Questions You Must Answer to Ensure a Successful Home Remodeling Project

When we sit down with our customers to design home remodeling projects, a lot of them tell us that they have been wanting to do this for a long time. So why did they put it off? Well, a lot of the time it was because they didn’t know just how to get started. Finding a general contractor that you can trust is difficult when you aren’t even prepared to tell them what you want to do.
As experienced, full-service remodeling contractors, TWD’s certified professional designers understand that you have some major decisions to make, and may not feel like you have the information you need to make them. We would be happy to sit down with you to discuss the project from the very beginning. In fact, we highly recommend that approach, because having a guide through the decision-making process can make it much easier on you, and save time by providing the answers you need so you don’t have to go on endless online searches.
Whether you go through the initial decision-making process with a remodeling contractor or on your own, these are the things you will need to decide.

Begin by Determining the Purpose of Your Remodel

Clearly, home remodeling is a major investment, not only in the money you’ll spend, but also in the time you will dedicate to arranging the project and the sacrifices you’ll make while your home is “under construction.” Taking the right approach during the planning phase can mean the difference between an efficient job with long-lasting satisfaction as the result, and a logistical nightmare that seems to never end.
Whether you are planning a kitchen remodel, or want to take on the whole house, the first step to a successful project is clarifying what your purpose is. At first, it may seem like one remodeling job is pretty much like any other, but actually, home remodeling is very customized, and your needs are unique to you. Many specific details may prompt you to decide it’s time to call a remodeling contractor, but there are three main reasons for home remodeling.

1. Meeting an Immediate Need

The first of our three purposes for home remodeling, and often the one that gets the ball rolling, is to meet an immediate need, which can be either functional or aesthetic. Maybe you don’t have enough storage, or your kitchen is too small. Or it could be that the place just looks dated. If it’s time to get a new set of appliances, it’s the perfect time to update the cabinetry, especially if appliance sizes and kitchen accessories have changed since yours were installed.

2. Universal Design for Aging in Place

A second reason for remodeling, and one we think should be part of every home update in addition to whatever else you may have in mind, is aging in place. If you are remodeling to turn your house into your dream home because you intend to stay there for a long time, universal design principles can easily be incorporated into any upgrades you make now, saving you from having to remodel again to accommodate your needs when you are older. The purpose of universal design is to make every aspect of the home user-friendly for everyone, from young children to tall adults, the elderly, and anyone with a disability. TWD has certified universal design experts on staff to make sure aging in place is properly designed into your remodeling.

3. Increasing Sale Value

The third purpose for home remodeling is to increase the value of your home prior to selling it. This is often a consideration even if your main purpose is to make the home more livable for the time being, but want to sell eventually. Even if increasing sale price is your sole reason for remodeling, we encourage you to schedule a universal design consultation as part of your planning process.
As a homeowner in Tempe or Phoenix, you know that this is a fantastic retirement area, and there’s a good chance that your potential buyers will be retired and looking for their forever home. Buying a home that already has the facilities for aging in place is a very attractive and money-saving proposition for anyone who is already at or near retirement age.
Universal design makes your home attractive to anyone with a disabled family member, or anyone who will have special needs due to aging. The sale value of your home goes up not just because buyers see that they will not have to remodel to meet these needs, but also because it is move-in ready for them. Home buyers place a premium on being able to move in without having to do any work to get the place ready,

What Rooms Will Be Remodeled?

Once you have determined what your purpose is, it’s time to look at the extent of the remodeling you will do. Bathroom and kitchen remodels are the most beneficial both for improving the enjoyment of living in the house and increasing its value. Consider whether you need to add a bathroom, or have other rooms that you would like to remodel. It’s also a good idea to think about how the adjacent spaces will work with the planned renovations. If you are opening up the kitchen to make a more open floor plan, will the dining room and living room blend seamlessly, or should you do some remodeling there too?
Bedrooms and common spaces such as living rooms and family rooms are generally much easier to remodel, so if you have tiny closets or windows, remodeling can make the space more functional and pleasant with minimal effort.

Identify Design Priorities

• What style do you prefer—modern, natural, rustic?
• Do you value sustainability and a high energy efficiency rating?
• What materials do you love? Brick, stone, and hardwood are some of the most popular, as are easy-to-clean and durable materials like tile.

These are the kind of questions that you should consider next. They will start to guide you in making your own design choices. Look at magazines and come by the showroom for great inspiration and to see the latest elements that are available to you.

What Is Your Remodeling Budget?

Of course, no final plans can be made until you have a realistic budget that you can commit to. If you plan to remodel more than one room, you may save money by taking care of adjacent spaces at the same time, but if you have limited funds, you may need to do one room at a time, so consider which areas need immediate attention and which will give you the greatest reward and schedule those first.
TWD is an experienced remodeling contractor and we would be happy to help you plan your home remodeling. Just tell us what you want to do and we will help you work out the details in a way that takes your wants, desires, and budget into consideration, so that you end up with a remodeling plan that accommodates the purpose of your project.

Whatever your purpose for remodeling is, TWD’s certified universal design specialists can help you get the most out of it. Give us a call or schedule an appointment with one of our certified universal design experts.