Exterior renovation might be daunting, especially if this is your first significant restoration project, but it is well worth the work. An external renovation may significantly improve the aesthetic of your home, protect it from undesired damage, and reduce your energy costs while raising the value of your property.
As you begin the procedure, you may have many questions: Where do I even begin? How much money should I budget for each project? What is the best order in which to perform each component of the renovation?
With these issues in mind, Elizabeth Remodeling Company has designed a simple step-by-step method to help you approach your future remodel with confidence.
1. Make an Exterior Remodeling Plan – Why? What? How?
Begin by determining what outside remodeling services you want to have completed. Have a vision for why you want to renovate the outside of your house, what remodeling services you want to have done, and how you want your home to appear after it’s finished.
The following are some of the most common reasons for an outside remodel:
- Required upkeep/repair
- Expansion is planned.
- Enhancing curb appeal by modernizing the look
- Boosting resale value
Decide on your priorities while you construct your strategy. Determine what you really need vs what you want. What is a must-have-now, what is a nice-to-have, and what is a dream service that may be implemented later? So that you can budget correctly, be explicit about what you want and how you want it done.
2. Set a Budget
If you do not budget properly for your strategy, you may find that the expenditures are substantially more than expected, or you may not get the value you expected.
Consider the vision and goals of what service you want done for your house, the project timeframe, and what you want in a contractor as you determine your budget.
A comprehensive external refurbishment might be between $20K and $100K. The cost of a renovation is influenced by four major factors:
- Fees and deposits for contractors
- Costs of materials and transportation
- Labor expenses
- Costs related with unanticipated project requirements
Take the time to discuss each of these aspects with your prospective contractors. They should be open and honest about their expertise and intentions for each of these financial requirements. We suggest getting estimates from three or four local, licensed, and insured contractors to specify the scope of work and budget range you’re dealing with and to guarantee you discover the ideal combination of price and quality.
Bonus Tip: Look for exterior remodeling professionals that perform everything from windows to framing, roofing, siding, gutters, and woodwork. Companies that specialize on just one or two parts, such as window installers or roofing contractors, will need extra planning, paperwork, contracts, and payment schedules. Find a contractor that provides all of the services you need; they may take a more comprehensive approach to your project, allowing you to keep on top of the specifics.
3. Find a Contractor You Can Trust
When selecting the proper contractor for your outside improvement job, trustworthiness is critical.
We’ve compiled a list of crucial factors to consider while selecting a contractor:
Experience
Your contractor should have many years of experience, with images and favorable evaluations to back up their claims. Also, be certain that the contractor you’re considering has specialized expertise with the sort of job or service you want accomplished.
Cost-Value
Don’t base your selection only on the cost of the estimate; a cheaper price generally means lesser-quality work, which may need you to spend more money on repairs later on. When establishing an estimate, a high-quality contractor will take into account the necessary labor, supplies, and insurance.
Reviews
Word-of-mouth, recommendations from local supply providers, and homeowner-to-homeowner review sites like Angie’s List, Yelp, or Google will provide the most important feedback. While surveying these websites, keep in mind that even the top companies may have some unfavorable reviews. Instead of striving for ideal scores, consider the overall impression of each company’s evaluations.
Licenses
Your contractor should be completely licensed by the state, fully insured, and have a good Better Business Bureau rating. You could also check the contractor’s website to see whether they are a factory-certified seller of high-quality products.
Communication and Connection
Your contractor should communicate effectively with you, answer your calls, provide you with any required information and documentation, assist you in understanding the scope of the job, and make you feel important. If you have a negative gut feeling about someone, don’t employ them. Hire a contractor with someone you feel at ease conversing, conducting business, and allowing to work on your house.
4. Know Your Order of Operations
Your most important work and/or repairs should always come first. Major projects will change the needs for minor projects, but effective repairs may help protect you and your house from additional harm during later improvements.
Following your significant and/or urgent jobs, your external makeover will normally proceed as follows:
- Roof and gutters
- Windows
- Siding
- Soffit and fascia
A full exterior restoration is no small task, but when done well, it can drastically transform the appearance, function, and value of your house. Do you have any other questions concerning your outside remodeling project? Give us a call; we’re happy to assist!
