In the weeks leading up to Spring, it's the ideal time to begin planting ideas for that big home remodel you've been dreaming about. Then sit back, relax, and watch them GROW!The Experts at Highlight Homes Provide Tips and Suggestions for Preparing for that Big Spring Remodel
With Spring in our midst, it’s the ideal time to begin planting – ideas, that is. You may know you want a change, but aren’t entirely sure where to begin. That’s where the experts at Highlight Homes come in. We recommend homeowners who are considering anything from a minor renovation to a major overhaul follow these simple steps to prepare for their first meeting with a renovation professional:
All great renovations begin with an idea. Oftentimes, the best ideas come from the homeowners themselves. You’re tapped in to what your needs and wants are. A professional can help enhance your idea and shape solutions that you may not have realized were possible, but it all begins with you.
Host a family meeting to discuss the space in question. Whether it is a basement that is woefully underused because you keep putting off having it finished, a backyard that has been neglected, a room that is outdated and cramped, or a room that is greatly needed but doesn’t exist yet – each family member likely has a great solution in mind. Write them all down – the answer may be found somewhere in between. If your family members wish to make sketches of their ideas, that’s great, too.
Once you’ve narrowed down what space you wish to tackle and how you would like to envision its future use, begin combing through coffee table books and magazines for images that really speak to you. Bookcases that frame a door could help add personality to a room, while aiding in storage issues at the same time. A tiki hut-themed outdoor kitchen may jump off the page at you as you envision countless backyard cookouts under the stars. A theater room with stadium seating could make your basement THE hangout of choice for your teenager and his/her friends. Cut out and/or copy any pictures that you really connect with and start a special idea scrapbook.
Develop a budget for your renovation project. You may not know for sure how much the renovation of your dreams will cost until you begin to gather quotes from a number of professional renovation companies, but you DO have an idea of how much you can afford to pay. If you’re thinking about a major overhaul of an outdated home, this may require a visit to the loan officer at your bank. Some contractors and renovators offer their own financing or payment plans, and some even accept credit cards (pssssst… Highlight Homes recently instituted their own credit card payment program!)
Once you have all of those things in place, you’re ready to begin researching reputable renovation companies. Be sure that they are licensed, accredited, registered and insured. Check with professional groups like the Better Business Bureau to make sure there have been no complaints lodged against them. Most importantly, make certain you have a good rapport with the construction supervisor when you meet for your initial consultation since he will likely be your go-to person throughout the project. If you meet several companies and receive a range of quotes, try to avoid going with the lowest estimate just to save money. Reputation and rapport are every bit as important as cost savings – your home is one of the biggest investments you will ever make in your lifetime, and not really a place where you want to cut corners.
Highlight Homes welcomes the chance to take those ideas you’ve planted and help them bloom into something you never even dreamed was possible. We invite you to call or e-mail us to schedule an initial consultation so we can begin shaping up your design and estimate in order to get you on our busy Spring calendar before it fills up. The Highlight Homes design-build team can be reached by calling 678-873-9234, e-mailing info@highlighthomesga.com, or filling out our quick and helpful online contact form. We look forward to hearing your ideas!
