The House to Home blog series is sponsored by MKB Realtors.
Welcome to our home renovation blog series, where we dive into the process of buying and renovating a house in only a few weeks. This week’s post focuses on the actual remodel as done by Windfall Construction. See the second batch of “before” photos as we follow along in their remodeling adventure.
See the first series post on buying the ideal home here.
Once you find the right house to renovate, it’s time to dig into the hard work! After purchasing their idea ranch house to convert into a jewel box, the Whites went to work on finding a contractor who would work with their needs and budget. They found that in Chris Yearsley, owner of Windfall Construction.
“He came highly recommended,” says Mr. White. “We wanted someone who was a trusted professional. Once we got the recommendation, we checked out Yearsley’s work and found it satisfied our initial needs.”
When you meet the contractor, make sure to ask any questions you have about the renovation process. Ideally, you want a contract that spells out exactly what you’re getting, as well as when payments are due. You should also make sure the contract notes when the job will be completed.
Rather than pay everything upfront, you should pay in increments as the project progresses. Once the job is 100% completed to your satisfaction, you can pay whatever is left in full.
Yearsley also has a few tips on finding your ideal constructor. For one, you don’t want a money hungry renovator who could take your cash and run (hence not paying in full until the job is complete).
“Always have a contract,” he says. “Communication is also key. When my phone rings – at any time of day or night – I answer it. Go with your gut when hiring someone for a project like this – you want them to care about the project as well as have integrity.”
Yearsley says that what often drives up remodeling costs is uncertainty on the client’s part. Things that pop up and surprise the homeowner could lead to a hefty price tag in the end, especially if they choose one thing, decide it’s not right, and go with another (and so on).
“There should be no additional costs unless it’s a genuine surprise,” says Yearsley.
For more information on Windfall Construction or to contact Chris, email him at windfallconstructionllc@gmail.com or call 540-682-5341.
