When to call in a home pro - iOnGreenville: Your Guide to Greenville South Carolina

At some point, whether it’s buying a home, preparing a house to sell or just updating, homeowners will find themselves renovating, repairing or remodeling their homes.

Kitchens and bathrooms are the most common rooms to remodel in a house and can also add value to a property before it is sold. Whether it is upgrading cabinets and counters, changing out lighting and plumbing fixtures, updating paint and flooring or replacing appliances, small changes can go a long way in revamping a room.

Once a professional such as a carpenter or plumber is hired for a larger project, get a written contract to establish a timeline, costs and description of work to be done.

Before tackling a remodeling project, it’s best to figure out what the budget is. Once finances are figured out, pick one room or specific project to work on instead of trying to do everything at once. Based on the budget and scope of the project, the homeowner should make a list of what needs to be done to accomplish the goal, including the amount of time it will take. Some things like painting the walls, replacing faucets and other smaller tasks can be easily done by the homeowner.

For larger projects, like replacing cabinets and counters or removing a bathtub to add a roomier shower, it might be best to call in a professional. Also, if significant repairs are uncovered during a home renovation, the homeowner may want to consult a professional as well.

Before hiring a plumber, roofer or craftsman to help with a home project, it is important to put together a list to present to the home pro and discuss pricing and timeline. Before hiring a professional, check out reviews on websites like Yelp or Angie’s List. If possible, talk to people in the community who have previously worked with the company. The homeowner may also want to look up the home professional’s credentials with the Better Business Bureau.

Once a professional such as a carpenter or plumber is hired for a larger project, get a written contract to establish a timeline, costs and description of work to be done. At this time, a point of contact for the crew should be established so that changes to timetables, additional issues found during work and other items can be easily discussed. The homeowner needs to prepare for active construction with workers coming in to work. If the professional is redoing a bathroom, the owner should have an alternative bathtub or shower to be used somewhere else in the home.

At the end of the project, schedule a final walkthrough to review the work before signing off on the job being done.