| Remodel Coaching |
Professional coaching before you start a remodel project can save you money and headaches!
Remodeling can be daunting and disruptive as well as expensive. I have been helping clients survive the process for years along with my home inspection business. The impulse for this service is the frequency with which I see absolutely incompetent construction and remodeling work in home inspections.
How Problems Start
If you're like most homeowners, you have little or no idea about the normal sequence of work, the role of the building department, the importance of design, and other factors affecting the outcome of a remodel project. You probably do not have a clear idea of the role of contractors, subcontractors, employees, architects, engineers, and others who may be involved. You probably do not have the background to determine whether technical aspects of the work are properly completed. Unscrupulous contractors know this and they take advantage of it.
You probably won't know anything is wrong until it's too late. The first sign of trouble might be leaks around the new windows, a bad smell from water under the house, or an unpleasant surprise in an inspection report when you are getting ready to sell. This may be months or even years after the job is "done" and the contractor is long gone. You might also get an unexpected bill from a supplier who was not paid, or a Stop Work order from the building department.
The remedy is usually time consuming, frustrating, and expensive. Sure, you can sue, but even if you win you may not collect enough to cover your costs, much less compensate for the disruption to your life. In many cases, you can't collect anything because the contractor has no resources.
How Coaching Works
My objective is to avoid problems before they start. Once you have started out with an unrealistic budget, failed to obtain adequate design or permits, or hired an unscrupulous contractor, the job has already gone wrong. Although no longer active, I am a licensed general contractor with lots of experience in remodeling and repair, so I know where the pitfalls lie and I can steer you away from them.
If I have not seen the house before, I usually start with a general home inspection. I then sit down with you to discuss whether the project is feasible, what the budget and time frame might be, and which other repairs or upgrades should be incorporated to avoid having to do things over in the future. If you have not already selected a designer or contractor, I will help with referrals. When proposals have been submitted, I can help you evaluate and compare them. Sometimes the best service I can offer is to advise you against getting into a project that is beyond your means. A common source of trouble is to become so fixated on the extra bedroom or new kitchen that you shop for contractors until you find someone unscrupulous enough to say the work can be done within an unrealistic budget. These contractors specialize in loading the job with “change orders” that should have been part of the initial contract, driving up the cost enormously. And of course, some are outright crooks. I am continually amazed at how otherwise sophisticated and educated homeowners will hand over large sums to contractors– or to those who claim to be contractors – without investigating their background, license status, references, etc. What If the Job Is Already In Trouble?If things I have already gone wrong -- or if you are just uneasy about how the job is going -- I'll be glad to evaluate the work and issue a report on the status of the job. In some cases, I may be able to suggest a way to fix the problem or help in negotiating with a contractor. If needed, I'll refer you to an attorney or other professional as appropriate. And I'll help you start over if that's what it takes.
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