Remodeling
Success 101

Q:Am I liable for accidents that occur during the remodeling of my house?

A: In most cases, no. Remodelers and their subcontractors carry liability and worker's compensation insurance against job site accidents. However, a homeowner should make sure that proof of insurance is provided before signing a contract and starting work. In addition, contractors are regulated by the federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), as well as their insurers, to maintain a safe workplace, eliminate hazards, and train their workers in safe work habits and emergency response. Make sure that you, also, follow your builder's safety guidelines and procedures when you walk through the job site.

As professional remodeling contractors, we strive to create a unique home for each of our clients, a house that "fits" each family's wants and needs. Our sales and design staff carefully consider the number of people in your household, the gender and age of every family member, and even your particular preferences, interests, and special needs. In short, we try to capture the essence of how you live now and make an educated guess about how you'll live in your remodeled house for years to come.

Our "lifestyle profile" helps to shape everything about your renewed house, from the simplest and most obvious -- such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms -- to less common features, such as personal and public entertainment areas, specialized storage space, and even the home's architectural style. Conducting this comprehensive assessment of your family's wants and needs is a critical step in finding ideal remodeling solutions.

To prepare for this assessment, spend some time thinking about your current lifestyle with an eye to how it might change in the future. Consider the following:

Who lives in the house? In addition to a simple count (including pets) of those living under your roof, consider how each person in the family uses the house now and is likely to use it in the near future. For example, a couple facing an 'empty nest' may want to covert a bedroom to a home office, yoga room, or hobby space, while a young, growing family might consider expanding the family room, opening up the kitchen to a living space, or expanding storage options into a reworked attic area. A family with two children might like a Jack-and-Jill bath or an open "loft" space between bedrooms to serve as a common area for the kids. If regular visitors are a part of your lifestyle, you might consider adding a separate suite above the garage that could double as a hobby space or home office.

How are you getting around? Regardless of your age or current physical limitation, remember that a temporary or chronic impairment might limit your ability to get around your house in the future. If bedrooms are on the second floor, even a pulled muscle can keep you from climbing the stairs. Remodeling to create a main-level "flex" space (especially one with semi-private access to a bathroom) offers a comfortable alternative to a couch or a cot in times of a temporary disability, and easily converts to a permanent bedroom on the lower level when stairs are best left to younger family members or guests.

Floor coverings, cabinet and counter heights, and appliance locations can be tastefully altered to make them easier to navigate regardless of your current physical state. Consider, too, assuring ease of access around the house from the outside, including at-grade entrances and a continuous walkway for at least one entrance, instead of paving stones.

Hobbies and activities. During the next few weeks or even months, compile a list of hobbies and activities that you enjoy in and around your house. Include those activities you wish you could enjoy if the circumstances were just right.

Indoors, you might enjoy a game room or a place for a big-screen television to watch your favorite sporting events, equipped with a mini-kitchen for entertaining friends or family. Maybe you've been longing for a hobby room where you could spread out your art or craft projects and install specialized storage. With the right room, you could even teach a class!

Your interests outdoors may lead to an extension of the garage, or perhaps an improved organizing system within the existing footprint, to better manage yard, garden, or pool maintenance tools. There may even be space to create a workshop, also with the benefit of better long-term storage. Adding an outdoor kitchen, dining, and lounge area is an increasingly popular remodeling option for those who like to entertain outside.

As a remodeling firm dedicated to making your housing dreams a reality, we are committed to providing solutions that are tailor-made for each client. Armed with a solid understanding of your particular wants and needs helps us to pinpoint the right project for your family and to deliver a remodeled home that suits your circumstances now and in the future.

Warm regards,

info@highcraft.net
www.highcraft.net

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