13 Things Your Home Remodeler Won’t Tell You

With business down it may be the perfect time to indulge in some home improvement projects. Read on for more secrets of home remodelers.

From Reader’s Digest

1. Business is down 16 percent. The good news for you: I’m returning calls and trimming prices.

• Mark of Excellence Remodeling has reduced its hourly labor rates for all projects. In addition, all selection items such as cabinetry, countertops, fixtures, tile, etc. are offered to the homeowner at the lowest possible price available!

2. High-end people will do smaller jobs we might have spurned a few years ago. Focus on projects that will keep your house market-ready, like upgrading a bathroom.

• Mark of Excellence Remodeling has always been a single source remodeler that has produced projects that have ranged in budget from more than a half million dollars to a half day of handyman services. Mark of Excellence Remodeling has won National Awards the past two years for bathroom remodeling projects and offers a value bathroom package.
  

  bathroom with white fixtures, tile and blue accents

3. Triple-check financing before you start. You don’t want to run out of money to pay me because your lender decides to lower or eliminate your home equity line of credit. (And it can, at any time.)

4. Those of us who do new houses or commercial projects may not have great remodeling skills. Long track records count.

• Mark of Excellence Remodeling has been remodeling existing, residential homes throughout Monmouth County since 1987.

5. Look at work I’ve done in the past 12 months, on a budget similar to yours.

6. Check me out: Any liens? Pending lawsuits? Do I have a valid state license? Do my subcontractors?

• Mark of Excellence Remodeling has been a New Jersey state licensed home improvement contractorin good standing since licensing has been required.

7. Test-drive me on a smaller project before you commit.

8. Do I have insurance? Check directly with my insurance company. Those papers I waved in front of you may have expired years ago.

9. Don’t over improve-especially since home values are falling. Check out local trends in the “Cost vs. Value” report from Hanley Wood’s Remodeling magazine.

10. Spell everything out. Otherwise, I may not prime the walls before I paint or I may not build that closet shelf and put up that rod. Expect nothing that’s not in writing.

11. Ask if you’re getting a dedicated crew. If not, your project may drag on while I juggle multiple jobs. Tie the contract to deadlines for each phase.

• Mark of Excellence Remodeling offers a guaranteed on-time completion for all complete remodeling projects. There is self imposed $500 per day penalty clause written in the contract for projects that extend past the agreed deadline.

12. Ditto for the brand and precise quality of the materials, appliances, and fixtures you are ordering. Don’t let us sub in materials of “equal or better quality” that aren’t.

13. Put “while you’re at it” projects on a separate list and ask me to give you separate estimates. Home improvement spending is projected to slide another 12 percent this year. I’ll likely have time-and be glad-to come back.

• More than half of the projects that are performed by Mark of Excellence Remodeling are for previous clients and their referrals.