Contractors for Home Remodel in Houston
Contractors for home remodel play a significant role in preparing owners for a major remodel. The home remodeling services they provide are invaluable to the successful results of any project. All major home remodeling in Houston requires an experienced remodel contractor to facilitate design, construction documents, have engineering resources and understand different methods and means for construction improvements. Remodeling homes requires many different service tools that are necessary in achieving the client’s desired results.
Everything from 3D design through warranty assurance programs, contractors for home remodel can provide concierge services that most house remodel customers do not really completely understand. These are services that are normally required in the house remodeling development process. Remodel contractors facilitate various services and functions for the betterment of their client’s interest.
It is common knowledge that most remodel contractors hire subcontractors to perform the required trade services for house remodeling. Although this is correct, it is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the knowledge and services that a qualified professional Houston remodel contractor offers.
Professional remodeling contractor services are not limited to construction services. The experienced and qualified contractors for home remodel provide design services, feasibility analysis, construction budget development and offer a full range of material & product selection assistance. We will examine the importance of each of these critical items and the value to the client.
Feasibility Analysis
A financial analysis is a research study to determine the financial qualification and rationalization of a major house remodeling project. It principally establishes the sanity test to determine if a project can be financially justified with the idea that eventually the owner will sell the property. The financial analysis can also assist the owner if they are seeking construction financing for the project.
Other factors can be introduced into the financial analysis model such as comparing multiple financial scenarios to each other. Comparing the financial outcomes of a house remodel project to building a new home is a common query. During this analysis the owner compares the present value of the out-of-pocket investments to the future value of the return on investment.
Preparing the feasibility analysis requires experience and knowledge of construction cost and current market values of new and existing property to properly prepare. The different scenarios can get rather complex and necessitates the ability to use consistent financial factors during comparisons.
Design Build Services
One of the most overlooked services that professional remodel contractors provide is design to build services. Most home owners believe that they must hire an architect to design their home design documents.
Or worse, they forego the necessity of preparing construction documents completely. Proceeding without construction documents can result in being a real mistake with the improvements not reflecting what the owner anticipated or miscommunications between remodel contractor and subcontractor regarding relevant details.
The significance of design to build services is that your general contractor can design to a budget instead of designing to bid plans that inevitably require to be re-designed because the cost was more than expected.
Another benefit is that the remodeling contractor is the responsible party for design if something is omitted or an error occurs. This eliminates many frustrating change orders during construction.
The design to build approach provides the owner with a single point of contact and responsible for both design and construction. It reduces the total process time required to design and build and generally reduces the total construction cost. The design build approach is a value-based construction delivery method.
Budget Development
Contrary to popular belief the construction budget development process is not a static process. The budget development process begins with establishing a target construction budget based upon quantifying the clients wants and needs and applying the contractor for home remodel’s estimating experience to the remodeling area.
These target budget numbers can fluctuate dramatically based upon such items as the actual design, the materials ultimately selected and the circumstances surrounding the remodeling process. So as the design process develops so does the accuracy of the estimated cost. The more defined the unanswered questions become the more confidence your general contractor becomes finalizing the actual construction cost.
Material & Product Selections
Shopping for new house products and finish construction materials can be exciting and exhausting at the same time. The excitement in part has to do with the owners visualizing and anticipating how certain materials will look in their completed project design.
The exhaustive feeling come from the number of products that exist to choose from and the need to compare and blend these items to create color continuity. There are many vendors to select materials and products from. Visiting these many resources locations can also add to the exhaustion.
It is worth mentioning at this point that it is important to get a list of the selection priorities early in the design process. Provided you are not doing all your shopping at Home Depot, many products and materials require a lead time to order. If these items lead times are not factored into the construction schedule, these delays can have a significant impact on the completion of the construction.
Do It Your Self Risk/Reward
The risk/reward relationship of not using a contractor for home remodel depends on the size, complexity and the type of the home renovation project. Doing typical house maintenance like painting, replacing worn or damaged house products typically does not require the services of a general contractor.
General contractors make money by managing their hired subcontractors to perform remodeling services. Many owners believe that they save a lot of money by being their own general contractor.
In some cases, this may be true, while other cases this can be a disaster. It takes a great deal more than watching a few videos and reading a book. Professionals can be tested by some projects, let alone an inexperienced homeowner attempting to manage a complex project.
When Do You Need a General Remodeling Contractor?
As just discussed, it is not necessary to hire a general remodeling contractor for all home remodeling projects. Understanding when you should hire a contractor for home remodel depends upon your realistic assessment of the risk associated with the project. You are likely to pay somewhere between 20% – 30% more for using a general contractor, but that savings can look like a gift if your project gets out of control.
We will discuss some of the obvious house remodeling projects that make both technical and financial sense to hire a remodeling contractor instead of a do it yourself attempt.
Larger Construction Budgets – The larger the construction budget the greater the risk. The risk can be either systemic and/or non-systemic. Systemic problems are issues with non performing subcontractors, the use of non-approved substituted materials and the general design and construction risk associated with the industry.
Non systemic problems are associated with risk losses that could be mitigated by insurance, safety behavior and quality control practices. Contractors for home remodel are experts in managing the risk of a large project.
Structural Changes – Making structural changes to your house is much like dental work. It requires experience, knowhow and skill to procedural perform surgery. Altering structures can have costly and profound effects on the houses service life. Structural modifications can contribute to the effectiveness of the house design process, but often require engineering before executing.
Structural changes traditionally require structural engineering drawings and permits. These are important documents that mitigate the possibility of severe consequences occurring. Determining proper spans and structural member sizes should not be left to the discretion of a building contractor that thinks that certain practices will work.
Whole Home Renovations – Whole home renovations are one of the most complex house remodeling projects. These usually involve demolishing the house back to the studs and often effects every aspect of the home. These include modifying the structures, electrical system, HVAC and plumbing systems of the house. https://www.marwoodconstruction.com/what-are-the-benefits-of-whole-home-renovation/
Whole home renovations often include changes to the floor plan, elevation profiles and roof lines. Such projects should not be undertaken with the proper construction documents. This will likely lead to greater mistakes and additional cost. Full construction documents are required for whole home renovations.
Home Additions – Additions involve the blending of the existing home design with function and flow of the new space. They involve major structural changes and large construction budgets. Home additions is often more difficult to plan and manage then new ground up construction.
Additions present all the construction issues of remodeling and additional challenges such as connecting the structures, getting heavy equipment access and exposing the finished home space to the weather when connecting the addition.
Depending on the project a remodel contractor can more than pay for the cost of their services through cost effective management, design and efficiency for home remodeling. Understanding the services of a remodeling contractor and the value they bring to your home renovation project is the key to aligning yourself with the right construction partner.
Conclusion
Major home remodeling requires the services of a general contractor that offers full-service remodeling homes. Having the capability of providing design drawings, construction document reports and a variety of construction services gives their clients greater value.
General contractors are an ideal remodeling contractor for extensive home renovations and full home remodel projects. Owners understanding the value of a remodel contractor that offers full service approach will be rewarded in the seamless work flow of their project. To learn more about the entire home remodeling process visit; https://www.marwoodconstruction.com/home-remodeling/
