Major home improvement projects require a multitude of decisions. While it can be a very satisfying experience to “call all the shots,” general contractors can help avoid hidden disasters that sometimes lurk behind the most innocent looking walls and ceilings. Whether you decide to enlist the help of a contractor or be the sole project manager, proper planning is crucial. Here are some things to consider when planning for a major project.
Community Rules for the Homeowner/Builder
While resident owners are not required to hire contractors to make improvements on their own property, there absolutely are plenty of rules and regulations in play that can sometimes make licensed professionals an attractive money-saving option. Rules vary by location, for example, on details as simple as when to get required permits for projects, such as additions, decks, and storage sheds (depending on size). While it can be an enormously rewarding experience to control every aspect of the home project you have initiated in the first place, it is not without the risk of taking yourself to task afterward for skipping necessary steps along the way.
The Architecture of Major Home Improvement Projects
Planning is everything! Plans involving existing structures are seldom static, which means that from the start your plan must have a procedure for planning change throughout the entire scope of the project. Planning strategies will usually include guidelines for when and where supply purchases will be made based on objective criteria, such as the following:
- Reliability—Will this vendor back the merchandise?
- Delivery—Is delivery free or an additional expense?
- Pickup—In the case of replacing furnaces, air conditioners and other major appliances, who will take the old appliance away?
- Liability Coverage—In the case of subcontractors or helpers, you need to make sure who is liable in the case of an injury or damage. Even stacked lumber and gravel can create hazards that must be considered as part of any construction project. Checking your homeowner policy and/or with your insurance agent if you’re unsure is fundamental to any do-it-yourself home improvement. You and your home are worth the best possible protection from both injury and property protection points of view.
Scheduling and Major Projects
In some varied important ways, self-directed projects require more discipline than those that are strictly contracted. While it’s one thing to tell yourself what to do, it’s quite another to make yourself do it. Scheduling becomes another of the fundamentals when a project involves, for example, arrival of new kitchen counter tops that can hardly be installed until at least the lower cabinets are in place. Other serious considerations, like whether the new floor or the new built in base comes first, are important reasons to think a bit before acting. There may be good reasoning on either side. Be certain you know which side you are really on before you begin.
It is better to be more prepared than less prepared for your major home improvement project. Whether you plan with the help of a general contractor or by yourself, think ahead and take some time at the start to make sure you don’t skip important steps. Remember that some unexpected changes to your plan may come up, but having a plan in place can help you complete your project with ease and success. 
Article Courtesy of HomeImprovementTime.com
