowners have access to SO many options these days. To narrow down those options, it is wise to have a series of questions answered prior to committing.

Now that you know what NOT to do, let’s talk about what you should do to be successful. There are many reasons to renovate, but there are extra steps you must take to make sure it gets done right. The planning process for a remarkable renovation starts with sitting down with a trusted builder and digging into what you want and need from a remodel.

Aside from the builder’s technical expertise, getting to know the builder and their values — and making sure they align with yours — is a key to a good renovation experience. After all, the homeowner client will enter into a long-term relationship with this group of people, and it’s important to like and trust that partner.

This process goes both ways. A high-quality building team should start by ensuring the fit is right for both the homeowner and the general contractor. If a client determines that a building firm isn’t the right fit, the building firm should offer referrals to other contractors that might work better for the project. The important thing is to have as much information as possible about the next steps.

Look for a contractor relationship that will be a true partnership. Look for a company that will go beyond the bare minimum to exceed your expectations. This will set the project up for success.

Important questions to ask: 

• Are the team members of the building firm active members in the community where their clients live and work? Having a personal connection to the place where the client lives will only build a better partnership and increase the quality of the work completed.
  
  
• Are the employees of the build firm happy and long-standing team members? Happy employees working in client homes is crucial for a more pleasurable experience for everyone.
  
  
• Does the building firm you’re working with give back to the community? Many high-quality build firms will sponsor local youth sporting teams, sponsor flower baskets on their streets, support local food banks, or donate labor and material for community members in need.
  
  
• What are your green building practices? For many homeowners in the Seattle region, green building practices are an important value they expect in any home renovation project. Knowing what options your building team offers to maintain an eco-friendly build project is important to address upfront.

A good contractor will first and foremost, serve as a trusted advisor for the homeowner. They will ask questions and find out what the pain points are that bring the client to consider a renovation project.

There may be multiple solutions to resolve the issues that involve less time and expense. A high-quality building firm will educate you on all your options and only want to take on jobs where they add value, not just take projects because they can.

Clear, concise, and consistent communication is necessary to ensure nothing is left to chance, questions get answered, and nothing gets ignored or forgotten as the process moves forward. Look for a contractor that not only says they value communication but demonstrates it from the start.

Most contractors are capable of doing the work that goes into a home renovation project. Again, there is more to the process than technical expertise in building. When design and build are brought together in one process, it creates a better experience for everyone involved.

It’s important for homeowners to understand that communication between contractors and the design team is critical for a successful project. A design/build firm can creatively solve issues and ensure you, as the homeowner, get the most out of your renovation budget. It’s not only about the finished product, but about the journey it takes to get there.

The process should include the following: 

• Clear and concise communication at every stage of the project via project management software.
• A dedicated project manager who will guide your project to success with standing weekly meetings and regular check-ins.
• A guaranteed level of quality and an extended warranty that spans at least 5 years.

Once the building team has been chosen, the next step is to determine the scope of the project. A good design-build company will be a trusted advisor who will guide the client through a defined process, starting with a “discovery” phase.

This phase is where the client shares what the vision is for the renovation. Questions may include: What is not working in the current layout of the home? Are there ways to fix problems like underused space or bad flow between rooms without a full-blown construction?

When the client’s challenges are thoroughly discussed, the design-build firm can provide potential solutions, and give a rough sense of the time it will take and a ballpark cost of the project. A good builder will gather the details, create a plan, and provide a price that doesn’t change unless the client decides to change the scope of work.

Here are common questions homeowners have when planning a renovation: 

     Is my lot large enough to add an addition?

     Can I live in my home while the construction is happening?

     When should I engage with a home builder to meet my project timeline?

     How to find the best home builder team, and what type of capabilities should they have?

     Why is it important to have a general contractor involved in design?

     Will the addition look like an addition, or will it fit seamlessly into the home?

     What permits are required to build an addition on my property?

     Is an addition right for my property?

     How to identify the design style and the aesthetic you are looking for in a home renovation?

   How much will a home renovation cost?

    How much should we invest in our home, or should we buy a new home?

    Can I add a basement to my home?

It’s an old adage that there are no dumb questions, and that is especially true when in the beginning stages of a renovation project. As a homeowner, it’s hard to be an expert in excavation, foundations, framing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, design, and all the rest that goes into a project to make a home renovation remarkable. That’s why you should consult with someone specialized in these fields.

You’ve done some initial research, you’ve weighed the options of doing nothing, moving, or starting a project, and you are ready to get started on a renovation. What should you expect? First and foremost, expect the process to be an equal partnership between you and the builder from the first conversation through project completion.

There are many ways to plan a renovation, but the best building firms will provide the most efficient path — in terms of both time and cost — for an experience that exceeds expectations. Understanding the available options and different procedures in more detail is an incredibly valuable step in the decision-making process.

To learn how Better Builders’ unique process creates long-lasting relationships and partnerships with our clients, download the eBook: The Better Builders Proven Roadmap to Create the Home of Your Dreams.

If you are ready to discuss your renovation, please request a Home Renovation Project Exploration Call. We will help you create a plan that exceeds your goals while gaining the most out of your renovation investment.