 Renovating your home can be an amazing project, creating the perfect oasis for relaxing as well as entertaining. But you want to make sure you work with the right renovation contractor to get the results you want. That’s why it’s important to ask the right questions when hiring contractors.
Whether you need a contractor for a small job or a large scale renovation project project, you should ask the right questions. That way, you can make sure you hire the right person or team to work on your house. Keep reading to learn what questions you should ask when hiring a contractor for your home renovation project. What Experience Does The Contractor Have? When you hire a home renovation contractor, you should ask about their experience. Consider not only if they have experience working on homes but also if they have done similar projects. That way, you can make sure they have the skills and tools for your renovation. You can also ask about their specialty, such as painting, roofing, or carpentry. Ask about how long they’ve specialized in that and if they have any necessary licenses. Some states require contractors to have licenses for specific types of projects. If they’ll bring in any subcontractors, you should also ask about their experience. While you’d hope the main contractor hires experienced people, you never know. If you’re uncomfortable with bringing someone into your home, you should make that clear upfront. You don’t need to hire the contractor with the most experience. However, you should feel confident about the contractor’s skills. Then, you won’t have to worry if they’ll be able to get the job done or not. Will You Get Any Necessary Permits? Depending on the project, you may need a permit, such as if you’re making a structural change to your home. If you don’t get a permit now, it can affect your project timeline, and it can even make it harder to sell your home later on. You don’t typically need a permit for projects such as painting the interior. However, you will need a permit when adding on to your home, building a deck, or for some electrical or plumbing projects. If you determine you need a permit, you should ask if the contractor will get the permit for you. You can get the permit yourself, but your contractor may know the right steps. Then, you won’t have to worry about getting a permit. If your contractor is the one to get the permit, make sure they have it before they start work. That way, you can make sure everything is in order before you begin your project. How Long Will the Project Take? Another important consideration is the project timeline. You should ask your contractor about their current projects and when those will be complete. Be sure to ask about other bids they have and how those could affect your project’s timeline. Consider asking about a few other things when scheduling the project, such as:
You should also ask about making changes to the project timeline. If you need the contractor to take a day or two off, ask if that’s an option. Then, if you get sick, you can stay home and not worry about someone making a lot of noise or otherwise disturbing you. On the other hand, you should also ask if they’ll work when they feel sick. If you aren’t comfortable with someone sick working in your home, make that clear now. That way, you can adjust the project schedule if necessary. When Will You Work Each Day? After you set a timeline for your project, consider your contractor’s work schedule. Think about if you want them to start work earlier or later and when you want them to finish each day. That way, you can make sure they don’t disturb you or others in the house. You should also ask about how loud their work usually is. Painting can be relatively quiet, whereas home additions will probably be louder when building the new room. The noise level may affect when you want them to start and stop each day. If you work outside of the house, you should also ask if there will be any time when they need you home. Of course, you should be home to give the contractor the keys when they start. But ask if they will need you to look over any work before the project is over. You should also ask how big their vehicle is and tell them where or how they can park. Let the contractor know what bathrooms they can use. That way, you’re on the same page. Will You Have a Team of People? While a plumber or electrician may be able to complete their jobs alone, some contractors may work with others. You should ask any contractor if they will bring in subcontractors or other employees. Consider what to ask about if the contractor works with others.
A team of people can help speed up a lot of home renovation projects. However, you should make sure that you can trust everyone on the team to protect your house and to stay safe. A Design-Build contractor may be a good option as most services are managed and delivered by a single team, creating a more streamlined process than working with many different sub-contractors. How Will You Protect My Belongings? You may also want to ask what the contractor will do to protect your furniture and other possessions. If you’re hiring a painter, consider if they will move furniture or use tarps when painting throughout your house. When hiring any contractor, you can also ask if they will cover their shoes when entering your house. That way, they won’t track dirt into the different rooms. You can also ask if you should move items to another room before the contractor starts working. If you have pets and a backyard with a fence, consider contractors who are working out there. Make sure they know to shut the fence so that your pets can’t get loose. And pets or not, you should also make sure the contractor locks all doors when they leave. While locking doors isn’t a huge problem if you’re home, it’s still important. Then, you won’t have to worry about being home the entire time your contractor is there working. Will You Clean Up Each Day? If the project will take multiple days, you should consider if the contractor will clean up. Cleaning up each day may not be important when working on a new addition. However, it can be important if they’re painting a bedroom or living room you currently use. Consider how they will clean up and if you may need to clean up yourself. Then, you can still use your home throughout the renovation. If your contractor charges per hour, consider if they will charge for the cleanup time. And if they do, consider if you can pay for more work hours per day or if you may need to extend the project. That way, you can still afford the work but have a clean home each night. If the contractor will clean up each day, consider what they will need for that. Painters may need access to a sink to wash their brushes or clean off their tarps. Landscapers may also need a sink to wash off their gloves and gardening tools. Where Will You Store Supplies? Another important question for longer renovation projects is storage. Consider if the contractor will store any supplies at your house and, if so, where they will store things. Ask about how much stuff they will keep there and how much space they’ll need. You should also ask if they plan to store their supplies in the project room. If you’re having them paint your bedroom, think about if you have enough space for brushes, paint cans, and other supplies. Ask if your contractor plans to use part of your garage for storage. If so, make sure someone can park outside on the driveway during the project. That way, you’ll have enough room to store the supplies without taking up space in your house. If your contractor will need to move supplies across your house, you should also ask them to do so carefully. That way, they don’t ruin your floors or any other completed parts of your home. When Will You Invoice Me? You should also ask your contractor about invoicing and payments. Make sure you know when the contractor will send you an invoice and how. Some people use paper invoices, while others use a program such as PayPal or QuickBooks for their invoices. Consider how and when your contractor may invoice you:
If you can’t afford to pay the project in full, ask if they accept a payment plan. You can both agree on how much you’ll pay each month so that you can still pay off the project. That way, you can get a good contractor without going over budget. How Can I Contact You? Another essential question to ask when hiring a contractor is for their contact information. You should know how and when you can most easily get a hold of them before and during your project. Consider if you can text them or if you need to make a phone call. Ask if they have an email address that they check and if that’s how you should contact them. Knowing how you can reach your contractor is important in case of any concerns or questions. You should also ask if they will respond to messages after working hours. Some contractors may have set business hours, so you’ll have to wait until the next day. In that case, ask about emergencies and if they’ll respond more quickly then. That way, you can reach them if you realize you have a leak or some other issue. You won’t have to wait until the next time your contractor comes to your house to solve small problems. How to Choose a Home Renovation Contractor After you ask a few questions, you may still be unsure if someone is the right home renovation contractor for you. If that’s the case, you should consider their answers and compare them to any other contractors you’re considering. Then, you can see which contractor has more answers you like. For example, someone could be the perfect fit, but maybe they don’t have much experience. Or maybe they do have a lot of experience, but they charge the full rate upfront, and you don’t have the money for that. It can be tough to balance everything, so here are a few things to think about after you meet with a contractor. Consider Your Project First, think about what you need help with and how big the project is. Consider if the contractor you want to hire has done that work before or if they’ve only done other projects. For example, perhaps you need someone to paint your ceilings. Maybe you met with a contractor who has painted interior walls, but they’ve hardly worked on ceilings. While they might do a fine job, painting a ceiling can be difficult, so you may want to hire someone else. You should also consider if you need permits and how you can get them. If a contractor is willing to get the permits for you, that can make things a lot easier. But they may charge you more for that, and you won’t have control over when you get the documentation you need. Determine Your Ideal Schedule You should also consider when you want to start and complete the project. Of course, you need to be realistic. But consider a few smaller elements of any renovation project and how that can affect the schedule:
When hiring a home renovation contractor, think about your priorities and make sure you can agree on a schedule with your contractor. That way, you can get everyone done when you want, and you can make sure the project is done well. Remember Your Budget Of course, you also have to think about what you can afford. If you find the perfect contractor, they will probably charge a lot for their expertise and value. However, you may be on a tight budget, so you might need to make sacrifices. If you can’t afford a contractor, you can ask about payment plans. But you may also want to find another contractor who can still do a good job but for a lower rate. Consider looking for a newer contractor who still has some experience. However, they probably won’t charge as much as someone who has been in business for decades. Your budget isn’t the most important factor when hiring a renovation contractor, but it does matter. Think about if your budget is flexible or if you can’t pay more than a particular amount. Then, you can negotiate with a contractor if necessary. Go With Your Gut Finally, listen to your instincts when hiring a contractor. If someone sounds too good to be true, they probably are. You want to choose the best contractor for you, so you should trust whoever you hire. Even if everything sounds good, if you don’t like something about the contractor, move on. It’s not worth risking your home or the wellbeing of you or others in your house. You can find other contractors in the area who can do a good job. They may not have the same prices or experience, but they may be a better fit for you. And you can have the peace of mind that they will take care of your home while they work. Final Thoughts When hiring a home renovation contractor, you have to consider your budget, the project scope, and the timeline. Be sure to ask any contractor how they can work within those constraints. The last thing you want is for your contractor not to do a good job or for you to overpay. Keep these things in mind next time you need to hire a renovation contractor. Berceli Kitchens & Home Design is a Fort Lee, NJ based home renovation company serving the entire Bergen County Area. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. Homes with open floor plans might have been growing in popularity over the last several years, but is the coronavirus pandemic reversing that trend? Buyers are realizing that there are some drawbacks to having interior wide-open spaces with no separation. But does that mean open floor plans are on their way out? Not necessarily. We’ve analyzed open floor plans, spoken with real estate brokers, architects, and designers to understand everything about open floor plans, and have curated expert insights on layouts, the history, the benefits and drawbacks, how to make an open floor plan work for you and how to mimic some of the benefits of an open floor plan if you don’t have one.  What do open floor plan homes look like? Homes with open floor plans feature open spaces where dining, kitchen, and living areas flow seamlessly from one space to the next, without walls or doors blocking the light or flow of people. Instead of using load-bearing walls to carry the weight of the roof or floors above, architects and builders use heavy-duty beams. A picture is worth a thousand words so let’s look at some examples of open floor plans from some popular builders.  Source: (Schumacher Homes) This floor plan is very open while still providing parents the ability to retreat to their own space on the main level, an increasingly popular request with buyers. There is lots of natural light from the many windows, and the flex room offers options — home office, music room, dining room, play room, and so on.
 Source: (Schumacher Homes) How to make an open floor plan work for you An open floor plan home gives you a lot of control over how you delineate your difference spaces, but that means you have some planning to do to ensure your “rooms” are structured to meet your needs. Use furniture to delineate which “room” is where. You can do this by breaking up a large space with a sofa or other large furniture, or you can group matching furniture together to designate unique areas. You can also use rugs to help indicate spatial boundaries between “rooms” in your open space. Leverage “seating zones” in your living/sitting area to encourage more privacy or quiet conversations. A group of sofas clustered together creates the feeling of a living room or a nook without the need for walls. Use lighting to further define different areas. This can be as simple as strategic lamp placement to control which areas are lit, or can be accomplished by changing the type of lighting in different parts of your home. You could opt for brighter lights in the dining area, and softer, natural light in the living room. Use architectural details to create separations. Beams and molding are obvious and easy ways to visually define areas, and you could change ceiling heights or add window alcoves to further delineate between spaces. Keep an aesthetic flow throughout the area. Utilize matching furniture and decor color or style to create separation, but be careful your various “rooms” don’t clash. Don’t close up an open floor plan. Keep the views and lines of sight open from space to space, so that every space benefits from the light and airflow. If you need a bit more privacy, half-screens can create visual divisions between areas without blocking the line of sight. Dellavecchia advises homeowners with open floor plans to decorate wisely, suggesting “Color scheme is real important on open floor plans, especially in a smaller house — and keep the colors in the house lighter and neutral. A mixed decor of different textures is something a lot of people like. Accent colors offer contrast — the grays, the whites and the blacks intermixed with some other wood textures and wood tones, like hardwood floors.” Everything has benefits and drawbacks, and open-floor-plan homes are no exception. Both are worth considering carefully.  Be smart about how you use your square footage. You can reduce the space in the main bedrooms of the home and wall additional space off to create offices, libraries, sitting rooms, and whatever else you need. Most people don’t spend that much time in their bedrooms, so converting that floor space to another room can make your home feel bigger.
Working with an experienced remodeling company who understands your needs and priorities will ensure you get your dream home layout, open floor plan or not. The first step is talking to one about the type of home and floor plan that will best meet your needs; even if an open floor plan isn’t perfect for you, the right agent can help you determine how to change up an open-floor-plan home until it is perfect for you.  It’s safe to say that we have all used our kitchens a lot more in the last year than we ever have before. With us all being forced to stay at home and protect ourselves and our loved ones from the COVID-19 global pandemic, our kitchens have been forced to quickly adapt. While pre-pandemic you may have only ever used your kitchen to prepare meals, with all the family living and working together under one roof, the role your kitchen plays in your household may have changed dramatically.
With that in mind, it is more important than ever that your kitchen is a functional and modern space, that reflects both your interests, and your lifestyle. Ask yourself if your kitchen is working well for you and your family? Is your kitchen space practical for all the different uses you now require from it? With 2020 being a year that none of us could have predicted, 2021 is the time for change and adapting to a new way of life- so why shouldn’t your kitchen move with the times too? Lifestyle One of the main reasons why you should consider a kitchen remodel this year is because the current design and layout of your kitchen space is no longer in line with your lifestyle. For many households, the kitchen is at the heart of your home. So whether you are a MasterChef in the kitchen, or you are more of an ‘order-in’ kind of person, your kitchen should reflect this. For example, if you love nothing more than being the hostess with the mostest then you should go for a new kitchen design that provides you with plenty of entertainment space. Think about perhaps including a breakfast bar in your kitchen layout, so that you have enough space to serve your guests. Home value When it comes to making considerable changes to their home, many homeowners decide to undertake the project of a kitchen remodel. This is because not only is it important to have a kitchen that works for you, they are also a great way to add extra value to your home. While you may not be thinking at all about moving house, an attractive, on-trend, and remodeled kitchen will appeal a lot more to potential buyers. A modern kitchen remodel is also a great way to increase your home’s marketability and drum up some extra interest. With many kitchen remodels, some homeowners can recoup their investment, but this largely depends on how much work needs to be done to the space. New trends If you have been keen to revamp your kitchen space for sometime, , but are worried that you just wouldn't know where to begin, then now is a better time than ever to get started. With more people at home, there has been an increase in the number of people making home improvements to their houses, including their kitchen space. So you now have more new kitchen trends to choose from! From the return of the traditional country look kitchen, to the rise of the new, but extremely popular, industrial design, finding a kitchen layout and design is now easier than ever before. When looking for inspiration on how to change and upgrade your kitchen space, you will be spoilt for choice. Improve functionality In recent unprecedented times, your kitchen has no longer solely been a space where you can cook meals and enjoy them as a household. Instead, now your kitchen has also had to fill the role of work office, school classroom, and family living area. Therefore, you may need to consider how functional your current kitchen area is, and how a remodel would make it work better for you. Kitchens that have been around for some time can start to not only look outdated, but also have an awkward layout. For example, you want to make sure there is plenty of worktop space for modern appliances, as well as food preparation space. Therefore, by upgrading and remodeling your kitchen you can make the space more convenient and easier to cook in. I mean that is the whole point of a kitchen, right? Deterioration Yet, you may also find that the current condition of your kitchen space leaves you with no choice but to remodel the interior. Of course, materials, as well as decors, only last for so long before they need upgrading again. But the deterioration of your kitchen is something that can sometimes creep up on you. Before you know it, your brand-new space is twenty years old with damaged cupboards and peeling countertops. Remember that the space around us has an impact on how we feel. So if you are missing your flare in the kitchen then you may find that it is because your run down cooking space is far from making you feel inspired. So say goodbye to the old and broken, and say hello to a brand new space that reignites your fire in the kitchen. A greener kitchen As a society, we are becoming increasingly aware of the damage that our own lifestyles are having on the environment and how the smallest of changes can make a considerable difference. This includes many of our behaviors in the kitchen. While new modern kitchens that are being installed are now including more environmentally friendly additions, if your kitchen is older, then you may not have these facilities. For example, simply by swapping out old and energy thirsty appliances for more energy efficient models, you can cause considerably less damage to the environment, and also bring down your energy bill. You can also make the most of new design trends. These designs include smart kitchen products , such as a three-part recycling bin to make sorting out your rubbish even easier. Remodeling your outdated and old fashioned kitchen doesn't have to be as complicated or stressful as you may think. With a whole new year of kitchen design trends ahead of you, and potentially even more time spent at home, the year of 2021 is the perfect opportunity to revamp your kitchen space and make it the perfect environment that is unique to you. Are you looking for small kitchen ideas? Whether you’re planning a kitchen remodel or minor upgrades you have probably discovered there a unique set of challenges involved. One of those problems is that you naturally want to put in lots of storage space but sometimes it can make the kitchen feel smaller. Here are some remedies for improving a small kitchen. Small Kitchen Ideas for Remodeling or Upgrading 1 | Choose open shelves  One common problem with small kitchens is that they can feel claustrophobic when there are too many cupboards packed right into this minimal area. Eliminating them is normally not always a choice when you have a lot of things you need to store. Open cupboards or shelves may be the remedy to this problem because it solves that ‘boxed in’ feeling. Open shelving give you the chance to use ceramic containers, beautiful glasses, baskets and other decorative pieces. Also consider a getting a few upper cabinet doors with glass front cabinets to reduce the boxed-in look. # 2. Add a kitchen area island  Small kitchen areas do not have sufficient counter space. When you don’t have space or budget for a stationary island, a portable island or cart with wheels may be the solution if sufficient food prep area is lacking. # 3. Mix textures and add geometric patterns  Beautiful geometric patterns can add a wow factor to your small kitchen. Patterns can add beautiful texture, depth and make your kitchen look bigger than it really is by tricking your eyes a little. Tiles, wallpaper, or other kitchen accessories, like a floor runner are elements where you can apply these geometric shapes. Warning: Don’t over do it on the geometric patterns. You could end up making your kitchen look chaotic. # 4. Select moveable seating  Chairs as well as benches take up also much room. Backless stools can provide adequate seating without getting in your way. Visually they give the impression of a spaciousness. # 5. Hang your pots and pans  Pot and pans are bulky take up valuable cupboard space. One solution for that is to hang a pot rack on an empty wall of above the kitchen island. It’s functional and stylish. # 6. Include touches of color  If the kitchen is little, a solitary light wall color is a good start. Light colors make a room look bigger while dark colors have the opposite effect. Save darker colors for accents and texture. A colorful backsplash can really bring it all together. Try a mix of ceramic and glass tiles. To make the room look wider, try horizontal subway tiles. # 7. Enhance your kitchen with the perfect lighting  There are are so many lighting options that can help transform the area completely. Install lights beneath your upper cabinets. It adds elegance and provides excellent lighting for food preparation. If you have an island, pendant lights are a great choice as they create a beautiful ambiance. If pot lights in the ceiling are an option, you can’t go wrong there. If you can’t add pot lights, a good alternative is track lighting. You can point the track lights where you need light the most. If you can’t find what your looking for at Home Depot and Lowes, then try Amazon or other online stores. With the endless selection you will certainly find beautiful lights that are within your budget. # 8. Use beautiful top-quality flooring  Beautiful flooring can truly transform your small kitchen. Ceramic tile is generally used in kitchens however laminate and vinyl flooring have come a long way in design and quality.
They are commonly used now partly because they are much easier to install. Sometimes you can even install laminate flooring right on top of the existing ceramic tile. It saves you from getting out the jack hammer and the whole mess or removing ceramic tile. Some of the laminate and vinyl flooring looks just like wood. We hope you find these small kitchen ideas useful when you do your kitchen improvements. If you are considering installing a brand new kitchen for your home contact us for a free consultation.  One of most talked-about design trends for 2021 is “bold colors.” Gorgeous photos of wall-to-wall emerald green, crimson, and even “Gen-Z yellow” serve as a siren song to sleet filled grey canyons. If you have a small space, it can mean there’s less room for error when you’re working with big, deep colors. Before you paint an entire room in Ultraviolet (Pantone’s 2018 Color of the Year), here are some guidelines for using bold color. If you’re in for a color, go all in. Accent walls feel timid, and you get the most impact by committing to the color. Do all of the walls in a room or alcove, consider doing the trims too. If you have something which can read as an object in the space like columns, millwork, an alcove of vestibule or even an exposed radiator, punch it up with rich color.
 Hand-painted Gracie wallpaper in a bold orange red brings warmth to this dining room.
 Marble flooring is one of the most beautiful flooring materials you may ever choose for your home. The most popular rooms for your installing your marble flooring would most likely be the bathrooms and entry ways.
Hard stone materials like granite and marble flooring are definitely becoming more and more popular based on sales numbers that show an increase by more than fifteen hundred percent in the past 10 years. The beauty that marble flooring adds to a home is one of the main reasons for this increase in sales. Marble may be one of the most durable flooring materials you could install in your home. The earth is actually working on more marble flooring you read this article. You see, the earth reaches extreme temperatures beneath the surface and this process will cause the limestone to crystallize and form marble. Marble flooring will resist stains much better than many other types of flooring surfaces you may be considering. If you are thinking of spicing up a bathroom you will find that marble flooring is extremely easy to clean and care for because it is an all natural material. If you plan on doing a bathroom remodel you may want to consider installing a granite flooring material instead of marble flooring - as marble flooring may stain or become damaged from nail polish remover or shampoo that could get on the floor. The hallway is less susceptible to harmful chemicals touching the surface and make for a better environment for marble flooring. If you decide that marble flooring is out of your budget you may be able to find some nice substitutes that work nicely at half the price tag of marble flooring material. You can find some option by searching online for marble flooring alternatives. For more information on flooring for your kitchen or bathroom reach out to Berceli Kitchens and Home Design for a free consultation, We would be delighted to provide helpful flooring tips, advice and resources to include Marble Flooring and more.  Planning for any kind of remodel project can bring on a mix of feelings. From excitement or fear, to a sense of being overwhelmed with all of the little details that go in to planning and designing a beautiful kitchen or luxury bathroom. You may be tempted to skip to the exciting stages like shopping for plumbing fixtures or selecting your new paint color, however you’d be missing out on some important key steps in the process. A full scale remodel or minor makeover of your space doesn’t have to be stressful though. With the help of an experienced remodel contractor and the following tips that we’ve compiled, your home remodeling project will run smoothly and stay on track.
#1 Identify Your Goal for the Project Why do you want to remodel? Are you upgrading to improve the resale value or making modifications to live and age in place? Knowing your end goal for your project is vital. If your focus is around resale value, then you’ll want to consider the other home values in the neighborhood and know which projects will provide a good return on investment. For the latter, you’re likely to be more focused around such things as durability for the years ahead, safety-conscious modifications, and designing around your needs now, as well as the future. #2 Establish a Comfortable Budget Establishing your budget is one of the most important steps in planning your home remodel. There are two parts of budget planning that you’ll want to carefully think about. Project Budgeting – This is the total cost that you are comfortable spending on your renovation. This number should include contingency funds for unexpected issues that arise. For example, having $75,000 to spend on your remodel, while knowing that you could come up with an extra $5,000 should it be absolutely needed. Unexpected issues are items that are unforeseen during the design and planning phase and are not revealed until the demolition and build are underway. Faulty wiring or the presence of mold is commonly unforeseeable that is not known about until the walls in your home are opened up. Incidental Cost Budgeting – These expenses are commonly not thought about when it comes to remodeling, but can add up in a big way if not careful. Being mindful of the ramifications of doing your home remodel like having to eat out while your kitchen is torn apart or for a hotel stay for a night or two during construction. #3 Know the Limit of What You Can Handle While many North Jersey homeowners think they can self-perform part of their home remodel, it is important to know your limitations and the pros/cons to your DIY. While doing some of the work yourself may give you a sense of accomplishment, more often than not it comes at a cost. A professional remodeling contractor has been doing kitchen and bathroom remodeling for years and likely has the processes down to a science in order to operate efficiently. By performing tasks yourself, you are essentially disrupting their lined out construction schedule, which can cause delays and result in fewer savings than it’s really worth. Know which tasks should be left to the pros from a cost and schedule standpoint. Lastly, it may not be worth self-performing tasks that could cause limitations to your contractor’s warranty or workmanship guarantee. #4 Think Through Your Daily Routine Consider how the remodel will affect your routine. Be clear about your daily schedule with your contractor to avoid any mishaps or delays. It is essential during the planning phase of your project that you discuss the contractor’s start and end times each day. This will avoid the crew showing up while you’re still in your pajamas or their work day running into other appointments that you may not be able to miss. Will you be away from your home during the construction phase? Now is a great time to discuss that schedule with your contractor and determine how they will have access to complete their work each day. Many Phoenix homeowners set up a unique garage code for access, utilize a lockbox for storing a house key that only the contractor has the code for, or having a friend or neighbor at the home to unlock and lock up each day. #5 Water and Electricity Outages Depending on the scope of work for your project, there could be times where your contractor will need to shut the water off from the main valve or turn off an electrical breaker while work is being done. Most commonly these are only temporary outages but are still something to be aware of for those families that are home during the day. Planning ahead by having bottled water on hand for drinking and cooking, and a contingency plan for bathroom emergencies can take the stress out of any possible situation. #6 Set Up a Make-shift Kitchen Most North Jersey homes have two bathrooms, so while it may be a slight inconvenience having one torn apart under construction, it is not a huge tribulation to live through. Kitchen remodels are a different story though. Before starting your kitchen remodeling project, we recommend setting up a make-shift kitchen in another room of the house. Incorporate small appliances such as a microwave, coffee maker, and beverage cooler or ice chest to provide a functional way to make food and drinks while your kitchen is out of order. Another great idea is to plan meals that you can cook on the grill outside. #7 It’s Time to Pack In an effort to keep your items protected and clean during the renovation process, it’s recommended that you pack up and move any items from the construction zone. Consider using an extra bedroom, storage pod, or off-site storage room to store your stuff. This will also provide a safe work area for the contractor’s crew to get to work. #8 Create Drawings & Keep Them Handy You may not be required to have a full set of blueprints drawn for obtaining a permit depending on the details of your remodel project, but it’s worthy to mention the importance of working with a reputable contractor that has an on-staff design team that will still create drawings and/or renderings of your project with dimensions. It is recommended that they remain near the work area or posted on the wall in the room where they can easily be seen. Not only does this provide a reference if any questions arise, but it also goes a long way in helping to make sure you and your contractor are on the same page with the goal for your space. For many homeowners, this may be your very first home renovation project. Hopefully, these tips can minimize that overwhelming fear of the unknown and have you ready to get your project underway confidently. A well-done quality remodeling project takes time to complete, but utilizing these guidelines from day one of your planning will help you be better prepared and ensure that your project is a success. As a homeowner, it can be difficult to balance between trying to stay on time, on budget, and on top of the thousands of details and moving parts that are involved in doing a luxury remodel. It’s a full-time job! That’s why you’ll want to hire the professionals for your upcoming remodeling needs. North Jersey homeowners looking to remodel are likely to hear about the team at Berceli in their research or have used them for other home improvement projects. Our team has been a leading contractor in the Bergen County area performing full home remodeling design-build services. Over the years we have built quite a reputation for our great customer service and impressive portfolio. If you are ready to start planning your next home remodeling project, then you’ll want to reach out to our on-staff design team or stop into our Fort Lee New Jersey design showroom to begin exploring ideas for your home. Visit our website at www.bercelinj.com for our business hours and to request your appointment today. Five affordable centerpiece options that will spruce up your kitchen without breaking your budget.10/12/2020  Centerpieces are a timeless form of decor. They have a long history as a traditional method of home improvement.
Today, these classic accessories are used to complement the kitchen table and add a stylish touch to an otherwise blah surface. You’ve probably seen elaborate centerpieces used at important events like weddings and galas. By definition, they’re the center of attention, intended to catch the eye and turn heads. The same idea is used in the home, with no special event necessary. Simple, classy centerpieces are placed in the middle of the kitchen table to add a splash of color or style to the empty area. This can be done with something as basic as a flower vase or as elaborate as a cornucopia. Whatever statement you want to make, you can do it with a few simple steps. If you’re not sure how to decorate your table, there are thousands of ideas out there. To keep it simple, here are five affordable centerpiece options that will spruce up your kitchen without breaking your budget. 1. Candles The simplest centerpiece idea is also one of the oldest: The candle. With a few tapers and some accessories, you have a beautiful adornment for the middle of your kitchen table. Dining by candlelight is a relaxing way to enjoy a meal. But, you don’t actually have to light your candles if you don’t want to — that’s up to you! To create an affordable centerpiece, start with two tapered candles in colors that match your kitchen theme. Find some candle holders you like to set them in. Then, arrange a few flowers in a vase to set in between the candles, or leave them bare if you prefer. For those who want to make a bigger statement, pillar candles are the way to go. Set a variety of candles in complementary colors and sizes on a glass or silver tray. Arrange them in groups and accessorize the tray with colorful stones or greenery. Related: 53 Kitchen Essentials for Your Brand New Apartment 2. Succulents Plants are another popular type of centerpiece and are smart to have in the home. The health benefits of indoor plants extend to both the mind and body. When you’re sitting around the table, it’s impossible not to enjoy the perks of nature in front of you! Replacing flowers every time they wilt gets burdensome. An easy way around this is to stick with succulents. These plants are vibrantly colored, and they don’t need much maintenance. They hold moisture in their leaves, stems, and roots, so a little water goes a long way. Also, you can put them in just about any holder as long as it anchors the stems. Flower pots, clear bowls with colored rocks, and floral foam are common choices. Make sure the succulents you choose are low enough that everyone at the table can see each other during conversations. Mix and match varieties to create a finished centerpiece with lush, vivid colors. 3. Large-Leaved Plants When you have a minimalist kitchen that’s already elegant and understated, you don’t want to go overboard with a bulky centerpiece. Sometimes, simple is best. This look can be achieved with a clear vase and some plants with large, lush leaves. The bright green shade will look sophisticated against your classic background colors. And if your plant has a flower, the splash of color will pop even more brightly on your kitchen table. 4. Seasonal Looks Changing your decor for every season sounds like a hassle, but it’s a lot of fun. Ask yourself this question: What makes me happy in each season? Combine those ideas into your kitchen table spread! A summer look, for instance, can be a glass bowl full of beach sand, shells, and doll-sized plastic beach chairs. Winter styles tend to include decor in colors like white, red, silver, and green. The best part about seasonal centerpieces is that they are personal. Use flowers, accessories, greenery, or holiday decor to create a design you’re happy to keep on the table for those three months each year. 5. Holiday Cheer Similar to seasonal centerpieces, these kitchen table designs change with the passing holidays. It may sound difficult to switch up your centerpiece every holiday. But once you’ve created a look for each one, you can toss it in storage and pull it out when the time comes. For floral centerpieces, use artificial plants and greenery to make them a yearly tradition in your home. Some decorations, like fairy lighting and neutral-colored garland, can stay out all year and adorn your kitchen table regardless of the holiday.
Inaccuracies Due to Overbidding
When you overbid a job – meaning you estimate that it will require more materials or labor hours than it realistically calls for – you’re likely to lose out on a lot of projects. If you’re worried about the cost of materials or unsure of how long it will take your team to complete the work, you might be tempted to put a high price tag on your proposal just in case. But general contractors closely compare the bids they receive from subcontractors for an idea of price ranges, and many of them also perform their own takeoffs to check measurements. If your bid comes in significantly higher than others, the job will go to a lower bidder, and you’ll be back to searching for other projects. Inaccuracies Due to Underbidding Underbidding can win you the job, but you shortchange yourself in the process. When you underbid a project, you’re held to the quote you originally provided even if the job costs more than you anticipated. So you won’t recoup the cost of any materials that are more expensive than you planned for or any added manpower or overtime – these costs will come out of your pocket. An exception to this is change orders. When plans change in the midst of a project, you’ll have the opportunity to reevaluate your estimate and provide a new quote for the changed work – but again, if you underbid on the change order, you are responsible for covering any extra costs. There might be times when it’s worth it for your overall business strategy to intentionally underbid a project, which we’ll discuss later. But remember, in order to underbid on purpose, you still need to have a strong handle on what an accurate estimate looks like for the job. Developing a Positive Reputation with Contractors If you consistently submit accurate, professional proposals to Contractors, they’ll begin to take notice. General contractors measure success on the same things you do – time and monetary efficiency – just on a larger scale and with more moving parts. Your accurate bid means they can spend less time checking your estimate – they’ve worked with you enough to know that you have a good grasp on the cost of getting the job done without price gouging, and this way your company can give the Contractor peace of mind. When a Contractor knows they can trust you to bid the job correctly and deliver on your estimate, you can expect to win more jobs from them. Saving Time with Accurate Estimates Bidding accurately is also a simple time saver for your construction company. An accurate estimate allows you to order the right amount of materials – no scrambling to source more supplies or find storage for a surplus, and it keeps your crew schedules on track. When one job is bid accurately, your time is freed up to evaluate other projects and keep a steady flow of work for your team. Knowing When to Aim for Submitting the Lowest Bid If you’re trying to break into a new area of specialization and get a foot in the door, underbidding can be one way to catch the attention of the general contractor. This could be the case if you’ve expanded to a new trade and your team doesn’t have many projects under their belt, or if you’re trying to get into government contracting, where those with the lowest responsible bid tend to win. In these instances, the main goal might be adding these projects to your portfolio rather than simply making a profit. Perform your takeoff and create your estimate as you normally would, and then you’ll be able to see how much of the total price you can shave off to increase your chances of winning. You need to have a strong understanding of your overhead and other indirect costs to make cuts to your price. When you know your normal markup for labor, for example, you’re able to reduce it by a fraction if needed. Be careful of coming in too low, however, because this can still result in losing the job if your qualifications are questioned. You also don’t want to set the bar so low that you can never make a profit in this area. How to Create More Accurate Estimates You may already understand why accurate estimates are so important, but how do you go about improving your process so that you can be more precise? These 5 tips can help. 1. Get ahead of deadlines If you’re always working down to the wire on submitting proposals, your estimating team is stressed and playing catch up. Instead, be proactive. Find a tool that lets you increase your takeoff speed so that time isn’t wasted in the measurement stage. The faster you can perform takeoffs, the better able you are to decide which projects are worth bidding on in the first place, and you have time to gather more information, conduct potential site visits, and create a comprehensive proposal that will get your company noticed. 2. Eliminate mistakes caused by human error. Sometimes a ruinously inaccurate bid is a result of something as simple as a misplaced decimal point or a typo. This is an easy fix, so don’t let it happen to you. Use a pre-construction platform that keeps all your data in a single source of truth. You should be able to go from takeoff to estimate to proposal in one software without transferring data elsewhere and introducing the opportunity for mistakes. 3. Get familiar with the details. Even if you want to send only a high-level overview in your proposal to the Contractor, get in the habit of making your internal estimate as detailed as possible. A labor and material estimate allows you to break down costs in terms of items and assemblies, but even if you prefer unit cost estimates, you should separate all indirect costs, rather than adding markup into the price of your measurements. Knowing your true direct costs enables you to adjust markup, overhead, or labor charges as desired both per estimate and company wide. Don’t forget to include other indirect costs associated with the project, like freight, delivery charges, or refuse containers. 4. Take material cost increases into account. If you can, share your takeoffs with your suppliers along with your quote request to ensure the most accurate possible order. And remember that prices rise regularly, so be sure you’re informed about supplier increase cycles. Don’t assume your materials will cost the same now as they did three months ago – double check before finalizing your estimate, and if you anticipate an increase mid-project, include a clarification about time-sensitive pricing in your proposal. This way your cost remains accurate and the Contractor isn’t caught off guard. 5. Anticipate waste. We’d all like to think our crews are perfect, but in reality they’re human. People have off days and don’t accomplish as much as they intend. They make mistakes when measuring and have to scrap some supplies. Account for this in your estimate by tracking how much waste is generated on average per measurement or per material (and labor) and add that percentage into your total price so all your bases are covered. By following these 5 practices you should see your estimated costs start to line up much more closely with actual completed job costs, so you can bid more, win more, and grow your business. Looking for a pre-construction estimate that will help you save time and improve your home remodeling processes? Click Here  Homeowners of all generations are paying even more attention to the health of their homes and everyone living in them - especially during this global pandemic in which we are ensconced. This includes but also goes beyond using low-VOC materials, paying attention to ventilation and incorporating nature light. Homeowners are paying closer attention to more hygienic products that can instill a sense of control in our current state of chaos. In light of the coronavirus, Berceli is keeping in mind the aspects that make up wellness design and how to help our clients choose products that will support their healthy lifestyles that are becoming ever so important. We also focus on what goes on behind the walls to ensure today’s homes are as safe as they can be, The new remodeling designs and technology along with our remodeling expertise can help augment this ever growing need.
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