If you are bidding out your project to multiple contractors, obtain bids only from qualified contractors that you know and trust. Also make sure that you are giving each of them good, complete drawing…
These documents (aka blueprints) and specifications detail what you are buying. If you don’t understand these documents, you don’t know what you’re buying. Ask your architect questions about anything…
Larger isn’t necessarily better. Interesting details made of quality materials that are properly installed trump huge spaces with mediocre materials and little character.
The best construction projects start with the best construction documents (blueprints and specifications). The best construction documents are accurate, thorough, and creative.
Chances are you’ll get impatient and frustrated at some point during the design phase. Hang in there. Thoughtful decisions during design will pay off later. You’ll be much more frustrated if you rush…
Finishes like flooring, cabinets, and fixtures aren’t necessarily sitting in a warehouse waiting for you to select it and have it shipped overnight. Some items take weeks or months to get delivered…
It’s a lot easier and cheaper to erase a few lines on a drawing than it is to tear down a wall during construction. Thorough documents result in better budgets and more accurate bids. The more that is…
If you are considering a design/build firm (a company that provides design and construction services), ask specific questions about the company’s design capabilities, experience and credentials. Do they…
Ask your renovation contractor to name you as an additionally insured on their insurance policy and insist on getting an original certificate of insurance from them. If they balk, find someone else.
