How To Get A Home Improvement Quote

Now your new home improvement quote could be for any one of many reasons.

• A Complete Kitchen Remodel

• A Replacement Countertop

• A Bathroom Makeover

• A Toilet or Sink Replacement

• A New Deck or Outdoor Space

• A Bedroom Conversion

• A Basement Remodel

• Converting A Garage to Living Space

• Energy Efficient Windows

• New Vinyl Siding

• A Replacement Furnace or Air Conditioner

• New Floor Coverings

The list goes on and on but the one thing that remains consistent when searching for a home improvement quote is the need to understand something about the work you want to have done and especially something about the products you want used in your project.

As mentioned above I have been coaching people for over 30 years now and I always begin with the need to create a clear plan of desired action. For this I will use the example of a new kitchen.

My advice is that you should visit at least a couple of home improvement stores for ideas. Go prepared with photos and maybe some measurements of the area you want to renovate. While there, visit with sales staff in the appropriate departments and share your pictures and details to get their input and recommendations. I also encourage you to sift through all the research links I have set up in the different sections of this web site. These links give informative articles so you will have a clear idea to convey your desires.

I believe once you have this information you can proceed to research product options online and gather as much information as you feel valuable so once you begin the process of requesting home improvement quotes you will have enough information to explain what it is you are looking for.

So often I see people contact a representative for their home improvement quote before they have any idea what they want. I guess they expect this expert will make their decisions for them. Remember this, that person will not live in your remodeled home. So come to the table with your own ideas.

I recommend an idea like creating a project scrapbook as soon as you conceive of the idea for your project. That scrapbook might include some of the following items.

• Photos of projects from magazines

• Photos of projects from the internet

• Photos of your existing area

• Notes pages for your thoughts as you learn more

• Spec sheets for products you have looked at (great for sizing into your project)

• Contact info on sales people you have discussed your project with

• Contact info on companies recommended to you by people you trust

• Research info you have collected like permit requirements or inspection details

• Sketches of your project ideas

• Project lay-outs or quotes you might get from home centers

Once you have collected this information you will be in a position to solicit your home improvement quotes with the confidence that you can clearly convey your desires and enter into the final process of getting an accurate quote that clearly delivers your desired results.

Before entering into any legal contract for services you need to research the company you are hiring and search out details like:

• Who will provide required permits

• Who will buy required products

• Who will schedule any required subcontractor work

• Who handles cleanup

• What are their payment expectations

• How will they release your property of lein

• What is the proposed time schedule of this project with contingencies

• How where they to work with according to past customers

• Who do you contact after hours with concerns

Once you are comfortable with the costs involved, the exact extent of work and products to be used, and answers to ALL of the above questions. Then and only then do I encourage you to consider accepting a home improvement quote for any renovation project you have.

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