Critical Steps For A Successful Remodeling / Renovation Project in New York City!

NEW YORK, NY, March 08, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Various individuals have given endless words of advice to home and apartment owners looking to remodel or undertake a major renovation project in Manhattan. Most New York homeowners enter into the remodeling process fairly well-informed. Yet for many others, doing your homework means obtaining three estimates for the desired work and qualifying references provided by contractors you are considering to select to complete your project. If this process is a reasonable prescription for success when remodeling or renovating, then why do we still hear so many horror stories about it?

If you think about it, Remodeling or Renovating your home or apartment in New York is a high risk venture. Generally, there is a large amount of money involved in a rip out and rebuild project, it is detail and labor intensive, and it is not a shelf item (meaning that you are buying something that hasn't been made yet). You are buying it without really knowing the 'factory', the quality of its 'workers', its quality control procedures, the professionalism of the contractor, the available supply of required materials and so on. No wonder so many homeowners experience a rude awakening while remodeling or renovating their homes. So many make the mistake of hiring the cheapest so called contractor and wanting to pay as little as possible to have their work completed. Below are a few tips to make sure that the results of your remodeling /renovation project will be a success, or at the very least, tilt the odds in your favor.

The following is a basic step-by-step approach designed to inform and guide the decisions you make with regard to remodeling or renovating your home or apartment. For the most part, the company you hire to do the work for you will have the greatest impact on how well your project turns out. Professional Services Inc. hopes that these pointers will be helpful for any kind of major remodeling / renovation projects you may be considering, such as a complete apartment renovation in New York City or a full-scale whole house renovation in the other boroughs of New York or Nassau county.

1. Realize and Define your objectives: List the good and bad points about the living space you want to remodel. Has anything about the space bothered you repeatedly? Do you find yourself wishing for a new look? What is missing in the space that you would like to have? If cost is not a concern, what would your ultimate dream space look like? How do you see yourself using the space more effectively? Your answers to these questions can have a dramatic impact on the kind of kitchen, bathroom or living room you want to have. Your answers should result in an all inclusive "wish list" which you can then use as a point of departure. If new information or deeper insight becomes available, don't be inflexible and unwilling to deviate from your original list. You never know how new ideas can spark or inspire a better configuration for your proposed changes.

2. Prioritize: In real life, we have to make compromises. Amount of Funding, available space and the accommodation of different tastes and wishes of other members of the household, etc. all come into play in shaping what you can and cannot do in your renovation project. Organize your construction plans by prioritizing your objectives (from your "wish list" above). Your highest priority item should be first on the list. Subsequent items will represent lower priorities in a descending order. Highlight the items which you feel are a must, and once you're done identifying these, review the list one more time. If you're comfortable with what you have, you've made significant progress towards a sensible plan for your renovation project that will serve you well.

3. Budget: Now it's time to spice your dreams up with a pinch of reality. You need to realistically develop a budget for the project. Based on some of our former completed projects, and according to industry experts, a full kitchen remodel in the New York area, for example, on average is likely to run between $40,000 and $90,000. While high-end kitchens, very large kitchens, and kitchens with unique features can easily surpass these figures. This is a very accurate average for a New York kitchen remodeling project. Assess your available resources. Many homeowners turn to financing for such a major project. Home equity loans and refinancing are the two most popular approaches to handling home improvement costs. Such an approach may have some tax benefits as well. It would be a good idea to consult your accountant or bank for more specific advice. Do not under any circumstances entertain getting financing from any contractor that you may hire or allow any contractor to direct you to someone who can give you any type of loan. Remember that the remodel of your dreams may cost more or less than your allotted budget. You should build in a lot of flexibility at this point. It's only with input from a professional you can trust, such as a competent New York General Contractor or builder, that will let you finally pin down an exact cost for your project.

4. Design and Features: Now is the time to translate your wish list into a functional and visually striking floor plan. You should seek the help of an experienced professional for successful architectural design. Engage a general contractor or a design/build firm in order to attain a seamless integration of the design with the actual work needed. This will help you avoid designs which could turn out to be "budget busters." Focus your search on companies with specific expertise in the design and construction of the part of your home or apartment you want to renovate. A remodeling outfit with expertise in design and construction is indispensable at this stage. You should share your budget guidelines with the company you hire. In turn, they should be able to tailor a solution that will allow most of your "wish list" items to fit within your project budget. The trick is to actually find the right company to develop and accomplish this phase with because it is one of the most critical factors for a successful project.

5. Hire your contractor: It's hard to list all the elements that should go into a good "Whom to Hire" decision in such short order. If you are remodeling your kitchen or bath, then naturally, you need to insist on a General Contracting Company that can demonstrate abundant experience and expertise in kitchen and bath remodeling or any other kind of renovation work which may be included in your project. You should also insist on the company having a stellar record with the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs, New York City Department of Buildings, and the New York Better Business Bureau. Consider it time well-spent when you review the recent projects and interview previous clients of the contractors on your short list. Keep in mind that even bad contractors may have a few happy customers. All of these pointers may end up being meaningless if you don't get along with your contractor. It is a must that your are comfortable with the company you hire and you should feel a genuine rapport with the people who work for them as well. It's advisable, whenever possible, to only work with a company that: (1) will guarantee a fixed price for your project, and (2) will provide you with a completion date in writing. Ultimately, it's the contractor's steadfast dedication to a satisfactory completion and your ability to 'navigate choppy waters' that will define your remodeling experience.

6. Manage Your Expectations: You should be prepared for the challenges that such a project of a major renovation can pose. Any kind of remodeling project is a multi-trade, detail-intensive undertaking. Such a project involves noise, dust and disruption to the household routine. While you may tolerate it easily for the first few days, it may grow old very quickly. Be prepared for the inconvenience to last longer than you think it will. You should also be aware of the variations in the pace between different project phases. While the demolition and "rough" stages may speed along at a blazing pace, the wall work and painting phases may appear to barely move along by comparison. Managing your expectations doesn't mean you have to lower your standards. It merely results in a healthier and more balanced way for you to survive the process of remodeling.

7. Be involved: Don't be an absentee client while your home or apartment is being remodeled. Be there to inspect what is going on from time to time! Remember, it's you who ultimately has to live with the results of the finished project, not the General Contractor that you hire, so stay involved as the project progresses. Even the most competent and trustworthy of contractors can benefit from your ongoing input and involvement. Being available and on top of things can even expedite your remodeling project because your enthusiasm and dedication will be shared by everyone involved. If you choose your contractor wisely, we assure you, that your remodeling project will actually be a rewarding experience you will get to brag about.

When you hire Professional Services Inc. you're not just selecting a contractor, you're choosing a Fully Licensed & Insured business partner. From the initial stages of design to the finished product, our approach solicits vital input from client and architect to make certain that your project is successful.

This method of doing business has created a streamlined approach to remodeling that results in superior quality, greater financial efficiency and meticulous adherence to deadlines. When you combine great people and hard work, impressive results are inevitable. Irrefutable evidence of this formula exists in the projects Professional Services Inc. has completed in the New York area. Without question, our portfolio is a source of extreme pride. It is, however, the promise of what we can achieve in the future that is the source of our passion.

For additional information please visit us at http://www.professional-services.com

Professional Services Inc.
133-13 Peconic Street
Ozone Park, N.Y. 11417
718 641-1627
http://www.professional-services.com