& New Construction Talk... 11 Keys to Remodeling Success!

When done right, a home remodel is nothing less than the realization of your vision. The key to your vision’s realization is communication throughout the process. To maximize your project’s success, you’ll need to know how to stay involved and communicative at each stage:

During the sales & selection process:

1. Be flexible in scheduling appointments. It’s a good sign when a contractor doesn’t have the most convenient hours to meet with prospects. You’ll be glad to know your contractor spends more time working on building projects than selling prospects. For the elite remodelers, it’s about quality of work and referrals.

2. Be prompt and try to avoid cancellations and postponements. Good contractors always keep their appointments. Estimates should be free, but a loss of time is costly to contractors.

3. Share your “vision” with specific detail. The more you can tell a contractor about what you would like, the better the quality of feedback and the more specific cost estimates you’ll get in return.

4. If a contractor doesn’t win your business, offer feedback with a phone call or email. The contractor, the industry, and homeowners like you all benefit as contractors learn what clients need.

During the project:

5. Take careful notes during the “Kick-Off” meeting. Here, the Project Manager reviews the scope of the work and answers all of your questions So ask away, because this is the ideal time to do it.

6. Return all calls promptly. Often, your Project Manager is awaiting a decision from you, and work may be delayed until you call back.

7. Don’t be alarmed at the sight of small flaws in the paint or a smudge on the bathtub. Those cosmetic fixes are perfected by the end of the process and before the final walk-through.

8. Be prepared to make payments in a timely manner. Payment schedules are prepared when the contract is signed, and remodelers adhere to the established milestones to maintain budgets.

At the conclusion:

9. Be thorough in your examination during the walk-through with your Project Manager. Your PM will complete all items on the punch list, but this isn’t the time to think of new touches. Think of final touches during the process so that the remodeler can operate within the established schedule.

10. Be honest when you complete your customer satisfaction survey. Specific constructive criticism will enable contractors to better understand client needs, resulting in a steadily rising level of service.

11. Support your contractor’s achievement with referrals. We are thrilled to say that most of our customers are the friends and family of delighted customers we’ve proudly served. See what they had to say at bellavistacompany.com.

Puckett recommends taking a cruise down Greenfield Drive this July 4, where nearly every one of the 20 houses on the street will be flying our American flag.

—Whitney Thompson

Visit lhflags.org to register or to see if your house or business is within the bounds of the Lake Highlands Flag Project. Registration is $75 for the first year and $50 to renew annually.