Thinking about a home remodel? It can be hard to know where to start! John Miller, VP of sales and production at JBDB, outlines a few of the most frequently-asked questions he gets from homeowners when they are starting the home renovation process.
Q: How long does a typical renovation take?
A: “Of course there are a lot of variables from project to project, but a typical kitchen remodel will generally take around 7-8 weeks; a master bath remodel will be around 5-6 weeks,” says John. “If you want to remove walls, that will add on extra time, since we may have to re-route plumbing, electrical, HVAC, or move windows.”
Q: What is a typical budget for a renovation?
A: Though this question makes sense, it’s almost impossible to answer without meeting with an expert first, since every project is so different. A good contractor will discuss with you your individual needs for your home before determining a budget.
“It’s important to see the space first,” says John. “For example, on a bathroom remodel: one person’s bathroom could be a small 5’x5’ space, and another could be a larger, 18’x20’ bathroom. And the finishes, as well as how much additional electrical or plumbing work is required, can greatly impact the overall cost of a remodel,” says John.
Sitting down with a contractor and discussing all of the details of the project will help give homeowners a more accurate idea of their renovation costs.
Q: What should a homeowner expect while living in the home during the renovation? What is done to protect the rest of the home during renovation?
A: Oftentimes, it makes the most sense for a family to continue to live in their home during a renovation. In fact, John estimates around 95% of the time, JBDB homeowners live in their home during a renovation project.
“Cleanliness is a big priority,” John says. “We use dust protection to contain dust so it’s not traveling through the rest of the house.” This includes plastic sheets that act as doors and walls to keep dust contained, as well as an air scrubber – an air purifier that has three filters to draw dust out of the air before it circulates through the rest of the home.
“The other big factor of our process is that you can be confident in our timelines,” says John. “With the design decisions being made upfront, we get all of the materials and finishes lined up and on order before providing homeowners with a start date. Everything is planned out and selected ahead of time so we can have a seamless construction process on site. You won’t have to worry about a four week project turning into a six month job.”
Q: How do homeowners communicate with the JBDB team throughout the construction process?
A: Communication is key throughout a renovation. It’s important to make sure both the homeowners and the renovation team are on the same page!
With the JBDB team, homeowners have a designated point of contact that they can communicate with, whether it’s via text, phone call, email, or FaceTime. “We also have a job book that can stays on site for homeowners to jot down any questions they may have,” John says. “Our goal is to always make communication fast and efficient for the homeowner to ensure they are comfortable and confident during their project.”
Q: What is the most common question you get as a contractor?
A: “Almost everyone wants to know if they can take down a load-bearing wall,” says John. “And the answer to that is, anything is possible—but it might be costly. We can always take down a wall, but it may require re-routing HVAC, plumbing in walls, or more.”
Q: What advice do you have for homeowners as they take the next step to start a home renovation?
A: “Do your research. Make sure they’re licensed, make sure they’ve been in business a for a while, call their references, see their past work, and make sure things are in writing and clear, so you know what you’re getting. And ask questions.”
