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Home Remodeling Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

A
Addendum, to contract, 54, 60
Additions
        plan drawing, 10-11; planning, 7-27; solar/sun rooms, 17
Adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), 65, 66
Agreement page, of contract, 54
American Institute of Architects (AIA)
        contract forms, 54, 60-61
Appliances, selecting, 105
Arbitration, 141
Architects
        advantages of using, 28, 34-36; as design consultant, 13; selecting, 39-41; in small projects, 13, 16
Attorney's fees, mortgage refinancing and, 69

B
Bank
        fees, 69-70; selecting, 68-69; See also Loans; Mortgage
Barter, 72
Bathroom
        construction cost overruns, 75, 76; contractor/crew use of, 90; decision making, 106; planning, 17, 26;
        Port-o-John, 91
Bathtubs, 106
Bedroom, planning, 25-26
Bidet, 106
Bids
        accuracy of, 42-44, 45-46; additional costs and, 44, 45, 47-48, 74-76, 119; avoiding, 76-77;
        comparing, 43-48, 49; cost-per-square-foot, 10, 47; cost-plus, 4647; fixed price, 37, 47-52, 75;
        negotiating, 49-51; limit on acceptance of, 58; underbids, 44, 119-120
Bill paying, 135, 139-141
Bridge loan, 69
Budget
        compromise over, 115; marital disagreements over, 110, 112-115; sticking to, 77, 101-103;
        trade-offs concerning, 103
Building inspectors, 30, 75, 95-96, 141
Building permits, 30, 58
Building-supply stores. See Suppliers

C
Cabinets
        bathroom, 106; contract provisions for, 59; kitchen, 104-105, 147; sticking, 142-143
CAD (computer-aided design), 19
Callbacks, 142-144
Carpenter
        as design adviser, 17-19; lead, 94, 119
Carpentry
        built-in vs. stand-alone, 107; contract provisions for, 59; finish, 81; window, 18
Catalogues, 102
Ceiling
        contract provisions for, 58; material/finish, 108
Certificate of occupancy, 31, 75, 95, 141
Certified Remodeler (CR) designation, 42, 45
Change orders, 54, 122
Changes
        communicating, 130; cost overruns and, 76, 121-122; delays and, 82-83; mistakes and, 120-121;
        record of, 122, 134
Children, around remodeling projects, 92-93, 135
Chimney, 119-120
Cleanups, contract provision for, 58, 131-132
Clerk-of-the-works, 35-36
Communication
        with contractor, 96-99, 125, 129, 132; with spouse, 112-117
Comparison shopping, 101-102
Completion date, 59
Compromise, 115-117, 134, 140
Computer, electrical outlet for, 107
Conditions page, contract, 54
Construction crew
        bathroom access for, 90; children and, 92-93; cleanups, 58, 132-133; as family, 95; lunch/snack time, 91, 95, 98;
        storage space for, 89; telephone access for, 90;
Consumer fraud, 128
Contractor, 29-34
        callbacks, 142-143; carpenter as, 17-18; -client disputes, 140-141; -client relationship, 88–92, 94–99,
        125, 129–135; communication with, 96-99, 127, 130-138; daily routine and, 94; design advice from, 12, 13, 43;
        final payment to, 139-141; fraud, 128; homeowner as, 31-34; insurance coverage, 127; invoices for, 35;
        materials supplied by, 134, 142; mistakes, 118-126; punch list performance, 136-139; responsibilities of,
        29-31, 116; selecting, 34, 38-41, 42-43, 52, 126; See also Bids; Delays
Contractor’s discount, 102, 131
Contracts/agreements, 43, 54-60, 122
        AIA forms, 53, 60-61; cost-plus vs. fixed price, 74-76; defined, 53; final payment in, 139; parts of, 53-54;
        sample, 55-56
Copper piping, 76
Cost
        estimates, 16, 42-43, 50; overruns, 73-78, 118, 121-122; per-hour, 43; per-square-foot, 47; -plus basis,
        46-47, 74-76; record of, 77; in small vs. big jobs, 77; total, 59; See also Bids
Countertops
        contract provisions, 55-56, 59; selecting, 104-105
Credit card financing, 71

D
Decision making, 100-109; approaches to, 100-102; bathroom, 106; checklist, 108-109; 
            kitchen, 104-105; notes, 107;
             See also Marital decision making.
Deck, planning, 12, 22
Decorating decisions, 109
Delays, 81-85
        changes and, 82-83; delivery, 80; finish-work, 81; homeowner-caused, 82; overlapping jobs and, 83; schedule, 80;
        for vacations/days off, 83-85; weather, 79-81
Delivery
        delays, 80; lead times for, 101; mistakes, 120, 123-124, 126-127
Demolition cleanup, contract provision for, 58
Design advice, 12-17
Design/remodeling firms, 19, 37-39,
Doors
        sticking, 142-143; swing area, 12
Drawing page, contract, 54

E
Eating
        contractor/crew, 91; planning and, 23
Electrical system
        inspection of, 95-96; selecting, 109
Elevation drawings, 14-15
Engineers, as clients, 133
Equity line of credit mortgages, 63
Equity loans, 63
Estimates, 16, 42-43, 50

F
Faucets, 106
Feedback, 99
Financing. See Loans; Mortgage
Finish-work
        delays, 81; on punch list, 136-39
Fireplace, planning, 27
Fixed price basis, 37, 47-52, 75
Fixed-rate mortgage, 65-66
Flooring
        contract provisions, 56-57, 59; decision making, 108; direction of, 99, 122; material, 108
Floor plan, 10-14
Furniture indicator, 10

G
Garage, 21
Guarantees, 57

H
Hardware, 104
        delivery mistakes, 120; kitchen cabinet, 104
Heating system, selecting, 109
Historical District Commission, 42-43
Home improvement loan, 64
Homeowner general contractor, 31-34
House Plan and Plumbing inking templates, 11

I
Inspectors, 95-96
Insurance, liability, 127

K
Keeping track, 107-108
Kitchen
        contract proposal for, 55-60; decision making, 104-105; planning, 17, 25-26, 104-105

L
Laundry, planning, 27
Lawyers, as clients, 133
Layout, kitchen, 104
Lien releases, 36, 141
Loans, 62-72
        alternative sources, 72; application process, 77, 78; bank selection, 68-69; bridge, 68; credit card approach, 81;
        equity, 64; home improvement, 64; squanmise in, 131; See also Mortgage
Lumberyards
        cost estimates from, 16; quality of lumber, 143
Lunch break, 91, 95, 98

M
Magazines and newspapers, 9, 101
Marital decision making, 110-117;
        budgeting differences and, 110, 112-113; communication strategies, 115-117; stress of remodeling, 110-111;
        taste differences and, 110, 113-114, 119
Mechanical system, selecting, 109
Mistakes, 118-128
        consumer fraud, 128; handling, 118-126; insurance coverage and, 127; prevention of, 125-126; types of, 118-120
Mortgage
        brokers, 66; equity line of credit, 63; fixed vs. adjustable rate, 65-66; refinancing, 64-66; additional costs in, 69-70;
        appraised value and, 67-68; qualifying rules of thumb, 64; See also Loans

N
National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), 19
National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), 19

O
Orders, placement of, 30

P
Payment
        final, 139-141; schedule, 66
Penalty fee, 59
Planning, 7-26
        changes, cost overruns and, 76; compromise in, 116; cost estimates in, 16; design advice in, 12-19;
        floor plan, 10-16; ideas from shelter magazines, 8-9, 101; lack of, mistakes and, 140; questionnaire, 20-27;
        site/lot and, 12, 15, 20-27; traffic patterns and, 13; wants/needs in, 9-10
Plot plan, 12, 15, 20-27
Plumbing
        contract provisions, 55-56, 58; inspection of, 95-96
Plumbing fixtures/supplies
        bathroom, 106; budget and, 102; kitchen, 104-105; sources for, 120
Points, 69
Porch, planning, 22
Port-o-John, 90-91
Punch list, 136-13

Q
Questionnaire, planning, 20-27

R
Receipts, 142
Recording fees, 70
Record keeping, 107-108, 144
Remodelers Council (NAHB), 19
Remodeling
        advanced preparation and, 88; by homeowner, 71; children and, 92-93, 135; as contractor, 30, 32-34;
        daily routine, 94-95; living with, 86-93; relations with contractor/crew, 95-96, 111-116; vacation during, 87-88;
        one room at a time approach, 70; reasons for, 2-3; steps in, 4; stress of, 3, 86-87; ten commandments of, 144;
        See also Decision making; Planning, specific subjects

S
Schedule, 30
        delays, 80
Septic system
        cost overruns in, 73, 77; inspection of, 95-96
Shower, fixtures, 106
Sinks, 105, 106
Site/lot
        planning and, 12, 15, 20-21; septic system and, 73, 77
Solar (sun) rooms, 17
Specification page, contract, 53-54
Standard guarantees, 57
Starting date, 59
State home improvement registration number, 60
Storage
        for contractor/crew, 89; kitchen, 105; planning, 23-24
Style, selecting, 117
Sun, exposure to, 27
Sun rooms, 17
Suppliers
        contractor’s discount and, 102, 131; cost estimates from, 16; delivery delays, 80; lien releases, 31, 141;
        mistakes, 120, 124-125, 126-127; warranties, 79-81

T
Taste, differences of, 110-112
Telephone, contractor use of, 90
Terms, 60-61
Terrace, planning, 22
Time and materials (cost plus) basis, 46-47, 74-76
Title insurance, 70

U
Underbids, 43-46
Underground, cost overruns and, 73-77
Urinal, 106

V
Vacation
        contractor, 83-85;
        homeowner, 88
Ventilation, 109

W
Walls
        contract provisions, 55, 58; cracks in, 142-143; finish/material, 108; investigating, 47-48, 76; weight-bearing,
        cost overruns and, 74
Warranties, 142
Weather delays, 79-81
Windows
        button-on storms, 130; carpenters’ vs replacement-window firm, 18-19; cost overruns, 75; selecting, 109;
        snap-ingrids, 75; sticking, 143-144; wrong mullions, 126-127, 130-131
Wood trim, 108, 137-138

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