Home Remodeling & Renovations

You start by making a plan. Decide what you want to accomplish and what your budget is. Do you want a new kitchen? A bigger bedroom? Maybe an extra bathroom? Once you know what you want, the next best way to get started is to find inspiration online or in magazines. Look at pictures of houses that inspire you. Maybe it's a modern look, or maybe it's a traditional feel that makes your heart sing.

Once you get an idea of what style you like, take out some paper and write down everything on your wish list (open concept? marble countertops? skylight?). You'll almost never get everything on the first try, but it's best to start working with a plan.

You may want to consider hiring a designer to help with the planning process. At Ware, we have a team of extraordinary designers in-house that can be invaluable assets for planning an efficient, functional, and beautiful new space.

When you hire a design-build firm to remodel your home, you're hiring a team of experts who can take care of everything from designing the new space to overseeing the construction. This can save you a lot of time and hassle since you won't have to deal with multiple contractors or coordinate different phases of the project.

Design-build firms also tend to be more affordable than hiring separate designers and builders, and they can often help you save money on materials and construction costs. Plus, since they have firsthand knowledge of the construction process, they can suggest ways to make your renovation more efficient and cost-effective.

Most importantly, design-build firms typically offer fixed-price contracts, which means there are no surprises or hidden costs once the project is underway. This can help you stay within your budget and avoid costly delays. And since the firm is responsible for both the design and construction phases, you'll have one point of contact throughout the entire process, from start to finish.

One of the best ways to make sure you stay within budget is to create a detailed renovation plan and stick to it. Start by making a list of everything you want in your new space (new kitchen, bathroom, laundry room?) and then prioritize each item. Depending on your budget, you may not be able to get everything exactly how you want it, but prioritizing can help you decide what's most important to you and your family.

When possible, hire a design-build firm that offers fixed-price contracts. This will ensure that there are no unexpected costs during construction and will help you stay on track with the budget you've created for the project.

That depends on how much work is involved and what you want your new home to look like. If it's just a small remodel, it may be cheaper than buying a brand-new house. However, if you're gutting the entire interior and adding additional square footage, it may cost less, in the long run, to buy a plot of land and build a brand-new, custom house.

Two factors that make a big difference are the cost of labor and the cost of materials. The more complicated the project, and the more materials involved (e.g., doing an entire rebuild instead of just adding a couple of bathrooms), the higher the labor costs will be – and this can often push your grand total into new-house territory even if you're not upgrading the square footage.