an open line of communication seems to be the conduit between success and failure. There is no difference in the remodeling of our homes; by the time the project is over, you have made a friend or enemy. As a contractor, our goal in remodeling your home or office is that we have a satisfied client and a referral for life. Many things must take place in order for this to happen; an open line of communication is the key to the success or failure of a remodeling project. Strong relationships require both parties to participate in the process of the remodeling project. Planning and research is one of the first things a homeowner needs to complete. There is nothing worse than to have to develop an estimate from incomplete drawings with little or no details decided without a budget in mind. As an owner, you need to do your homework before getting started in the design process. Research different products; use the Internet, attend home shows, cut out pictures from magazines, look at displays, etc. for ideas to present to the person who is designing your project. Unrolylitu As you are gathering information and design ideas, you should have a budget in mind. Don’t hesitate to discuss budgets with your architect, designer and/or contractor. As a contractor, we listen to the client, ask questions about their desires, and then ask about their budget. accommodation With a square footage and a few details, an approximate number can easily be determined. There seems to be a fear to discuss dollar amounts, but if this is communicated from the beginning, the project can be designed to fit your remodeling budget. Do preliminary plans first to get an idea of the cost and if this plan or design fits your budget, then you can finalize the plans. This could save you a lot of time and money and if the remodeling project you have in mind is even feasible. Once the plans have been finalized, it is time to make your selections. Part of the selection process is making sure to get the specifications to the contractor. The ideal situation would that the details and selections be made before the project begins; this helps to ease the burden on scheduling and the completion of the different phases of the job. Once completed, the project has a better chance of meeting deadlines. If only one item has not been pre-selected, this could possibly cause the whole remodeling job to be put on hold. It is even more important to keep the lines of communications open as the project progresses. Situations can arise that you may not understand, this issue should be brought to the attention of the project manager or the contractor so it can be discussed and resolved as soon as possible. Too often, the owner says nothing and it can become a major problem. No matter how hard you try, there is always something that might irritate the owner. Little concerns tend to grow out of control without communication. We strive to be aware of our client’s needs and concerns, but we cannot read minds; part of this process is building a better relationship with our trade contractors to eliminate the different challenges that may arise. As the project comes to completion, the owner will appreciate the time and effort put into communicating with your contractor. The goal of the contractor is to assist you in achieving your goals in the most favorable way. In summary, find a contractor you feel comfortable with and you can communicate with. As a contractor, we can’t work for everyone, the chemistry must be there. Likewise, the owner must feel the same way. Through communication, we can build trust and commitment even through challenges. The lines of communication should always remain open to have a successful remodeling project.]]>