Dream Teams

Chances are, you’ve heard one of those horror stories about a remodeler whose shoddy work had to be redone or a contractor who skipped town leaving a job half done.

It happens, of course—but not as likely if you’re careful. The key? Assembling a team of credentialed experts—architects, contractors, landscapers and interior designers—with years of industry experience and solid reputations for dependability.

That may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be, says Orlando remodeler Jeff Hewitt of Gold Key International. “Start by choosing one qualified professional you can trust and let that person steer you to others,” Hewitt says.

If you don’t have anyone in mind, ask around. Do you have a neighbor or co-worker who recently undertook a remodeling project and loved the results? Have you admired a remodeled home featured in a local magazine or on a home tour event? Find out who the contractor was and give him or her a call.

Homegrown businesses and local building material suppliers can also be good sources. Or check with local trade groups such as the Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando (HBA), which has an active Remodelers Council.

“Most of the people that I refer my clients to are people I know from the HBA,” says Tony Weremeichik of the Orlando architectural design firm Canin Associates. “They’ve been trusted colleagues for years. And they’re people that I would hire to do work on my own home.”

So which comes first—the architect or the remodeler? Actually, it could be either—or neither. Indeed, for room-specific projects, some homeowners go directly to a kitchen/bath designer or an interior designer.

But by the time the project is over, any number of people representing an array of specialties may have become involved—and the sooner you bring in each player, the better.

“Bring in the contractor early,” says Hewitt. “He or she can offer suggestions that can save you time and money.”

Assemble a group of experts and listen to their advice, adds Weremeichik. Maybe your project requires advice from a lighting expert, a kitchen designer or someone well-versed in home automation.

“Each time one of these professionals joins the team, share the latest draft of the floorplan with them,” Weremeichik says. “If they’re brought into the process early enough, the final drawings will be clean, well-coordinated and there’ll be fewer delays and costly mistakes.”

Adding lighting consultants and other experts to the remodeling team won’t necessarily cost more. The consultation may al-ready be part of that person’s job or the cost may be folded into the overall project.

“For example, the builder gets a contract and puts in a certain number of hours for interior design selections,” says interior designer Cathi Lane of Elan Design Studio in Altamonte Springs.?

“We’ve created a very good team and we have a one-stop showroom. We can do interior design selections all in one day.”

Experienced pros will know how to do their jobs and how to coordinate with other members of the project team, says kitchen and bath designer Dina Masci of Central Kitchen and Bath in Winter Park.

“Remodelers and builders have their own teams of subcontractors and we would technically be considered subcontractors,” Masci says. “But we do a good bit of the design work ourselves. We try to do as much in-house for homeowners as possible.”

“There are certain builders we refer clients to because we’ve worked together before and we trust them,” Masci says. “You develop a relationship and an understanding. Trust us to show you who we work with.”

If you’ve never tackled a remodeling project before, interview several candidates before you sign a contract, says Jim Lucia of the architectural firm Lucia and Monday.

“Potential clients often want you to come to their house for the initial interview,” Lucia says.?

“But usually it makes more sense to meet at the office, where the architect or residential designer can show you examples of previous work.”

Once he’s agreed to take on a project, Lucia says, it’s time to assemble the remodeling team. “I’m going to send the client to a contractor who’ll keep an eye on the budget and work wonders,” he adds. “We’ll get the contractor to meet that client, see what kind of energy there is and give the client a ballpark price.”

What qualities are most important for a dream design team? Start with licensed professionals who are knowledgeable and experienced and can work well with other people, Lane says. “We only use licensed general contractors and I make all my vendors fill out paperwork before they can even be a vendor with us,” she notes. “I don’t just hire somebody off the street to work with us.”

When hired for a project, Lane says, “We intend to be the center, the hub, and bring everyone together; we try to make the process easy for the homeowner and the builder.”

Choosing a Remodeler
Remodeling projects can take weeks, months or even years. And during that time, the contractor and his or her crews will be in and around your home almost constantly. So make sure you choose qualified people who know how to communicate with you—and with one other.

Be wary of a stranger who knocks on your door soliciting work for too-good-to-be-true prices—and never hire anyone if you can’t verify the person’s credentials or the information on the business card.

Members of the Remodelers Council of the Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando offer additional tips on choosing the right professionals for your project:

> To find a reputable remodeler, get referrals from family, friends, neighbors or someone else who has had remodeling work done. Or ask people in the industry: architects, building materials suppliers and engineers. Even a lender may offer recommendations.

> Check with local and national home builders and remodelers groups, such as the Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando, which has a Remodelers Council. If you’re interested in a specific discipline, such as Aging in Place design or green construction, look for professional certifications such as Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) or Certified Green Professional (CGP). To see a complete list of Remodelers Council members, see page R22.

> Before hiring a contractor, call your local or state consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau to see if any unresolved complaints have been filed. Also check online at www.myflorida.com to verify that the remodeler has the appropriate licenses. And of course, ask for proof of insurance that will protect you if your property is damaged or if there’s a jobsite injury.

> Interview remodelers and ask for references from previous customers. Then, check with those customers to see if they would hire this person again. Ask important questions: Was the project completed on time and within the budget? Did the remodeler communicate well and did he or she return phone calls promptly? Were there any surprises along the way, and if so, how were they handled?

> Ask the potential remodeler for a list of suppliers. Call some of them to see if the remodeler has an account and is paying his or her bills in a timely manner.

> Price is an important consideration in your hiring decision but it shouldn’t be the only one. If you get one bid that is much lower than the others, be wary. It may indicate that the remodeler isn’t experienced enough to understand what your project will cost or that the bid doesn’t include everything you think it does.

> Finally, choose a remodeler who listens to you, understands what you want and makes suggestions within your budget. An experienced professional can help scale down your project’s cost while still achieving your goals.

Top Tips for a Successful Remodel
1. Find a communicator. ?Does the contractor listen? Does he or she answer questions clearly and candidly? Can you reach him when you need to? Does he return phone calls promptly? Does he let you know when problems arise and work with you on solving them?
2. Make sure you’re compatible. You’ll spend a lot of time with the contractor, so it’s important to have a good rapport and trust in him. ?
3. Set a schedule. You and the contractor should agree on the schedule up front to avoid conflict and problems later in the project.
4. Request a written proposal. Two people can remember the same conversation differently. Get the proposal in writing.
5. Sweat the small stuff. There are numerous little details that need to be settled before work starts. What times of day will crews be working? How will your property be accessed and protected? How will cleanup be handled?
6. Be flexible. Expect the unexpected and be flexible. Remodeling is intrusive even in the best of circumstances.
7. Discuss change orders. There’s always the chance you’ll want to change materials or other project details as the project progresses. Agree in advance how these changes will be handled and understand that changes could affect the schedule and the budget.
8. Have a detailed contract. The contract should include these elements:
> A timetable for completion of the project.
> A price and payment schedule.
> Detailed specifications for all products and materials.
> Insurance and permit information.
> Procedures for handling change orders.
> Lien releases and provisions for conflict resolution.
> Notice of your rights under the Federal Trade Commission’s Cooling Off Rule.
> Other details, such as cleanup, property access, etc.
9. Ask for a written lien waiver. If the contractor hires subcontractors for portions of the work, it’s his responsibility to make certain they’re compensated. In order to ensure this has been done—and to protect yourself—ask for a written lien waiver when the work is finished.