Do You Need a General Contractor for Home Renovation?
If you are planning to renovate your home, you are probably wondering whom to ask for assistance. DIY home renovation projects are possible. However, if they require some major work, it can be tough to complete without professional help.
Many people are thinking about hiring general contractors to get the job done. Others wonder why you need to spend money on such an expert when the renovation isn’t as big as building a home.
In reality, it’s possible to renovate your house on your own, with a general contractor, or by hiring subcontractors separately. All these options come with certain pros and cons. Let’s take a closer look.
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How much does it cost to renovate a house in India?
If you are undertaking a major renovation project to add a new room or change the entire design layout, the cost of renovating in Bangalore could range between Rs 1,100 per sq ft and Rs 1,500 per sq ft.
What should I renovate first in my house?
The kitchen should always be one of the first projects to tackle because homeowners want to make a good first impression, and it is one of the rooms where guests spend the most time. “This renovation includes new cabinets, flooring, appliances, countertops and often, the layout, to open up more space,” Muller says.
What is the meaning of home renovation?
the process of repairing and improving a building so that it is in good condition again, or the improvements that are carried out: We have a commitment that the city will only carry out new construction and renovation that meets green building principles.
What is an example of home renovation?
Examples of common renovations include: Repainting. Refacing cabinets. Installing new light fixtures.
DIY Home Renovation
Many homeowners believe that DIY home renovation is easy and less costly than hiring contractors. For some people, this can be the case. If your renovation tasks include wall painting and cabinet refreshing, renovation can be completed on your own.
In fact, you can find plenty of information about such renovations online. However, when it comes to complex renovation tasks like changing flooring or replacing fixtures, DIYing may be costlier than hiring an expert.
Pros:
- Since you aren’t paying general contractors or subcontractors, you can save money.
- You don’t need to depend on other people so you can follow your own timeline.
- DIY renovation is an excellent opportunity to learn new skills.
Cons:
- If you don’t have experience with renovations, you may damage your home and materials, thus incurring extra costs.
- Some renovation work is potentially dangerous unless you know safety guidelines and have the proper equipment.
- It can take you much longer to complete complex tasks than it would take experts.
Overall, DIY home renovation is possible but not recommended. According to home renovation experts from AFS General, many homeowners end up turning to specialists after trying to DIY.
General Contractor
Hiring a general contractor to take over home renovations is an excellent idea if you don’t have any experience. These experts don’t just help you see the full picture and make suggestions about the work, they have established relationships with subcontractors.
In short, they take over the entire project, saving you time, money, and effort.
Pros:
- You don’t need to worry about technical aspects of your renovation plan. The contractor can point out its pros and cons.
- Friends, you gain access to a qualified specialist who knows how to get the job done quickly.
- You don’t need to look for materials and subcontractors. A general contractor can make valuable recommendations.
Cons:
- Working with a general contractor is more expensive than DIYing.
- Finding a respectable general contractor can be hard. Many homeowners spend days or even weeks trying to find an available contractor with a stellar reputation.
- Contractors are usually busy, especially during the warm season. This makes it harder to stick to a certain timeline.
Overall, working with general contractors is much easier than trying to do everything on your own. However, such an option can be costly. They usually charge between 10% and 20% of the project cost.
Subcontractors
Another option you can consider is hiring subcontractors without the general contractor’s assistance. Subcontractors specialize in a certain area of the renovation process. For example, you would need to hire separate contractors for different tasks like floor replacement or wall painting.
While it would be cheaper to hire subcontractors without a general contractor, it’s up to you to coordinate their work.
Pros:
- You can save money since you don’t need to pay the contractor to manage subcontractors.
- Friends, you gain access to specialists who can get the job done right.
- You are in charge of coordination so you can speed up the process.
Cons:
- Coordinating the home renovation project can be complicated if you don’t have experience.
- Making sure that subcontractors don’t interfere with each other’s work requires careful planning.
- Finding qualified subcontractors is hard. While general contractors already have established relationships with these experts, you usually have to start from scratch.
Overall, hiring subcontractors is an excellent way to save money without doing the work on your own. However, such a choice requires careful coordination.
The Takeaway: Do You Need a General Contractor?
If you have experience with renovation projects and time to work on them, you can settle for subcontractors or consider DIYing. However, for homeowners without experience, general contractors are the best choice. While you would need to spend more money on these experts, they can help you cut costs in the process.
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Do You Need a General Contractor for Home Renovation?
Last update on 2023-05-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API