Month: June 2020

Because remodeling a home can be a big and expensive task, you want to make sure you’re picking the right company to get the job done right. If you’re looking for a guide on how to pick the right remodeling company, keep reading!

1) Find design inspiration and figure out your goals

When you officially decide to remodel your home, it’s important to have inspiration for your project and figure out what the goals of your remodeling project are before speaking to any contractors. By deciding if you’re going for a modern or contemporary overhaul, if you’re looking to open up the home, add more bedrooms, etc., doing so ahead of time will save you both time and money. By establishing the goals for your home remodel, when you do meet with a home remodeling company and look at their portfolio, you’re instantly able to see if they’ve completed similar projects to yours and if they’re up for the task.

If you’re looking for bathroom remodeling ideas, kitchen remodeling ideas or remodeling ideas that will improve the value of your home, check out our blogs on the topics. 

2) Create your budget

Before speaking to a home remodeling company, set your budget. Your budget is a guideline for success — and your bank account — during this process. By establishing your budget early on, you can ensure you’re dealing with a home remodeling company that is comfortable working within price points similar to yours.

3) Set realistic expectations

When you’re preparing for your remodel, it’s important to set realistic expectations for your project. Ultimately, you will end up with the remodeled home you’ve always dreamed of. However, there’s bound to be some stress along the way. Here are some things you can do before a home remodel to prepare yourself for this process. You can read the entire blog here.

• Make a record of your belongings
• Clean out the refrigerator
• Prepare for dust
• Create a safe room for your pets
• Get ready to have fun!

4) Do your research

After gaining inspiration, creating your budget and setting realistic expectations, you can begin doing research on the home remodeling companies in your area. First, create a list of the remodeling companies in your area. A Google search is an easy and free way to begin this process. Browse their websites and look at their completed projects to see if they’ve completed projects of similar scope to yours.

Once you have a shortlist of the home remodeling companies you’re considering, do your research on them. Now, you can begin calling to set up interviews and perhaps view their showrooms. You can also read their reviews or personally reach out to homeowners who have previously worked with these companies.

5) Ask the right questions

Finally, when you’re speaking with the home remodeling company on the phone or in person, you want to make sure you’re asking the right questions. Here are some examples of questions you should ask:

• What’s your license number?
• Can I see examples of your completed work?
• Do you take on remodeling projects of my scope?
• Who will be working in my home?
• How do you work?

Our full blog on questions to ask your home remodeling company can be read here.

If you’re in the Southwest Florida area and are eager to begin your home remodel, contact Varian Construction at (239) 514-0103. Varian Construction is a 30-year-old, owner-operated company that takes pride in their projects all while alleviating the stress on the homeowner. They go above and beyond the call of duty for your remodeling project.

A large amount of the Florida population is over 60 years of age, and many of these older adults want to stay in their homes as they age. If you are one of them, there are the steps you can take to create a plan for aging in place. 

1) Complete a home safety check 

One of the first things to do when creating a plan for aging in place is to complete a home safety check. By doing so, you’re ensuring your home is set up to be a safe and easy place to get around in and can identify areas that need improvement. AARP has identified several easy modifications that will ensure your home is a safe one. These include, but are not limited to, non-slip floor surfaces, grab bars in bathrooms, lever-handled doorknobs and personal alert systems that enable you to call for help in emergencies.

2) Prioritize your health

Another way to age in place is to prioritize your health. Keeping yourself in good physical shape is crucial to maintaining your independence as you age. Exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet and minimize your stress to stay as strong and healthy as you can for as long as possible. 

3) Recognize that technology is your friend

Not only is technology important in keeping you engaged with your community, family and friends, but it can also be beneficial as you age to help you maintain your independence. Beyond smartphones and Life Alert, other forms of technology you can add to your home include high-tech security/intercom systems and a residential elevator or lift. 

4) Work with a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) 

To ensure your independence as you age, you should work with a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS). This certification program teaches the technical, business management and customer service skills that are essential to  older adults. A CAPS contractor can help you model your home into a safe yet stimulating environment that allows you to maintain your independence as you age. This certification provides CAPS contractors with the skills necessary to help clients make choices that will help them stay in their homes safely and securely. 

There is an expansive list of accommodations and features a Certified Aging-in-Place specialist can add to your home in order to make it more comfortable as you grow older. The full list can be found here. Some of the most notable and common remodels that can be completed for your home include changes to the overall floor plan, wider hallways and doors for wheelchair access, non-slip flooring, additional windows for natural light, handrails, easy-to-read controls on appliances, fold-down shower seats and more. 

If you live in Southwest Florida and are looking for a company that takes your future into consideration and can help you comfortably and safely age in place, contact Varian Construction at (239) 514-0103. Bill Varian, the company’s owner and president, is a Certified Aging in Place Specialist with your best interests, safety and future in mind. Varian Construction has been doing business and making homes more comfortable for Southwest Florida residents for over 30 years.