If you’re considering a home remodel, you’ve surely heard all kind of tips and suggestions on how to face it. From budget to delays, there’s a lot to take into account and you’re probably tired to hear about them.

But as everyone who has gone through a home improvement can tell you, there are little ‘secret’ things that most people won’t talk about. It’s those little details that can make or break the experience for you. That’s why we wanted to talk you about them – because you deserve the best remodel you can get!

Your remodel isn’t about ROI or home value

Most contractors like to make a fuss about how a remodel can boost your home’s value and will even make that the focus of their sales pitch. We won’t argue with the fact that’s amazingly nice to get a high return on investment (ROI) for any home improvement. But remodeling should be about something else, something more fulfilling. That’s why you should keep in mind that any remodeling project is about comfort and enjoyment, about living in a better home, closer to the home of your dreams. All the rest is just an added bonus.

You’ll have to get thoroughly involved in the process

At Treeium, we like to work with project managers because it helps to keep the whole remodel organized. Yet even that level of organization shouldn’t save you from this harsh truth – you should never keep your hands off your remodel. Home improvements always (yes, ALWAYS) find some bumps on the road that’ll need quick resolution. It’s up to you if you want your contractor to solve them for you or if you are present to discuss the best solution. Besides, if you are involved, you won’t be as surprised by the many little things that will undoubtedly go wrong.

A remodel calls for another remodel

It doesn’t matter what type of remodel you’re planning, you’re in for a lot of work: finding the right contractor, picking the right design, purchasing the materials, struggling with your budget. The list is pretty long and as of today, you should add an extra item to it – thinking of further remodels throughout your home. You read that right. After your remodel is done, you’ll start looking at the rest of your house and start to feel like all of the other rooms could use some improvement too.

That’s why you should choose between 2 possible paths before starting your project – either you plan for your first remodel to perfectly blend in with the rest of your home or you think of it as the first step of a much bigger project that will see your home changed almost entirely.

Don’t expect an extravagant remodel to sell well

Perhaps you’ve always dreamed of having your own private cinema, or a wine room or a dazzling swimming pool and are hesitant about going for it or not. Our suggestion – just go for it! Just keep one thing in mind: that kind of projects are for you and you alone. Like we said in the first item of this list, you shouldn’t be thinking about ROI, especially in these cases, because if you ever come to selling your home, you won’t get as near as what you spent building them. Maybe those projects are for a more permanent home – or for daring homeowners. Either can be your case, but keep it in mind.

Invest massive amounts of times on researching your contractor

Researching your contractor is a tip that you’ve surely heard by now. What most people aren’t telling you about it is that, for it to work, you’ll have to put a lot of your time doing it. Researching a company is more than just checking their website and reading a few online reviews, even when you should be doing both of those things. A thorough research is also about verifying their relationship with suppliers and financers, their general liability insurance, their warranties, the complaints filed against them and other details. Multiply all those things to several contractors and you’ll see that, yeah, you’ll have to put a lot of thought and work hours in this.

A remodel can change your life forever. But while the project is ongoing, things can quickly turn into a nightmare. That’s why we believe that should know everything that can happen before, during and after a remodel to prepare yourself and have the best experience possible.