6 Tips for Protecting Your Home - and Yourself - During a Remodeling Project

Spring and summer in Northern New England means relief from
the cold, the end of the school year, and a boom in home
remodeling projects.

"This is the busiest time of year for us," said Ed
Campbell, VP of Operations for Nashua, NH-based remodeling
firm G.M. Roth. "With the warmer weather, people can
finally open up their homes and start the big home
improvement projects - ones that take more than a couple of
days, and expose the home to the outside air with more than
just an open window."

For anyone looking to tackle a large project - remodeling a
kitchen or bathroom, or adding a porch or in-law suite, for
example - here are six things for the top of your home
improvement to-do list:

Check the weather. Rainy days are frequent in spring and
summer months, and depending on the length of time your
remodeling project will take, you might need to protect
your home from the elements - and from contractors tracking
the elements into your home. Make sure you account for this
possibility before and during the remodeling process.

Don't forget about winter so soon. Sure, the weather is
warming up right now. But if your remodeling project
requires new doors, windows, or changes to exterior walls,
be sure you discuss adequate insulation and energy
efficiency options with your contractor. Come winter, you
don't want to be left in the cold.

Get real about the project timeline. We all have the best
intentions, and we all like to hear the best-case
scenarios. But life isn't always that simple, and neither
are remodeling projects. Ask every contractor from whom you
get a quote to provide an honest estimate of how long the
project will take - no sugarcoating, no rose-colored
glasses.

Call your insurance agent. Since home remodeling often
increases the value of your home, you'll want your
insurance coverage to come up to speed with the
improvements. Plus, your agent can tell you if you'll be
covered in case of things like weather damage during the
remodeling, injuries to workers, and other unexpected
events.

Get it all in writing. The agreement you have with your
contractor should specify who's responsible for cleanup
during and after the remodeling project. Also,
responsibility for protection of your property from
construction damage should be spelled out, too.

Get out, if you can. There may be times where fumes or dust
give you no choice but to stay with friends, family, or a
local motel for short spells. But kitchen remodeling, for
example, often denies homeowners the use of major
appliances and drinking water. Rather than set up a
temporary kitchen with paper goods in the spare bedroom, it
might be easier to crash with the in-laws for a couple of
weeks, and spring for their groceries as well as yours.

Planning ahead, the key to success in so many areas of
life, is just as important for home remodeling projects.
And with the industry about to go through the high-demand
phase of its business cycle, taking time to plan before you
start a major home improvement won't just increase in the
value of your home. It'll pay off in peace of mind as well.


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About G.M. Roth
Since 1986, G.M. Roth Design and Remodeling has been
designing and building award-winning projects. From kitchen
and bath remodeling to in-law suites, porches and decks,
clients get their "Dreams Delivered" by G.M. Roth. To find
out more about G.M. Roth, and how their commitment to the
Design/Build philosophy provides flexibility for your
project while preventing time delays and cost overruns, go
to http://www.GMRoth.com .