A Reminder: Do your Due Diligence BEFORE HIRING A HOME REMODELING CONTRACTOR

 

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In our last post, Questions to Ask before Selecting a Home Remodeling Contractor, I suggested key information to ask from you home improvement specialist before you hire one.

There is still more that you need to do, before you sign a contract for your bathroom remodel, room addition, kitchen renovation, building your hurricane-resistant screen enclosure, or any other home improvement project.

Verify A Contractor’s License

For a Florida state-licensed general contractor, visit the Florida Department of Regulation website. In Palm Beach County you can verify a contractor’s license here.  Make sure the contractor is licensed to do the type of work you want.

Check for Complaints

Use the internet wisely and search to see if there are any complaints about the contractor. There are many sites, including the Florida Department of Regulation and the Better Business Bureau that lists complaints against a company.

You don’t want to lose money on your investment into your home.

Don’t just take our word for it. View this newscast about Florida Screen Builders – http://www.wptv.com/money/consumer/florida-screen-builders-closes-doors-after-second-chance-to-fix-problem-permits

It will show you why it is important to do your due diligence before you hire a contractor.

 

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida state certified general contracting company specializing in room additions, bathroom renovation, kitchen updates, and hurricane-resistant screen enclosures. The most important thing they build is your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 or visit their website for more information about how they can help you with your next Palm Beach County home remodeling project.

Questions to Ask Before – SELECTING A PROFESSIONAL HOME REMODELING CONTRACTOR


BEFORE You Select a Home Remodeling Contractor

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Whether you plan to hire a professional remodeling contractor to build an addition, remodel your kitchen, update your bathroom, or any other home renovation project, it is important to do a “background check” on your home improvement specialist. Here are some of the questions that you should ask, before you choose a contractor.

 

COMPANY REPUTATION

1. Show me a copy of your up-to-date contracting license in Florida showing proper classification for the type of job I am considering.
2. Give me a list of all the businesses in which you have been an owner, shareholder, or partner that have been in the home improvement or home remodeling business within the last ten years.
3. Have you or any of the owners of your company ever filed for bankruptcy for this or any other company that you or they owned or were a shareholder or partner in?
4. Provide me with a certificate of insurance for your company.
5. What is your payment policy for your subcontractors and what type of proof will I have that they have been paid?

 

SERVICE, FOLLOW-UP AND WARRANTIES

1. What is your warranty and what does it cover?
2. Have you ever repaired a project after the warranty expired without charging for it?

EXPERIENCE

1. Who will be supervising my project on a day-to-day basis?
2. How many projects that are similar to mine have you completed?
3. What do you provide to help me understand what to expect during the remodeling process?
4. Do you have a written policy regarding tobacco, drug and alcohol use by your crews?

 

Review all the contractor’s answers. The quality contractor will stand out.

Whether your dream is to add a master bedroom suite, to complete a multi-room renovation project, or to makeover your bathroom or kitchen, Leading Edge Homes, Inc. has  the experience to construct your project in a professional manner that exceeds your expectations.

Call them at 561-795-2551 and discover how their expertise as a design-build contractor can help you remodel your home.

Your Home Remodeling Contractor Should Be a Design Build Contractor

 

A design-build home remodeling contractor can seamlessly perform room additions, kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations and more.

A design-build home remodeling contractor can seamlessly perform room additions, kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations and more.

What is a Design Build Contractor?

A design-build contractor is responsible for designing your room addition or remodeling project using your direct input, creating the construction documents – including the plans, and building the project from those documents. Many, like Leading Edge Homes, Inc. draw the plans and give you a chance to “see” your project in 3-D, before the plans are finalized.

The Advantages of a Home Remodeling Contractor that is a Design Build Contractor

● A single point of responsibility and eliminates the “finger pointing” inherent in the classic design-bid-build system between the architect and contractor
● A higher likelihood that the project will be constructed within the homeowner’s budget because the work scope and finish materials that impact a project’s final cost is discussed up front
● Enhanced communication
● Working with a construction expert and design professional at the same time ensures that potential problems are discovered and discussed before the project starts
● Faster creation of the construction documents and, if needed, faster turnaround of revisions
● Better quality control by removing ambiguity that may arise in material and construction specifications because the designer, engineer and contractor are on the same team so the focus remains on protecting the client’s interest
● Quicker overall time frame from initial homeowner consultation to project completion

 

For more information contact Leading Edge Homes, Inc. by visiting their website or calling 561-795-2551.

Home Remodeling and New Construction Are NOT The Same

When planning to do a home remodel, bathroom renovation, kitchen update, a home room addition, it is important that your home improvement contractor is experienced at home remodeling – not just building new homes.

Home Remodeling and Addition

Home remodeling and room additions require experienced home improvement specialists like Leading Edge Homes, Inc.

Different Skill Set Required for Remodeling

Changing an existing space requires a different skill set, and sometimes different tools, than creating a new space where none has existed before.  A home remodeling expert is typically not surprised by less than perfect existing conditions, mistakes made by previous owners or contractors, or other obstacles.  They expect it and know how to deal with it.  This is a talent a builder does not have to acquire.

Builders do not work with homeowners in their home on a daily basis.  Home remodeling specialists are used to performing their work while homeowners go about their life around them.  When homeowners become anxious about seeing a portion of their home get destroyed, remodelers know how to counsel them through the process and confirm to them that the end result will be worth the temporary stress.  More importantly, remodelers know how to handle the inevitable surprises that occur once demolition begins and assure the homeowner that they will be handled properly.

Protecting the Home

Builders do not need to be concerned about dust and protecting existing surfaces that are not planned on being replaced.  Remodelers know how to erect temporary plastic walls and are familiar with the use of various specialty products used to protect floors, tubs, trim, countertops, etc.  A good remodeler will also keep the work and exterior staging areas clean and neat.

Home remodeling is a totally different world than new home construction.  Choose the leader of your project wisely to avoid costly mistakes.

Remodeling Has A Different Cost Structure

A builder’s price may not be his final price.  Builders are typically not familiar with the extra costs involved in remodeling, like sub-contractors’ minimum charges, price per item for small quantities, or premiums charged for using a crew for a partial day to name a few.  You may find yourself being presented with numerous change orders and additional work authorizations due to the builder’s inexperience.
Many builders have gotten into remodeling work because new home construction is slow. After they lose money on a couple of remodeling jobs due to their being unfamiliar with the cost differences inherent in remodeling work, they may not be in business to honor warranties.  If they do survive, they will go back to new home construction when business picks up and you will be a very low priority if they even respond to your warranty work request.

Remember….

Selecting a remodeling company isn’t like buying a dining room set. You can’t simply compare prices and choose the one that requires the lowest investment. Due to varying skill levels and range of professionalism within the remodeling industry, there is no way to compare apples to apples. Home remodeling is probably as far from commodity buying as you can get.

Remodeling your home is more like buying an unfinished piece of art. Your home is the sculpture or painting where the work has already begun. Your remodeling contractor is the artist who uses his skills and creativity to finish the work to make your home into a masterpiece that transforms your home and builds comfort into your life.

For more information about Leading Edge Homes, Inc., your home improvement and home remodeling specialist, please visit their website.

 

 

 

 

Renovate Your Bathroom – Your Lighting May Make Your Makeup Look Wrong

While kitchen and family room lighting is given plenty of forethought, bathroom lighting, in general, is not given nearly enough. I can’t begin to count how many bathrooms I have been in, pre-remodeling, that were illuminated by one surface-mounted light fixture in the middle of the room.

While having recessed light fixtures mounted directly over each sink, the toilet, the shower, and the tub is a big improvement, it is not optimal for applying makeup. Recessed lights over a mirror cast shadows over your face which not only makes it difficult to see, it also makes you look older. It’s also the reason why makeup can look differently when outside of the house than it did when applied. So what’s the solution?

Makeup lighting needs to come from the sides – think sconces. When lighting is at roughly eye level and at the sides it casts even lighting across the face. If this is not possible due to space, an alternate mounting location is directly on the mirror. Remember to use cool white light bulbs which render skin tone the most accurately.

If you are thinking of updating your bathroom, call us at 561-795-2551 or visit or website at www.leadingedgehomes.com.

For additional ideas and great pictures go to http://www.youbeauty.com/beauty/the-best-lighting-for-makeup/

Welcome – Home Remodeling and Home Improvement Advice

Todd Perry, President Leading Edge Homes, Inc.

Todd Perry, Pres. Leading Edge Homes, Inc.

Feeling anxious, insecure, or overwhelmed about remodeling your house? Yes…. then this blog is for you. Before I was a state licensed home remodeling contractor almost 30 years ago, I was in your shoes too!

This blog will answer many of the question you have about projects, keep you up-to-date on industry home improvement innovations and trends, and provide you with advice, tips, and so much more for all of your home renovation projects.

If you have questions that you don’t see answered here, or want more information, visit our website or call us at 561-795-2551.

Welcome.

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