Archives: Updates

Try this today: Ask your contractor for a list of home-improvements experts they recommend. Check out the list of FBN’s recommended partners here.  

Your contractor spends every day talking to architects, designers, and subcontractors, so chances are that he or she knows some of the best in the business. Ask your contractor for recommendations if you’re looking to bring someone with a new skillset onto your home renovation team. Most likely, your contractor will recommend someone that they have worked with in the past, providing an extra guarantee that they will be able to help communicate your designs and plans with the new members of your remodelling team.

Even if you don’t end up settling with their recommendation, expert advice is always a good place to start and your contractor is a resource that you already have available. Plus, keeping your contractor in the loop when deciding to bring in new people can help build trust and prevent miscommunication within your entire renovation team. Don’t forget to keep your contractor’s list of recommendations even after your renovation is over for small-scale fixes and projects you may have.

Try this today: Try these cost effective ways of “me time”

Remodelling your home is all about creating a space that you love, so it’s important to make sure that the renovation process doesn’t take away from the joy and excitement of your newly-remodelled home.

Remember to take some “me time” to pamper yourself during any big renovation and make time to take a break from your remodelling responsibilities.Many home-improvement projects can take months to complete and require your attention to detail and organizational skills.

Giving your mind and body some time to relax away from loud construction noises and countless design decisions can help rejuvenate you and your renovation process. Taking a weekend away from the renovation buzz or simply taking an afternoon to focus on what you enjoy will have you loving your house even before the renovation is over.

Photo Credits: Fineas Gavre

Try this today: Take a look at these 24 ideas to use your space efficiently and get inspired now!

Looking to add more space to your home? Start by thinking about how to take advantage of the space that you already have before resorting to knocking down walls and adding square footage. If you’re hoping to add new rooms to your home, begin by taking a look at the rooms that you already have. Opting for multi-purpose furniture like sofa beds and fold-out desks that can allow one room to serve many purposes, like adding a futon to  your at-home office space so it can transform into a guest room for visitors.

From doors that double as bookshelves to mounted artwork that unfolds into a table top, the creative ways to increase the efficiency of the storage and furniture of your space are endless. Well-organized and effectively designed closets and storage spaces can also help keep the most-used spaces of your home uncluttered. Even better, increasing the efficiency of your space only requires a fraction of the time and cost that a full remodel would take.

It’s your home, and no one loves it more than you do. Your continued involvement in the project and ability to keep track of what the contractor is doing every week will ensure that there aren’t any major surprises and that you’ll know exactly what you’re going to get.

Take plenty of time to plan. The more developed and thorough your planning is now, the less frustration there will be during and after the renovation. This means taking into account your wants and needs, the steps of the project, the budget, and the timeline of each step of the renovation. And most importantly, plan where you’ll stay during the project.

You don’t always have to move out, but even if you don’t you still need to create reasonable boundaries (with your contractor’s guidance) within which you can continue to live noise- and dust-free. That way you won’t be suffering until the completion of the project. But you also need to be realistic: even the perfect plan can be hit with little surprises like rotten beams or spontaneous leaks. Don’t forget to build in a little wiggle room in your project timeline and budget in case unfortunate things like that spring up.

Photo credits: Green Chameleon

Try This Today: Call FBN Construction, they will happily explain you the process of remodeling

Keep a running dialogue with your contractor, as they are your partner(s) in this process. Try to understand the entire process that they’re going to follow completely and accurately and make sure that everyone has the same expectations for the project. Never be afraid to ask questions when you don’t understand. Like most relationships, the client-contractor relationship can produce some pretty poor results or even break down due to misunderstandings. It’s on you, just as much as it’s on your contractor, to prevent that from happening.

Photo credits: William Iven

Try This Today: Check our client testimonials here.  

Check their references and recommendations, both on their own websites and on reputable review websites like houzz.com that compile helpful contractor reviews. Try to look for how they deal with people—not just with their clients but also with their own subcontractors, designers and employees. Look for language like “morally responsible” and “ethical” as being “part of their culture.” If they have a reputation of doing right by everyone, you can be pretty sure they will do right by you. Once you select an appropriate contractor, half of your job is already done.

Try This Today: Call FBN Construction, they will save your time and money.

Unless you are a contractor yourself, or your project is really small, it’s almost always worth it to hire a professional contractor. This will save you time and effort and reduce the chance of a costly mistake that will cost you more money down the road. They’ve successfully done jobs like yours hundreds of times before, they know what they are doing. A good contractor will take stress out of your remodeling project.