The Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase is quickly approaching and we love an opportunity to see inside a beautiful home as much as the next person. While many people see these events as a way to satisfy their curiosity and peek inside some of their favorite homes, it’s also helpful research when planning your own remodel. 

Whether you are seeking to buy a home, build a home, or remodel a home you already own, the remodeling and building process is first and foremost about finding the right fit. Today, we’re sharing our best suggestions for finding that fit. This includes questions to ask, what you should pay attention to, and how to ultimately decide what is right for you based on your goals and budget.

RESEARCH

A core part of our process and how we work is discovery. We want to know your preferences, what styles you love, and what inspires you. But first, you need to discover these things for yourself. Before touring other homes and asking questions about the remodel process, you need to get a feel for what you like. Explore sites like Pinterest and Houzz. Make note of spaces you love and organize in a way you can easily share with your future design-build partner. Consider how you want your home to function and flow, as well as your current pain points. What are the must haves for your home? This process will not only help you begin to create a vision of what your home could be, but it will also help you communicate what you want and need when you’re ready to get started. This also ensures you’re making the most of the home tour to explore spaces that align with your vision, preferences, and needs. 

PLAN YOUR STOPS

Now that you have an idea of what you like and what the priorities are for your own home, it’s time to plan out your tour stops. You can’t possibly visit every home. By planning out the stops in advance, you can ensure an efficient route, making the most of your time. Additionally, when you know in advance which homes you want to visit, you can also note questions you have about the specific project. What drew you to this particular home on the tour? What do you love about it and what do you want to learn more about?

ASK QUESTIONS

Now it’s time to ask those questions you planned out (and maybe a few more). A home tour is all about seeing different spaces, getting a feel for the style and asking questions about the process. When selecting a remodeler, fit is important for a good working relationship and the best possible outcome. But determining fit isn’t easy. It’s important to first understand your needs and then understand how they work. 

At Homes and Such, every project includes an extensive discovery phase as we seek to understand your goals and vision. This means identifying your pain points, how you want your home to work for you, and the scope, including budget, for the overall project. From there, we share our ideas, suggest color palettes, fixtures, finishes and more. We gather feedback and begin to develop the design. This is where your space really starts to come to life. From white model drawings to color renderings, the design evolves to ensure it’s just right. Finally, construction and project management make the vision a reality. 

As you begin to think about your own project, ask a lot of questions. When touring remodels, use these questions to get a feel for fit:

• What’s your process?

• How do you communicate with clients?

• Tell me about how this project evolved.

• What was the client's initial ask vs. the outcome?

CHECK REFERENCES

Finding the right fit is about more than getting along and a solid process. You want to know the contractor will follow through on their commitment and deliver on their vision. This is why it’s important to check references. Talk to past clients to hear directly about their experience working with the contractor.

Ask questions, like:

• What did they love about the contractor or designer?

• Did they communicate well and keep you up to date on progress?

• What could have been better?

• Would you recommend this contractor or designer?

With a bit of planning and forethought, you can make the most of a home tour to plan your own remodel. Visiting homes, asking questions, and understanding how each contractor designer works will help you find the best possible fit when it’s time to begin so you can love your home, and the remodel process too.