Buying a remodeling project isn’t like buying a car or dining room set. You can’t simply compare and choose the one that requires the lowest investment. Because of the many types of home styles and the range of professionalism within the remodeling industry, there is no way to compare apples with apples. Apples to llamas is more like it. In fact, remodeling is probably as far from commodity buying as you can get. But if we wanted to compare, we’d say that buying remodeling is most similar to buying artwork or graphic design work. Your home is a canvas with a painting already begun. We’re the artists who will put our skills to work to finish the beautiful project. Just like artists and graphic designers, each professional remodeler has a different creative mindset. If you were to talk to several remodelers, each would probably design a completely different solution to your problem. And, just like artists, each remodeler has his or her own taste and skill level. It’s really up to you, the homeowner, to find a remodeler that shares your vision for the final result.

Remodeling, in a word, is fun — a lot of fun. Remodeling can be very rewarding and enjoyable, especially a year after the work is done. It may not be a lot of fun while it is in progress, but in total it can be a very satisfying experience. What makes all the pain, suffering, and expense fun? You have opportunities for self-expression and you have control. If you are an artist, an architect, or a novelist, you can point to something and say, ‘I conceived and built this’. The rest of us can get the same rewarding experience through remodeling our homes. You have total control over the project. You decide on whom to hire, when to start, what to do, what color it should be, and how it should be finished.

There are several places to begin to think about and plan a remodeling project. The first way to begin is to think about what you would like to change or what you need to change about your house. Make a list of the things you need to do. Then make a list of the things you want to do. This will help you prioritize the projects. A second way to begin is to consider what or remodeling would increase the value of your house. You can get ideas by viewing some new homes or talking with builders or home decorators. A third way to start is to bring in a home remodeling professional to make recommendations and give advice and cost estimates. A fourth way to begin to think about remodeling is to be aware of the sources of frustration with your house.
The top five reasons given by people who remodel their homes are:

• *To add space or to reallocate space
• *To upgrade or modernize
• *To improve energy efficiency
• *To make the home more functional for aging persons or for persons with disabilities

*To increase the resale value of the home
So think of your search for just the right remodeler as the search for an artist for your home. Here are some steps to follow:

• Begin by looking at the company’s portfolio of completed projects. Ask how they created the solution to a particular remodeling problem.
• Don’t rely on photography alone. Professional photography can make almost any project look wonderful. Take the time to visit a project or two to see details up close. Often, the details are where the creative juices really shine.
• Talk to us about your budget and your vision for your project. Let us recommend the medium to use. Sculptures can be created out of clay, bronze, or gold, but do you really want to pay the price of gold? The artist may recommend bronze, which will provide the impact you want at a smaller investment.
• Let us be creative. After all, we spend our working lives designing projects that will help you make the most of the possibilities. Don’t dictate the direction of the project. Suggest what you had in mind but let us demonstrate your skills.
• Remember, just like the more skilled and popular artists can command higher prices, you might be asked to invest a bit more for a remodeler who can deliver the best product and service.
• Become an educated consumer. People who invest in art don’t spend their money until they’ve learned something about the topic. Then they fell comfortable spending their dollars on the best they can afford – even if it’s only a pencil sketch. 
  
• Remodeling is a very exciting experience. The homeowner is creating a very unique, personal extension of his/her lifestyle through the renovations. If the homeowner and contractor do not communicate well, then both parties will be extremely unhappy with the progress of the project, and the homeowner may be resigned to live with mistakes, instead of enjoying a new lifestyle.

When remodeling, the normal lifestyle of the homeowner is suspended. You now have many people “living with you”, coming and going at all times of the day. Create a plan with your contractor that allows for a privacy cushion when necessary, as well as a clean zone for family dining and tending to daily matters. No project will be perfect; as old and undetected mechanical or insulation violations may be lurking behind your drywall, so homeowner and contractor alike must be flexible to adapt to unforeseen predicaments. It isn’t the contractor’s fault that your cabinet delivery is delayed by a snowstorm eight states away, nor is it your fault that your child’s starring role in the school play won’t allow you to be home to inspect the tile delivery. Be patient, and remember that the end result certainly supersedes any temporary setbacks.

After the workers are gone, take a deep breath, congratulate yourself, and enjoy the added value, comfort and convenience of your newly remodeled space. With patience, consistent communication, and careful preparation, the process will go smoothly and you can enjoy the results for years.

Changing your home through remodeling can be one of the most rewarding decisions you’ll ever make. Make the right choice, and you’ll look at a masterpiece every time you open your door.