Preventing Home Remodeling Stress
 Some people find that remodeling their home is fun and exciting. Dreaming about what can be, selecting design options, picking colors and fixtures, and then watching as your house is transformed into your dream home. We take measures to ensure that any project we do for you is well-planned so things run smoothly, and if there is a small bump in the road we will make it right. That's peace of mind.
However, you might be someone who considers making design and remodeling-related decisions stressful. You might find the thought of having people working in your home anxiety-producing. You may have heard horror stories of remodeling projects that have gone bad, which causes you to worry. We understand the factors that can stress out homeowners and we are experts at helping our clients avoid the stress that they may otherwise experience about home remodeling. We focus on you and we have the flexibility to work with you in the ways you will find most helpful.
Here are some of the key areas of “home remodeling-related stress” and how we help to prevent it.
Communications: Poor communication is perhaps one of the biggest factors that can cause home remodeling-related stress. As your remodeling contractor, we have to make sure you know what the remodeling process is going to be like. We take the time to learn what you want and what you don't want. We let you know what to expect at each step and what information we need from you. Needless to say, we put an emphasis on clear communications not only between our staff and you, but also among our staff members and our specialty trade contractors.
Planning: Poor planning causes home remodeling projects to go off track and that can cause stress. A properly planned remodeling project eliminates much of the opportunity for problems to occur. A clear and well prepared plan helps everyone know what to expect and when. The fewer surprises the better. We always aim to have NO surprises.
Guidance: While some homeowners really enjoy the design and selection process, for some homeowners, it can be stressful. However, if you have worked with us, you already know that we are always willing to provide you our expert guidance in both design and construction. And, with the comfort of knowing you are getting the best advice and making the right decisions, any stress you might otherwise have can be greatly reduced – if not eliminated.
Type of Process: Having an architectural firm design a project and then put the project out to bid to builders for the construction phase is called the design/bid/build method. It is one way of running a remodeling project but it involves some extra steps, as well as selecting and involving an additional company. With this approach there is the chance that what was designed and what you approved won't be able to be built within your budget. The design/bid/build is one of the more complex remodeling processes. The extra complexity and uncertainty can cause stress.
While we are happy to work with your architect and can help make the design/bid/build process less stressful, we generally recommend a faster, less complex and, we believe, less risky process. We offer you the "Design Build" remodeling process. We offer this for homeowners who would like the peace of mind, simplicity and ease of working with one trusted company from concept to completion and a single company that will be responsible to them to solve any issues relating to the project. We believe the design build process is less stressful for most homeowners for most types of home remodeling projects.
Length of Process: With larger projects which can last months, the length of time the remodeling process takes can become a source of stress. Even well-planned, fast-moving projects sometimes get to the point where you, the homeowner, just want it to be over. This type of stress, when it happens, is often near the end of a project. Because we do our best to anticipate this, our planning process and ongoing, clear communications can prevent this stress point from happening or at least greatly reduce it.
Trust: Having your home remodeled means spending a fair amount of money and having people in your home, sometimes for weeks or months. Both of these things can be stressful even if you trust your remodeler and their team. If you don't trust them, it can be even more stressful. When you work with us you can rest easy knowing that our people are carefully selected and trained to work in occupied homes and to respect your home and property. We know our reputation depends not only on providing you with a fantastic-looking, well built, trouble-free project but also on making sure your remodeling experience with us is so good you are comfortable – maybe even eager – to use us in the future and recommend us to your friends.
If you would like to lessen your chance of getting stressed out by your next home remodeling effort, be sure and contact us about the project. Then just relax and enjoy.
Vote for Winn in the “Best of NOVA” Poll
 Northern Virginia Magazine's Best of NOVA 2014 Poll! Make your voice heard! Winn Design+Build is eligible in the categories of "Best Kitchen Remodeling" and "Best General Remodeling" so we would love it if you would follow the link www.northernvirginiamag.com/best-of-survey
to Northern Virginia Magazine's website and vote for us before the polls close on March 28th!
Maintenance Tip: Watch Out for Winter Roof Damage
As we all know, it has been a tough winter. Along with a long-awaited warm-up will come melting snow and ice on roofs, which can cause water to back up under shingles and find its way into ceilings and interior walls.
Telltale signs of water leaking through to walls and ceilings include cracking, stains and bubbling paint, and in extreme cases, of course, actual water dripping in. The damaged areas need to be thoroughly dry before drywall, plaster and woodwork is repaired. It is also a good idea to have the roof inspected for shingle damage. Finally, an energy audit with blower-door testing and thermal image photography can reveal sources of air leakage into an attic, and indicate areas to be sealed up before next winter, to help diminish the potential for future ice dams.
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See you next month!
Mike Winn |
