Exterior renovation might be daunting, especially if this is your first significant restoration project, but it is well worth the work. An external renovation improves the aesthetic of your home, protects it from undesired damage, and reduces your energy costs while raising the value of your property.
As you begin the procedure, you may have many questions: Where do I 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, Hackensack Contractor Service has designed a simple step-by-step method to help you confidently approach your future remodel.
1. Develop an Exterior Remodeling Strategy – 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 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 maintenance/repair
- Expansion is on the horizon.
- Increasing curb appeal by updating the appearance
- Increasing resale value
While developing your approach, decide on your priorities. Determine what you need versus what you want. What is a must-have right now, what is a nice-to-have, and what is a fantasy service that may be introduced later? Be specific about what you want and how you want it done to budget wisely.
Set a Budget
If you do not adequately budget for your approach, you may discover that your expenses are far more than intended, or you may not get the value you expected.
When determining your budget, consider the vision and objectives of what service you want to do for your property, the project duration, and what you want in a contractor.
A complete outside renovation might cost between $20K and $100K. Four primary elements determine the cost of a renovation:
- Fees and deposits for contractors
- Costs of materials and transportation
- Labor expenses
- Charges related to unanticipated project requirements
Take the time to go through each of these points with your potential contractors. They should be forthright and honest about their knowledge and plans for these financial obligations. We recommend receiving quotations from three or four local, licensed, and insured contractors to clarify the extent of work and budget range you’re working with and to ensure you get the best price/quality ratio.
Look for exterior renovation contractors that handle everything from windows to framing, roofing, siding, gutters, and woodwork. Window installation and roofing contractors, for example, may need additional planning, documentation, contracts, and payment schedules. Find a contractor that offers all the services you need; they may take a more thorough approach to your job, enabling you to stay on top of the details.
2. Find a Contractor You Can Trust
Trustworthiness is critical when selecting the proper contractor for your outside improvement job.
We’ve developed a list of important criteria to consider when hiring a contractor:
- Experience: Your contractor should have several years of experience, photographs, and positive feedback to back up their claims. Also, ensure that the contractor you’re considering has particular knowledge of the kind of task or service you want.
- Cost-Value: Don’t base your decision just on the cost of the estimate; a lower price usually equals worse-quality work, which may need more money for repairs later on. When estimating, a good contractor will consider the labor, materials, and insurance.
- Reviews: The essential feedback will come through word of mouth, referrals from local suppliers, and homeowner-to-homeowner review sites like Angie’s List, Yelp, or Google. While browsing these websites, remember that even the most well-known firms may have some negative feedback. Instead of chasing perfect marks, evaluate the overall impression of each company’s reviews.
- Licenses: Your contractor should be appropriately licensed by the state, fully insured, and have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Check the contractor’s website to verify whether they are a factory-certified vendor of high-quality items.
- Communication and Connection: Your contractor should successfully communicate with you, return your calls, present you with any necessary information and documents, aid you in understanding the extent of the task, and make you feel valued. If you get a bad feeling about someone, don’t hire them. Hire a contractor with whom you can converse, do business, and allow to work on your home.
3. Know Your Order of Operations
Always prioritize your most vital tasks and repairs. Major renovations may alter the requirements for lesser charges, but proper maintenance may protect you and your home from further damage during future upgrades.
Following your primary and urgent tasks, your outside makeover will typically go as follows:
- Roof and gutters
- Windows
- Siding
- Soffit and fascia
A complete Exterior restoration is not a simple process, but it may have a dramatic impact when done correctly—your house’s appearance, function, and value. Do you have any other questions concerning your outside remodeling project? Give us a call; we’re happy to assist!
