Ready to remodel? The first question, are you doing it yourself or hiring a contractor? The second question, are you supplying some of the materials or allowing the contractor to do the full turn key project?

You’ve decided that you don’t want to do the job yourself, but you might want to supply some of the materials. Will this save you money? This can really be a loaded question. Sometimes, it might save the homeowner money and other times, it might end up costing twice the amount.

Why would it cost twice the amount? Let’s use a bathroom remodel as an example. You’ve decided you want to replace that old 1960s counter top, plumbing fixtures and cabinet. You have found the cabinet you love at a local supply store and purchase it. You then proceed to pick out the sink, since it was not included with the cabinet, followed by the really neat plumbing fixtures. You buy it all and bring it home. Call the contractor to come start the job. It might all fit and go together, and then again, it could be one problem after another. The counter might not fit in the designated space, causing the contractor to alter the cabinet or other items around it. The counter might not align with the plumbing coming into the bathroom, again causing the contractor to alter the cabinet and/or add additional plumbing. The sink might fit perfect into the cabinet, since you made sure of it while in the store. If not, slight altercations might have to happen here, too. Now for the plumbing fixtures; the beautiful set you just purchased does not fit the existing pipes, and the contractor and/or a plumber will have to make adjustments. Big question here. What is warranted if something goes wrong later? Will it be the contractor/plumber issue or a possible faulty fixture set? Regardless, you could pay for a trip charge for it to be determined. No worries, it can all be fixed for a price. As you can see, this project started off simple and could become a nightmare if you don’t know what is involved. On the other hand, if you talk to the contractor up front on what you want to purchase, some of this could be avoided. And then again, it could all come together with no problems at all. Just some things to keep in mind.

What happens if you hire the contractor to do this same job and they supply it all? First off, the contractor will work with you on the designs, selections, and installation. Big thing – if you allow the contractor to purchase and install it all – the contractor is 100% liable for the work and should provide a full warranty for it all. Most likely, you will be able to make similar selections from his inventory supplier or with his assistance at the local store.

Occasionally some areas of remodel are extremely different. Let’s say you want to replace interior doors with some old panel doors with glass knobs that you picked up at a local garage sale. Do you want to install yourself or call in a contractor? If you tackle them yourself, one of the big questions is what kind of door hinges do you need, since they don’t have any on them and you don’t want to use the one you are taking off the existing door? Do you purchase new ones or go to a restoration store to purchase old or some that look old? If hiring a contractor to hang the doors, this question will need to be asked and answered as well. Will the hinges fit? How will it be adjusted? See, a simple thing has questions to be addressed as well. Who would have thought just hanging a interior door would have had questions associated with it?

Remodels might look easy, but can get tricky. Yes, you might be able to do them yourself, but just be prepared for things you might encounter, especially working with an older house. There are experts available and they can save you money in the long run. As always, plan your project out, and it is always good to consult with a local contractor.

For all your real estate and building needs or questions, call Debbie at 830-833-4249 or 713-818-6658, or send an email to debbie@vallone realestate.net.