Posts Tagged "Remodeling Contractor"

Is It Worthwhile to Remodel Your Bathroom?

December 16, 2014

When it comes to remodeling your home, we don’t need to tell you that the options are practically limitless. Whether your project is relatively small or involves a total property restoration, the sheer variety of materials, fixtures, and decor are immense, ranging from shabby chic, to icy and modern, to crisp and classic.

As you mull over the options in front of you, let’s talk about bathrooms.

Bathrooms – a Relatively Small Space That Holds Big Value

It can be easy to take your bathroom for granted. After all, as long as the shower is hot and you have a mirror to check your hair with, you might not give the space a whole lot of extra thought.

The truth of the matter is, custom bathrooms are skyrocketing in popularity.

The bathroom has become something of a refuge; a place where you can relax at the end of a long workday, almost like a personal, miniature spa. The troubles of the day don’t seem quite so large when you’re wrapped in a cloud of relaxing steam, enjoying the peace and quiet. And, whether you like the look of claw-foot tubs or stone, walk-in showers, there is a perfect design out there for you.

Because of this refreshed focus on bathroom design, restoring and updating this area of your home can be a phenomenal investment. Trends today show huge returns in the form of resale value. This is because while the living room and dining rooms are important, there is very little middle ground when it comes to a bathroom’s “wow factor.” Either it’s an exciting selling point, or it simply isn’t. And, if it is drab or outdated, it becomes a major deterrent because suddenly the prospective buyer feels like a to-do list was just handed to them.

Ask a Professional Remodeling and Restoration Company for Help!

Because we are homeowners too, we understand that sometimes the remodeling process can feel a little overwhelming. After all, as we mentioned above, there are countless options to work through!

At Gerety Building and Restoration, we enjoy helping our clients fully understand their options, and taking the stress off their plate so that their whole experience is a good one. If you have any questions about our services, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Keith Gerety
Custom Bathroom Design

Hire the Best Contractor for Your Home Remodeling Projects

May 17, 2013

Now that summer is here, it is the perfect time for you to start planning and executing your home remodeling projects. There are so many ways you can improve upon the structure and appearance of your home. If you take some time to assess your home’s condition, you may find that there are some things that need to be addressed from the winter. No matter what projects you ultimately decide to start, make sure you do your homework so that you hire the best and most qualified professionals for the job.

While you may be all too eager to get started with your home remodeling projects, you need to realize that if you are on a budget, you need to be careful. Things can quickly become expensive if you don’t select the right contractor that will do the job right the first time around. In fact, instead of rushing to get things done, start doing some research on what needs to be done. Even if you plan on hiring professionals, it doesn’t hurt for you to learn about the different materials that can be used. Keep in mind that you should not sacrifice any professionals’ credentials and experience in hopes of saving money. When it comes to your home, you need to remember that it is an investment and you don’t want anyone who is not properly qualified or licensed to work on it.

If you are going to use contractors for your home remodeling projects, keep in mind that even though you aren’t doing any of the construction, you still have control over what is done. Don’t hire anyone that makes you feel intimidated or uneasy. You need to hire professionals that are open to communication and respect what you say. They will make sure that you are included every step of the way towards your project’s completion. They will respect your wishes and any preferences you have. If you have any questions or concerns, you should be able to present them and the contractors should respond and resolve any issues you may have.

Before any work can begin on your property, you and your contractors need to come to a legal agreement about the work that is going to be performed. This agreement needs to be drawn up in the form of a contract. Everything pertaining to your home remodeling project needs to be included. Payment schedules, fees agreed upon, who is responsible for purchasing supplies, how much you are going to be charged for supplies and when your project is expected to be completed are some of the things that need to be included in your contract. Once you have worked out the details of the contract and it meets everyone’s approval, all involved parties can sign it so work on your project can begin.

Keith Gerety
design build contractor

When Is The Best Time To Remodel

January 19, 2012

Most people think of spring and summer as the perfect time to undertake a remodeling project. It is quite true that warmer temperatures and sunny days are beneficial when it comes to working outside – or rather hiring other people to work outside – but temperature is far from the only consideration when deciding when is the right time to begin your remodeling project.

In many cases, knowing when to remodel is likely to save you money as well as time during your project. Spring and summer may be the most popular times to call in a contractor but they may not be the right option for you.

Avoiding Contractors’ Busy Times

If you go to your favorite restaurant when they are very busy you are unlikely to get the same careful level of attention as you would at off peak hours and you are far less likely to get the extra side portion of salad dressing or any other extras you want the first time you ask for it. The staff are simply going to be too busy to give you all the attention they probably should.

The same can often hold true for renovation or remodeling contractors of all kinds. If they are juggling several projects at once they may simply not have the resources or time to pay as much attention to yours, especially if it a smaller project, as they usually would if they were less pressed for time.

Additionally, when every contractor within a ten mile radius is putting in orders for hardwood flooring, paint, lumber and all kinds of other building supplies there is a much greater chance that orders will suffer stock shortages, get delayed, or even mixed up, causing everyone involved extra headaches. Remodeling projects are already a bit of a hassle anyway so these types of extra delays can become a real annoyance.

By working with remodeling contractors in their “off season” you may also get a more favorable to you price estimate as when they have less projects on their books.

The best possible scenario for many remodeling and home maintenance projects is to schedule them a few months earlier than everyone else is likely to be doing.

Keith Gerety
General Contractor

5 Easy Steps to a Stress Free Home Renovation Project

January 9, 2012

With spring around the corner, now is the perfect time to start planning your home renovation projects. Take the next several weeks to analyze, research, and evaluate your current home to find out what you really want and need. This will save you from wasted time and potentially costly mistake down the road.

Whether it’s that gourmet kitchen you’ve been dreaming about, the outdated master bathroom you’ve been putting off, or the new bedroom addition you desperately need, winter is for planning and spring is for building.

Following this five-step approach will take the stress and anxiety out of the home renovation process, at the same time saving you valuable time and money.

1. Dream It!

Assess Your Situation: Taking a realistic look at your current situation will make all the difference between a good home renovation project and a great one! What problems need to be solved? Walk through your home room by room and take great notes along the way.

Inspiration File: Educate yourself on the materials, finishes and appliances that are available to you. Check out the design magazines and the plethora of home design shows to gather ideas that inspire you in some way. You’ll see a pattern beginning to emerge.

Wish List: Creating your wish list will influence the overall concept and design that you ultimately want your home to reflect. Gathering all of this information will help you determine the overall scope of your project.

2. Plan It!

Budget and Financing: If you plan on staying in your home for ten years or more, then budget what you can to create the home of your dreams. Be realistic, as your lenders will let you know exactly how much you’re qualified to borrow.

Professionals: Hiring the right design professionals will definitely save you valuable time and money, and eliminate any planning mistakes down the road. Pre-planning is undoubtedly the biggest money saver!

The Contract: Once you’ve committed to a licensed contractor review the bid and contract line by line and make sure that the scope of your project is documented throughout. If you’re unclear on a item, ask for clarification.

3. Design It!

Floor Plan: Designing the floor plan is where you begin to see your dream
take shape. Try to visualize this space three dimensionally.

Details: Whatever your style, focusing on the details will set your space apart from the rest and will provide you with a true reflection of your
personality.

Shopping: Selecting the perfect materials, finishes, appliances and fixtures
is what will infuse the detail and character into your project. Take your
plans, samples and photos with you on every single shopping trip. You never know what you’ll find.

4. Do It!

Demolition: This is chaos at its best. If you want to release some deep seeded aggression now’s the time to grab a hammer and crowbar and help the demo crew. I highly recommend it!

Construction: The most exciting phase of the renovation process. This is where you begin to see all the pieces of the puzzle come together. Attending weekly site meetings and following an agenda will keep your project
running smoothly.

Coping with Construction: Be realistic and plan for delays. It will reduce the level of stress and anxiety you could potentially feel. Be flexible.

5. Live It!

Punch List:

Do a final walk-through with your contractor and list all the outstanding minor repairs and completions that still need to be done before your project is one hundred percent complete.

Clean Up:

Even if your stipulated a clean up clause in your contract, hire your own cleaning crew to come in just before you move back in. Just remember though – it will take weeks for the dust to settle.

Moving Back In:

It’s all behind you and you’ve made it through the renovation process relatively unscathed. Now roll up your sleeves and put your personal signature on everything. Invite some family and friends over for that dinner party you’ve wanted to host – and start living the dream.

Keith Gerety
Remodeling Company