How Do I Start Planning My Remodeling Project?
•Make a list of the things that you want to achieve with your remodeling project.
•Upgrade the space you have? A basement, kitchen or bath-room.
•Enlarge a room within your existing home.
•Enlarge your existing home with an addition, and so on.

Who Can Guide Me Through the Process?
Contact a reputable remodeling Contractor with design capabilities, a designer, or architect. (preferably Huber & Behle)

At this point you can discuss the possibilities that would work with your existing structure, layout, plumbing, electrical systems or all. After that discussion, some rough sketches are in order. Once you have the basic ideas, we recommend that you get a rough estimate from a qualified remodeling contractor and we do mean contractor. Friends, family, and acquaintances of friends and family lack the expertise of professional contractors who prepare estimates everyday. Would you ask your next door neighbor, who designs databases for a living, to perform your open heart surgery?

Sometimes an architect or designer can tell you that your project might cost so much per foot. This kind of calculation rarely applies to most remodeling projects because of all the different variables. For instance if you are thinking of building a room addition, appropriate questions include how accessible is the site? can you get heavy equipment to the site? Bring concrete and building materials in without damaging your driveway or yard? or, will you be encroaching on your neighbor’s property? Where will you go with the excess dirt that will be generated when digging out the basement or crawlspace?

When planning an interior remodeling project, different selections can affect your cost. In the kitchen, will you select an expensive custom cabinet, or choose a stock-type cabinet? Will you choose a laminate counter top, or more expensive granite or Corian type countertop? In the bathroom, will you install a steel tub and shower combination, or will you prefer a larger ceramic tile shower with seating, body sprays, and a heavy glass enclosure? All these types of decisions will have a major affect on you final cost.

When you get your rough price, please remember that call it rough for a reason. It is not exact cost, but should give you an idea of the range that you will be in.

At this point you will decide if you want to proceed with drawings so that your contractor can give you an accurate quote with specifications and allowances. We consider this phase the feasibility study, when you determine if you can proceed with the project.

How Do I Select a Contractor?
Selecting a contractor is the most important decision that you will make with your remodeling project. Obviously you want to find a well established remodeling contractor that has a reputation for doing a professional job at a fair price. Most reputable contractors can give you a substantial list of past customers that will talk to you about the contractor’s performance on their project. Often you may know someone that has had work completed by a certain contractor and that offers you a level of comfort. Make no mistake, selecting a contractor that you feel comfortable with, one that you feel will treat you fairly throughout the length of the project, is very important. Remember that once the project starts its like a marriage. You will be spending a lot of time with your contractor and his employees. They will arrive early every morning and be there all day for the duration of the project. You will get to know many of them by their first names, how many children they have and so on, and they will get to know you and your family and probably the name of the dog or cat. During the process both the contractor and the owner need to keep the lines of communications open. This will help to complete the project in a professional and timely fashion.

When can we start?
First, when is the contractor able to work your project into the schedule. Most contractors generally have multiple projects underway, in many different phases. Often times there may be items that are needed to start or complete the project that must be ordered months in advance of the need. You must work with your contractor to develop a realistic schedule both you and your contractor can live with.

How long will it take to complete the project?
Everybody wants the project completed as soon as possible, but that will depend on how large and involved, and how difficult the scope of the project will be. Some jobs will be a matter of removing cabinets and flooring and installing something new in its place. More often than not the job will require removing or altering walls, some of which will be load bearing and/or with existing mechanicals such as plumbing, electrical, and heating that will need to be relocated and we often need to install new structural beams to carry a second floor or roof load where a wall has been removed. All these factors will decide the length of time the project will take.