No matter what venture you’re about to enter into, it’s best to be prepared. If you’ve never has a remodeling project done in your home before, you can do your own research about companies, products, and processes. However, there’s no better resource than going straight to the expert. Here are a few of the most important questions to ask your remodeling contractor in order to be more informed about your project and your choices.

Do You Have a License and Certificate of Insurance?

This is one of the most basic questions to ask, and something you need to know before hiring. Licenses are a requirement to work as a contractor in Brazos Valley, and while insurance is technically optional, it’s ideal. A contractor’s insurance protects you from being held liable in the event of property damage or injury on the job.You may also check for the contractor’s license online.

What’s the Timeline to Complete This Project?

Chances are, this question is already on your mind. Remodeling projects are much like moving: people enjoy the finished project but usually not the process. The timeline is also important to keep in mind because it will need to coincide with your schedule. For instance, maybe you need the project to be finished before summer break starts for your kids, or before your move-in date. Maybe you’re preparing to sell and the sooner the project is finished, the sooner you can list your home. Make sure to ask, too, what their protocol is in the event of adverse weather and whether they have other projects that could delay the timeline for your project.

Do You Have Your Own Crew or Work With Subcontractors?

Remodeling contractors don’t always have their own crew; in fact, very often, it will actually be subcontractors who do the physical work on your home. That’s not always a bad thing. Often these contractors have been working with the contractor for so long they might as well be their own team. Ask your contractor how long they’ve worked with their subcontractors, and if the subcontractors are also insured. You should also ask how often the contractor will be there to check on the work.

How Does Payment Work?

Very rarely will you pay the entire cost of your project upfront, and if a contractor insists upon it, you should probably avoid them. Instead, you’ll pay on a payment schedule, and that schedule varies from company to company. If the payment schedule seems overwhelming for you, ask about financing options. Many contractors have financing plans to help fit into your budget. Just ask how to apply for a plan that fits within your budget so that your payment plan suits you as well as the contractor.

If you have an upcoming remodeling project in Brazos Valley, Windham Construction can help. With over 20 years of remodeling experience in the area, we’re qualified to answer any questions you might have about your project or the way we do business. Contact us today for more information or a free estimate.

A big part of deciding to remodel is settling on a style that you want for your space at the end of project. Remodeling can be an opportunity not just to fix problem areas or update an old room, but to play with different styles. Among those is the vintage style — which is, more accurately, a wide genre of styles. In the design world, a “vintage” design can be anything that harkens back to the styles of the past.

Vintage is something many homeowners consider when remodeling their kitchen, living room, or bedroom. But is it right for your home? Here are a few reasons that homeowners choose vintage styles.

Versatility

Again, vintage has a rather wide definition. It can mean anything from art deco to mid-century modern. It can have the look of a rustic farmhouse or play on the classic features of the house by exposing a red brick wall or ceiling beams. Because of this, vintage styles can suit a wide variety of homeowners with a wide variety of tastes. Vintage styles can also work in just about any room, be it kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, or even hallway. If you like a vintage style, you can incorporate it anywhere.

Nostalgia

This is the main reason so many people enjoy vintage remodeling styles. Maybe they’re attached to the style they grew up with, or the style of their grandparents’ home. Maybe they just fell in love with the look of a kitchen in their favorite old movie. Even those who don’t necessarily want past eras to return may want to bring back the best styles from those times. Fortunately, you can do that. We haven’t lost the sharp contrast of light and dark colors that made art deco rooms what they are, or the wood and carpet materials of mid-century modern rooms. When it comes to your home’s look, you can be as nostalgic as your heart desires.

Preservation

In some ways, this is tied to nostalgia, but it’s less nostalgia for a certain time and more a nostalgia for the early days of your home. Let’s say you live in a house that has a lot of history to it, something that was built 50, 60, even 100 years ago. Of course, over time that house has been updated so that it now has all the modern appliances, but you want to hold on to some of its historic charm. One way to do that without losing the contemporary conveniences is by remodeling some of the rooms to create a more vintage style. Mirror the style off of the time in which the home was first built. Infuse the best of the colors, shapes, and materials from that age.

Whatever style you’re looking for when it comes to your remodeling project, Windham Construction can help. We have over 20 years of experience with remodeling projects in Brazos Valley, both indoors and even in your outdoor space with arbors and decks. Contact us today and let us know what remodeling work you need done.

You don’t want to trust just anyone with a remodeling project. After all, this is going to be someone who tears apart at least one room in your house before putting it back together in a new, improved way. Misplace your trust and you could have a disaster on your hands. You need someone with experience, not just experience doing the job but experience providing customer satisfaction. But with so many contractors available how do you choose the right one?

Ask Your Friends and Family

Before you start perusing the yellow pages or prowling online directories, ask your friends and family for referrals. Did your sister recently have her kitchen remodeled? Do you have any friends in the real estate business who might know someone? Put a blanket request for recommendations out to your social media and see what responses you get. Not only will this save you time in searching for contractors and narrowing them down, but this way, you already have at least one trusted source vouching for them.

Do Your Research

Once you have a list of recommendations, look them up. Check out their website and go through their list of services as well as their story and their experience. You should also check review sites to make sure that everything they say about themselves on their website holds up. Some will be general review sites like Yelp, Better Business Bureau, or Google reviews, while others might be home improvement specific sites like Porch or Houzz. You want to find contractors with an A or A+ rating on BBB, and preferably a few awards that show they have a commitment to quality.

Do a Few Interviews

Have you narrowed down your list at all? Now it’s time to pick up the phone and conduct a few interviews. Have your questions in mind before you call. Your questions are up to you, but you should be able to describe the work you need done. Ask if your work is something they can do, if they have any references (whether from suppliers and financial institutions or past clients…or preferably both), how many projects they handle at once, if they work with subcontractors and how long they’ve worked with those subcontractors. Once you’ve talked to them on the phone and checked references, meet them in person to get a better idea of how they do business and what they can do for you.

Get a Quote

If you think you’ve decided, it’s time to get a quote. For your quote, the contractor will come out and visit the site, get a full idea of the work you need done, and present an estimated quote for materials and labor. Even if you still have a few options, this is the best time to get a quote, as the quote might be the deciding factor in who you want to go with. Keep in mind that the cheapest option is not always the best option. You don’t want to be overcharged but high quality work is worth paying for.

Sign the Contract

Once you’ve decided, it’s time for a contract to be drawn up and signed. By now, you’ve researched this company thoroughly and should be confident that you can trust them with your home for your remodeling. Congratulations!

If you’re looking for a remodeling contractor in Bryan-College Station, look no further than Windham Construction. With over 20 years of experience in the area, we take on a number of remodeling projects, both outside and in, and we’re committed to your satisfaction. Check out our reviews and contact us to set up a meeting or a quote.