subject: Prepare For Your Property Renos Now [print this page] After a long cold winter you have decided come this spring its time for major work to your home or summer vacation property. After all its not as if you and your family are simple renters - you have home and property ownership. Without a constant string of upgrades and renos to your properties , your property values may simply drop in the hole. Owning a home - be it a condo ,simple house, a lake cottage or even part of a revenue property requires constant and ongoing upkeep.
Its as simple as that. After all they are not making any land and your property in the form of your home is your biggest lifetime investment
It's all in the follow through. How do you assess whom to hire for the project. Remember as well that at different points and at for different projects you may well choose different contractors and home renovation professionals.
Do they represent themselves in a tidy and neat appearance and presentation. True some "experts' or schmendricks may stress the point of "presentation" without realizing what this entails - when their own lives are in tatters. Still it is a marker of sorts , and shows basic attention to detail and details? It should be in a business like manner. That is they should show up on time for their appointment, be readily available. Can they be contacted easily - by phone or email? Is the call answered promptly and are messages returned. Not only returned but promptly.
Next is the two way communication process. Does the home renovation expert listen to you? Or do they just plow through with what they want, regardless of your wishes? Are they open to new ideas - or your ideas? Or do they insist that there is only one way to do the project their way or the highway?
What about skills and experience? Any home renovation project can be fraught with difficulties yet unimagined or encountered. Has the agent being considered been around for a good time period in your local area or areas ? Do they come with a good string of solid referrals ? Have you actually checked out and verified these referrals thoroughly ? Or are you being fooled ? Few people and those hiring for real estate projects actually follow up and verify real references. Fraudsters know that? Do they have professional or trade credentials. What is their reputation?
It must be pointed out that past experience and references are vital. Take the time to actually contact references given by the tradesman. In one case , or more oft in many cases - misstated or even bogus referrals and references are given in a superfluousness manner. You grandmother or grandfather may of taught you the simple , yet time tested adage that if "they steal from others then they indeed will steal from you." If this is the trade-persons morals and manner of doing everyday business do you not think that you will treated in any different manner - when it comes to personal honor integrity ,fairness of the stated quote , and in general overall business dealings. While its true that trades currently are "hard to come by", and that the person or company bidding for your employment may be new in the area , still its only a phone call or email away to contact previous jobs and those who contracted for their work. Look for finished projects and consistency in efforts. Every contractor is bound to run across one or two bad situations or jobs. That is the luck of the draw. It's the consistency that matters most of results, interactions and referrals and references.
All in all it can be said, that an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure when it comes to sourcing and checking out workmen for your spring upgrades and renovations. Its not a case of 1 % or 100 % yet it will be the home or property owner that will pay the piper at the end of the day or the project / projects. Have fun.
