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“That contractor was so annoying! Couldn’t he
even give me a straight estimate?!”
If you haven’t done your homework in advance, the true
answer may be a blanket “No!”
 You make the decision to renovate your home, you contact
a contractor, and you figure you’re ready to receive
an estimate.
Not quite.
Although a contractor should be capable of giving you an
estimate, he’ll have a pretty tough time of it if you
haven’t put together at least a general picture of the
job you want. As an educated consumer, not only will you have
an edge, your contractor will have a much easier time giving
you a quote as well.
What kind of research are we talking about?
Simple things, really. The two main areas to take into consideration
are:
- Spacing and Layout: Have a general picture
of the layout of the finished project. How large will the
finished room be? Where will the counters, sinks, closets
and furniture go? If you were planning to employ the services
of an architect or interior decorator, by all means, contact
them before you speak to the contractor.
- Medium: Have some idea of what type of
materials you prefer. What type of flooring do you prefer:
marble, wood, ceramic, or linoleum? What kinds of tiles
and appliances are you planning to include? Keep in mind
the functionality and design of the room as you make your
selections.
What difference does this research make to the contractor’s
estimate?
Plenty. The costs for installation vary greatly depending
on the medium. Glass installation is more expensive than porcelain
installation which is more expensive than ceramic installation.
Installing a pedestal requires more labor than installing
a standard vanity. There’s no way a contractor can give
you a fair estimate if you haven’t figured out what
type of work he’ll be doing for you.
Where can you get this information?
It’s really not difficult. Take a look around the web
for sites relating to home decorating and renovation. Visit
the stores in person: home centers, hardware and plumbing
supply stores, lumberyards and the like. Finally, utilize
your personal network—check what your neighbors have
in their homes, and get an idea of what you’d like in
your own. Ask around, gathering advice from family and friends
about durability, cost-effectiveness, and aesthetics.
Once you have a basic idea, your contractor will be more
than happy to add his expert advice and recommendations, creating
a finished product that will delight you for years to come.
Good luck, and happy renovating!
HomeImprovementExpo.com contributing contractor:
Howard Molen
HFM Company, Inc.
914-698-6363
hfmcompanyinc@aol.com
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