Clueless new homeowner - Question #1

[Vishenka69]

Is it worth getting a general contractor who has a crew or hire kitchen/bathroom/floor/etc. people separately? DH would prefer the separate route but I find it overwhelming. I want to start calling and getting quotes on Monday. Thanks.

This is what I want to do:

replace kitchen counters
replace gas stove and hood
replace kitchen sink and faucet
tile one shower
replace one toilet
build a custom closet (not within a current one)
install hardwood floors in 4 bedrooms
install track lighting in a room with loft ceilings
replace ceiling fans in 3 rooms
fix drywall in random places
paint all trim and walls
install sliding closet doors in 2 bedrooms

[SuzySunshine]

Re: Clueless new homeowner - Question #1

If I was going to do all of that I'd want to hire one contractor and turn it all over to him, hiring project by project would drive me batty.

Good luck!

Re: Clueless new homeowner - Question #1

I think you can hire people individually but for that much stuff, I'd want one point of contact. You could do the counters on your own. Is there already a gas line for the range? If so and if it is adequately wired and vented for the vent hood, you could arrange for that yourself too. Now that I take another look at the list, I think you could arrange for the floors and painting outside of the contractor. When we recently had some work done, I handled the arrangements for painting myself. The contractor and painter got a little snippy with each other at one point but it turned out fine.

[medpedspouse]

Re: Clueless new homeowner - Question #1

I would go with the contractor. However, let me share my story. We had lots of work to do (our list was just as long) on the house and had 3 separate contractors come by and give us estimates. All three were recommended. Went with the one that had done the work that we had asked the sellers to do before buying and so happens to also live in our neighborhood. Here is how things went.

Project # 1:Remove 80's wallpaper from kitchen, add texture and paint. Contractor's painters came by and prepared the walls one day and were done by the third. Happy so far.

Project # 2: Turn electric stove in an island into gas. Contractor said that it would take about 3 weeks because they were pretty booked and were trying to finish other jobs. Carpenter came by on a Wednesday, measured, removed old island and brought new island on Saturday - measured and made adjustments. THEN, it all went down hill. I will spare you the details but bottom line the initial gas install was not going to work. They realized that the vent required another tunnel ( hot air and gas don't mix) My one month project turned into 5 months!!!!! It got to the point where I had the sub contractors cellphone numbers. One day, while driving by, I saw one of the subcontractors working on a house in my neighborhood. I put the car in reverse and stopped to ask about when they would return to work on my kitchen. It pissed me off that I was paying a contractor yet I had to arrange all the work. I found out that the contractor would not always communicate well with his people. The best part...the cherry on top...of my kitchen fiasco was the day that the contractor left his clipboard with his paperwork behind. I got to see how much money he was making off us.

Since then, we have hired individual workers for the floors, the skylights, plumbing and electrical issues. I was also lucky to find a great "jack-of-many trades" kind of guy who has been able to do many of the smaller jobs.

So, all this to say - these are my lessons learned...

I'd say go with a contractor ONLY if this person will actually make your life easier.
Contractor needs to
...give you realistic timelines and create a plan to adhere to them (include a plan "B" because things do happen that are out of their control)
...make sure his people adhere to the time they say they are coming (I got so tired of waiting around/making arrangements for late shows)
...make sure he does not promise something he has never done. (yes, ours had installed gas stoves & changed from electric to gas & installed stoves on islands BUT he had never done all 3 at once)
...make sure that they do not take off to do someone elses job before YOUR job is finished

I'm sure I can think of more and I'll add more once I calm down. It has been 6 months since they finished but I am still bitter.

[Vishenka69]

Re: Clueless new homeowner - Question #1

Thank you, these are actually very helpful. We do have a "jack-of-all-trades" kind of guy extremely highly recommended to us (we also actually saw his work at another house), so we might go with him and then do counters/floors/painting separately. DH got recommendations for those 3 from work.

There is a gas cooktop installed now but it's connected to propane, not a gas line. I'll probably be going with a gas cooktop too, as there are already double ovens there. Does anyone know if Frigidaire electric ovens are any good? I didn't even know they make ovens.

Re: Clueless new homeowner - Question #1

Do you like the cooktop? You might be able to convert the existing cooktop from propane to gas. I'm pretty sure you can do that with some of them.

Re: Clueless new homeowner - Question #1

After remodeling many houses we have also learned for ALL contracted work put a completion date with how much of a discount you will get for each day they are not done after the deadline. Sometimes we have them pay us $100/day, sometimes it was a percentage of the job.

Also negotiate ahead of time how you will deal with unexpected add-ons and "surprises" who is actually taking the risks? You are if you are paying "time and materials" the contractor is if you are paying a true "bid".

Always make sure they are licensed/bonded and insured. We would require them to show us CURRENT licenses/insurance etc. Many were not able to "find" them.

[Meenah]

Re: Clueless new homeowner - Question #1

This is why Home Depot and Lowes are my favorite shopping places. I do as much as I can myself.

[migirl]

Re: Clueless new homeowner - Question #1

This is why Home Depot and Lowes are my favorite shopping places.

I'm fairly certain we'll never see Vishenka write that phrase anywhere!

Re: Clueless new homeowner - Question #1

Are you a Costco member or have one in the area? You can get both granite counters and carpeting through them as well as blinds/shades. I've been happy with them and the prices are very competitive.

[Vishenka69]

Re: Clueless new homeowner - Question #1

Luanne, want to come and give me an estimate?

Nellie, nearest Costco is almost an hour away. We do have BJ's though, but I've never been to one. Are they the same?

Yeah, I much prefer supervising then actually risk breaking a nail.

[medpedspouse]

Re: Clueless new homeowner - Question #1

Re: granite...when we did our kitchen, we went with granite. I love it - BUT- after going to the tour of homes I was introduced to concrete. One house (one of those mc masions) had the whole kitchen done in stained concrete. The stuff looked absolutely gorgeous - they had even created a bench seat by the mud room. You can choose colors/textures and it is less $$ too . Wish I had known about it before doing our kitchen. I like it so much that I may re-do the bathrooms with it some day when I am ready to have parts of my house torn up again.

Re: Clueless new homeowner - Question #1

I'm not sure about BJs (um, who seriously gives a business that name?). If you can combine it with another trip, checking out Costco might be worth it. Acutally, you wouldn't even have to go. You could buy a $50 membership and have the carpet or granite people come to you. I did all the carpet stuff on-line and by phone. There isn't much of a display in the store to look at and I don't know if it would be worth the drive. Depending on where the granite people who contract with Costco are located, you would probably have a drive to the granite yard to pick out your slab(s).

[Amiens]

Re: Clueless new homeowner - Question #1

I'm not sure about BJs (um, who seriously gives a business that name?). If you can combine it with another trip, checking out Costco might be worth it. Acutally, you wouldn't even have to go. You could buy a $50 membership and have the carpet or granite people come to you. I did all the carpet stuff on-line and by phone. There isn't much of a display in the store to look at and I don't know if it would be worth the drive. Depending on where the granite people who contract with Costco are located, you would probably have a drive to the granite yard to pick out your slab(s).

With the Hunter Douglas Blinds by Costco the consultant comes to your home. We save quite a chunk of change by going through Costco.

Good luck!

[Vishenka69]

Re: Clueless new homeowner - Question #1

Would they still come to us if we live so far out?