Think about your home for a minute.  There are probably a number of reasons why you bought the home, whether that was two years or twenty years ago.  Maybe you loved the location, or it was the exact right size, or it was the best of the options in your price range.  Whatever the reasons may have been, many of them probably still apply.  However, as your and your family’s lives have changed over the years, you may find that you are becoming more and more dissatisfied with your home.  Perhaps you’ve had a few children and you no longer have enough room.  Or maybe you’ve discovered a love of gourmet cooking that your small kitchen simply doesn’t work for.  In many cases, the changes you’d like to see in your current home are very manageable in a home improvement project, eliminating the time-intensive, stressful and sometimes costly process of putting your home up for sale and purchasing a new one.  If you’re thinking about a remodeling project, consider the following:

Remodeling vs. Moving
--Remodeling your home allows you to customize it to your exact needs.  The only other, much more costly, option is to build your own home. 
--Remodeling allows you to stay in your own home and close to schools, friends, jobs and neighbors that you have grown accustomed to.
--Remodeling eliminates the need for putting your home up for sale, holding open houses and going through the stressful process of trying to sell your home.
--Remodeling can be done little by little, as your budget allows.  Moving to a new home incurs many up-front costs (especially if you are upgrading to a much more expensive home), but you can do remodeling projects periodically depending on your available funding.  A roof repair can be done one year, a bathroom remodel and next and an addition in the future once you’ve saved up the money to cover the cost.

Things to Keep in Mind When Remodeling
--Do great things…but not too great.  A good rule of thumb when you are remodeling is to bring up the value of your home to others in the neighborhood, but don’t make your home the most expensive on the block.  Real estate experts recommend that a remodeling investment should not raise the value of your house to more than 10-15% above the median sales price in your neighborhood. 
-- Always consult with a professional designer or architect before doing any major projects.  In the long run, their expert advice will save you a lot of money.
--Keep your present needs in mind as well as anticipating your future needs.  If you’re doing a major remodeling project, this usually indicates you are planning to stay in your home for a number of years.  That’s why it’s important to take a look at your lifestyle and try to see how it will change in the future.  For example, is it really a good idea to put on a huge addition when two of your children will be graduating and leaving home in the next couple of years?  Anticipating change could save you from doing more costly projects in the future.
--Choose the right time.  If your remodeling project is something large and will be disruptive, you want to make sure you choose the right time.  You don’t want to plan a huge project when you need to have family over for an anniversary party a few months down the line.  If you’re planning your project for a certain event (you want to have an addition put on before your entire family from out of state comes to stay for the holidays, for example), make sure you’re budgeting for plenty of time.  Even if you are given an estimate for completion of the project, you need to realize that unforeseen events can take place that will push that completion date back.  Think of how stressful it would be to have family coming to town in a week when your entire how is torn up!
When you start your remodeling project, it’s important to prioritize.  Which projects really need to be done in your home and which are just aesthetic extras?  If you don’t develop a prioritized plan, you might end up with an elaborate kids’ playroom but still have a leaky roof.  Remodeling plans should always start with the necessities, such as:

Major remodels.  If your main reason to remodel is to do a major project, such as adding on, you should get this done before you think about doing any additional remodeling.  Major remodeling takes much more preplanning than smaller projects, so make sure you are working with a professional and do your research.  You’ll be in a lot of trouble if you try to add on an extra wing and find out later that there isn’t enough room on your property or you’ve miscalculated in another area.  If you’re planning structural changes -- adding or taking out walls, for example -- or anticipating a complex design, you’ll want an architect.  Hiring a designer will also help you make the critical product and finish selections that will make your new addition flow with your existing space.  Although it will cost you some money to hire an architect or designer, it’s money well spent.

Fixing things that are broken or costing you money  Another area you should certainly concentrate on is fixing anything that is broken or costing you money.  This can be anything from a cracked kitchen counter to a lack of insulation that is costing you money on your heating and cooling bills. Sometimes it can be difficult to identify these areas if they aren’t obvious.  For example, a roof that has small leaks might not be apparent because rain isn’t dripping in, but it could be costing you a lot of money by letting in hot or cold air. 

After addressing these issues, you can go into more aesthetic issues or upgrades that are on your ‘wish list’.  Here are a few ideas:
Kitchens  Kitchen and bathrooms should be next on your list of priorities as they are the most used rooms in the home and probably the most ripe for improvement.  An older kitchen can often present a variety of problems such as inadequate plumbing for appliances, lack of room or inadequate counter or cabinet space.  By updating plumbing, adding on to the kitchen and replacing (or just updating) counter and cabinet space, your kitchen can go from antiquated to modern. New appliances are another way to give your kitchen a practical and aesthetic makeover.  Flooring is also important as kitchen floors are some of the most abused in the home.  If your flooring is starting to come up, is stained or just needs to replaced, this should be a top priority in your remodeling efforts.
Bathrooms  Even though it’s the smallest room in your house, your bathroom is probably one of the places you’ll spend the most time when remodeling.  From plumbing to tile work to sinks and tubs, your bathroom can certainly eat up a good majority of your remodeling budget.  The majority of new homes being built have a focus on luxurious, large bathrooms with multiple sinks, separate tubs and showers and intricate tile work and it’s likely your bathroom will be compared to these by potential buyers.  However, if can’t afford to completely redo your bathroom, you should focus on the tub or shower as this is usually the focal point of the room.  Old, dingy tile or leaky shower heads instantly make your bathroom (and your entire house) seem decrepit.  The good news is, they’re relatively easy to repair and there are plenty of options available if you want to replace the tub or shower. 

Basement Finishing  If you’re living in a home with an unfinished basement, you’re probably constantly aware that you have thousands more square feet of living space available that you can’t utilize.  Finishing your basement opens up unlimited possibilities, including more bedrooms, a family game room, a personal gym or an expansive den or living room area.  If you are planning a basement finish, make sure you are getting in touch with a contractor who has experience in this area.  Make sure your visions are lining up and get a quote that involves everything you’d like done.  You don’t want to get through half of the project and realize you don’t have enough money to finish it.

Outdoor Projects  Just because you are doing a ‘home’ remodeling project does not mean you can’t also consider projects outside the home.  Especially during the warmer months of the years, the exterior of your home might be used just as much as the indoor.  Parties on the patio, barbeques on the deck and relaxing in the back yard are just a few activities that are made much more enjoyable if you have a landscape that is beautiful, easy to maintain, and impressive to guests.  Depending on the type of project you are considering, you will probably want to get in touch with a professional landscaper who can help you with your project (or take it over altogether).  Even if your project doesn’t technically deal with the lawn or trees, some landscaping companies also focus on decks, patios, water features or other projects you might not think they handle.

Coating on Garage Floor  Consider putting a professional coating on your garage floor.  It not only gives you additional space to entertain, but also protects the concrete from fluids and road salts which are very common in this area.  Coated floors also make clean-up easy and effortless and coating actually strengthens the concrete.

Security System  Today we have the opportunity to keep ourselves and loved ones safe in the home by providing a home security system.  The system can be as simple as a few door contacts and a wireless panic / medical button to a complete system with camera surveillance, motion, glass break, and smoke detection, water alerts, even temperature and lighting that can be controlled via the internet. These systems can reduce home owners insurance and be monitored locally 24/7.

Who should I work with?
Tony Stiles of The BrickKicker Inspection Service says, ”I see remodeling jobs gone wrong on a daily basis.  When I inspect a home, I can spot an unprofessional remodeling job from a mile away.  A couple of the most common issues found in these jobs are electrical and plumbing.” 
 
He goes on to say, “There are many code compliance rules and regulations to be aware of when it comes to electrical. On top of the many rules and regulations, electricity is dangerous.  Electrical shocks/burns account for over 50,000 household injuries and over 1,000 household deaths in the US every year.  Electrical fires alone account for over 450 additional deaths a year. Unless you are an electrician, get a professional to do the electrical work when you remodel. Is it really worth putting you, your family, and your friends at risk just to save a few extra bucks?
 
I strongly recommend that plumbing be done by a professional as well. A plumbing job gone wrong can ruin your entire remodeling job and possibly a lot more. There is a lot to know about plumbing besides drain pipes and supply pipes. Many pipes that you can buy from a hardware store shouldn’t even be used. I see it all the time. I find a wrong kind of pipe and the homeowners says “why would they sell it to me if I’m not supposed to use it?” I always reply “you can buy military uniforms at uniform supply stores, but it doesn’t mean you’re in the military.” If you want to do plumbing on your own, go right ahead...just make sure you purchase flood insurance from you insurance provider.”

As Tony points out, unless your project only includes a little bit of painting and replacing of furniture, it will require the help of professionals.  What types of professionals will you need to find?  Here are the basics.

--Contractors.  Contractors are normally used for larger projects, such as complete bathroom or kitchen remodels or deck building.  Using a contractor is a good idea because they take on liability for the project and they also probably have much more experience and knowledge than you do.  They will be able to tell you the correct way to go about your project, the best supplies to use and will produce a professional finished project.  There businesses out there now that allow you to be your own contractor.  They will help you choose subcontractors and get your project done.  Acting as your own contractor can sometimes save you money as well as giving you the satisfaction that you have done the majority of the work yourself.

--Interior Designer.  A designer will draw up detailed plans to help you get a sense of the final product.  We also help you with every selection on the project to make sure that all element works together.  No matter what your budget, it is our job to use our resources to make it look like a million bucks!  

--Landscaper.  Don’t neglect the outside of your home when you’re making remodeling plans.  Not only does a beautiful landscape add to the curb appeal of your home, but it also adds to your family’s enjoyment of the outdoors.  Depending on the type of landscaper you work with, they can help with anything from keeping your lawn manicured and green to adding in decks or water features. 

--Plumbers and Electricians.  Any plumbing or electrical work should be done by a professional.  As Tony Stiles pointed out, trying to do these projects on your own can not only involve costly mistakes, but it can also be dangerous.  These are not areas to cut corners on, so make sure you choose your professionals in these areas carefully.  

How Do I Choose?
Unless all you have in mind for your project is a few coats of paint and some new furniture, you’ll definitely want to work with professionals to help with your remodeling project.  Whether you’re looking for a contractor who can take care of everything from start to finish or you’re simply looking for a concrete company to pour you a new driveway, you should choose those you work with carefully. Here are a few tips.

Find out their experience and training

You’re going to want to work with professionals who are skilled in their field and the way most people become skilled in their field is through training and experience.  Ask the candidates about their educational background, special classes they have attended, how long they’ve been in the business and any other questions that might help you to determine their skill level. 

Ask for references and other documentation

Don’t be afraid to ask for references.  A professional will happily provide them and you will then have the peace of mind of being able to inquire about the company’s performance from an outside source. 

Ask for pictures or to see a completed project

Seeing examples of the company’s past work is a good way to gauge if you have the same expectations for your project as the contractor does.  If yours is an aesthetic project (such as a bathroom remodel or new flooring), ask to see before and after pictures of projects that the company has completed.  If it’s an outdoor project (such a new landscape design), you might also get permission to drive by and see the project in person.

Interview them 

Talking with a number of professionals should give you a good idea of which ones you get along the best with, which ones share your vision for what you want your project to accomplish and other important details that you’ll only be able to discover by interviewing them.  Make sure you’re not only talking to the owner or manager of the company, but also the people who will actually be managing your project and will be on-site.

Is there anything else I need to know? 
-- When you are having a major remodeling project done in your home, it’s often difficult to go about your life.  Maybe you are remodeling the only bathroom in the home and don’t have access to the bath, sink or toilet.  Or perhaps you are remodeling your living room or bedroom and don’t have anywhere to sleep or relax.  In these cases, it might be best to move your family into a hotel for the weeks or months it takes to get the remodeling project done.  Not only will you be able to relax without having to deal with the noise and clutter of construction, but you will also be staying out of the remodeler’s way. Look for long-term hotels that offer discounts on stays of a week or longer and make sure you have plenty of room for your family to stay comfortably (suites are usually the best option).  Remember to add the cost of the hotel stay in your initial remodeling budget.

--Consult everyone in the family.  When you’re planning a remodeling project for your home (especially if it is a large project), you should make sure you are consulting everyone in the family about the choices you make.  For example, you don’t want to put plans in place to remodel your basement into a full gym after your teenage son leaves for college and then find out he’d planned on going to a local college and continue living at home.  Talk with your spouse, your children (whether they live at home or not) and anyone else who may be staying in your home in the future (such as aging parents).
Remodeling your home is an exciting process.  While not as stressful as trying to sell your home and move to a new one, it can still be a bit nerve-wracking.  By planning ahead, working with the right people and sticking to a budget, you can end up with a remodeled home that better fits your family’s needs and one that will sell for more when the time does come to move.