You’re about to meet with your home renovation professional. Are you ready? If you’re not a subject expert on roofing, painting, or stair repairs, getting an estimate for a home renovation can make you feel like you haven’t done your homework. Here’s what you really need to know, do, and ask when you get an estimate for a home renovation.

What Is Your Experience With This Kind of Project? 

Every home is unique. Perhaps you’re installing a new fence that needs to be terraced. Maybe you’re adding gutter covers to a roof that sits underneath many trees that blossom in the springtime. When you’re talking with renovation companies, ask them about their experience solving the particular problems that come with your home. 

Are You Trustworthy? 

You probably won’t ask this question outright, but you’ll be looking for the answer during your estimate. To decide whether you should trust a company to complete your home renovation, look for: 

• Someone who shows up on time 
• Someone who communicates well 
• Someone who looks and acts in a presentable manner 
• Someone who’s able to tell you that they’re licensed and insured
• Someone who has the right equipment for the estimate and who seems to inspire confidence with their answers
• Someone who can tell you what subcontractors they work with, if any. According to the Architectural Digest, “…like your contractor, all of them should be covered under worker’s compensation laws and disability insurance.”

How Well Do You Communicate? 

A strong company won’t make you feel weak, even if you don’t know a lot about the project you want to do. The best companies work with you to help you understand what needs to be done. If you find that a company is using your lack of knowledge to make you feel guilty or alarmed about the state of your home, be wary. That company could be using those emotions to make a sales pitch. Instead, look for a company that can communicate with you in clear, simple language, telling you the potential benefits and problems that could arise during your renovation. 

How Will You Communicate With Me During the Project? 

If there are problems or decisions to be made during your renovation, how will you know about them? Before you settle on a home renovation company, ask the company about their communication. 

• Will you need to be on site? 
• What will happen if something urgent occurs and a decision needs to be made right away? 
• If the project will take a long time, will you get regularly-scheduled updates? 
• What will be in writing? 

What Will Happen Once You Begin? 

Ask your renovation professionals questions to help you visualize how the project will unfold. Ask them who will be on site every day and how they will schedule the work. According to Houzz, “A schedule is more than just a start and end date. Having a schedule that outlines tasks and timing will give you a big-picture view of sequencing and deadlines….” Ask your renovation professionals to give you a general schedule for your type of project so that you know what will happen once you commit to the work.

Do You Have Any Concerns About the Project? 

Every home renovation project runs into problems. That’s because renovations aren’t just about making your home better, they’re about fixing all of the little problems that come along with the renovation. For example, if you want to install gutter covers but your gutters actually need to be replaced, that will add another dimension to your project. 

By asking a few companies to consider the potential problems that could arise during your home renovation, you’ll not only get a good understanding of the problems, you’ll also understand how the company solves them and how honest and clear they are with their customers.

How Do You Guarantee Your Work? 

You want to know that your company will do an excellent job on your project. Part of this certainty comes with their warranty. Ask the company what kinds of guarantees or warranties they will give you on parts and installation and whether this warranty will be honored even if you sell the home. 

At Harry Helmet, we’re committed to providing you with the best gutter covers and seamless gutters for your home. View our photo gallery to learn more about our gutters, awning, and roofing products and schedule a free estimate today.

Written by Del Thebaud