Experienced Home
Renovators in Scarborough
When you decide to renovate your Scarborough home, you’ll
want to make sure that the professionals you hire are experienced,
knowledgeable, and skilled. Many times, homeowners choose the company who gives
them the lowest estimate without considering the way that the company operates
and the processes that it follows. Unfortunately, this can lead to delays, cost
overruns, lack of clarity, and less-than-satisfactory results. We’ve all heard
stories about design flaws, poorly-built cabinetry, the installer who cut
through an electrical wire, or the contractor who abandoned a small kitchen
renovation for weeks to go work on a more lucrative project. A seemingly
straightforward renovation can end up leaving homeowners frustrated, stressed,
and disappointed. However, many of these failures and difficulties can be
avoided by doing adequate research and preparation, asking the right questions,
and choosing a company based on their processes.
What You Pay For
If you choose a renovator purely on the basis of cost, you
may be asking for trouble. Remember, when you hire a renovation company, you
are not only paying for the work that needs doing in your home, but you are
also paying for the experience of the personnel who are doing that work. For
any renovation, you need a design consultant, a manufacturer, and an installer.
Lower estimates may reflect a lack of experience or expertise in any one of
these areas or in all of them.
For example, while an inexperienced renovator may be
cheaper, will that person know what to do if a small issue occurs, or will he
have to stop working while he learns how to tackle it? Will he have to get
help? How much will that delay the project and how much will the extra help
cost you? Would the issue have occurred at all if you had a renovator with more
experience?
A low estimate may also mean that, for example, the
manufacturing of the cabinets or fabrication of countertops takes place in a
remote location, and it may take time for them to ship to Scarborough. If they
arrive and are found to need adjustment, how will that happen?
While opting for the lowest estimate may seem at first to be the smart way to
go, there are better ways to choose a renovator.
Good Practices
When assessing a renovation company, you should take several
factors into account. The first is the process that they will follow regarding
design, manufacture, and installation. The best choice is obviously an
experienced company that does all three in an integrated process with a clear
timeline. This situation maximizes the ability for you to get answers when you
need them and makes communication between all of the parties easier. It also
maximizes quality control ensuring that what you ordered is what you get. (And
if there are any issues regarding cabinet or countertop fit or colour, they can
be addressed immediately.)
Other factors that can help you to choose a company:
- The variety of options available, an impressive
showroom
- The breadth of knowledge demonstrated by the
design consultant during your first meeting with him or her
- A warranty on work done
- Membership in professional organizations
Your home renovation is an investment in your future and
having an experienced home renovator complete the project, locally in
Scarborough, is in your best interest. Choose wisely, and within a few months,
you could be living in the house of your dreams!