Six steps to successful, hassle-free remodeling

Selena Merritt made mistakes on her kitchen remodeling a few years ago.

She went against her contractor's recommendation and chose her own countertop installer. "The counters were a disaster," she said.

She also missed deadlines, causing delays in the construction process.

Fortunately for Merritt and her husband, Steve, the kitchen remodeling at their home in Charlotte's Fourth Ward turned out beautifully. So did the relationship with their contractor, Eddie DeRhodes of DeRhodes Construction.

"I was probably a little close-minded about his ideas, and I shouldn't have been," said Merritt, whose kitchen is featured in the October issue of the Better Homes and Gardens' Kitchens and Bath Ideas special interest publication. "We've come a long way on the trust between us, and yeah, he does know what he's talking about."

Merritt's experience illustrates a key point about remodeling: A good customer is just as essential to success as a good contractor.

Contractors offer tips.

Be certain you really want to remodel

Let your contractor know how interested you really are. Do you have a budget and are you seriously considering a project? Or are you mildly curious about what it would cost to redo that bathroom upstairs?

Contractors don't want to spend hours of valuable time and money serving prospects who are merely "tire-kicking," said Gary Palmer, a licensed general contractor and owner of Palmer Custom Builders, a Charlotte firm.

"'What's it going to take to remodel our kitchen?'" he said they'll ask. "We give them a number, and it blows their mind.

"Or they'll drag you along for weeks and weeks before they decide they're really not serious," added his wife, Pam, a co-owner and officer in the company.

Their point: Seek multiple bids and ask questions, but please don't be difficult to work with.

Do your research

You may not know everything you want; you may only know what you don't want. But that information can help you and your contractor develop a design and construction plan.

If you need help, your contractor can draw on his experience or refer you to a reputable designer. Shelter magazines offer ideas, too.

"You need two files: this is what I like, this is what I don't like," said De Rhodes, a licensed general contractor. "They have equal value and equal importance."

TV home shows are fun to watch, but beware

"They're misleading," DeRhodes said. "They don't really tell you what's involved."

Gary Palmer said TV home shows condense the time needed to complete the process. Prices are fuzzy, too; building supply firms donate products, and some required charges, such as permits and dumping fees, aren't displayed or discussed.

While you're researching, make sure to vet your prospective contractors; check references and trade sources, such as the Better Business Bureau and Angie's List.

Listen to the expert

A good contractor respects the customers' interests. In return, they want customers to respect their knowledge and experience and listen to the information they present.

A contractor's expertise can pay off in ways you don't expect.

The Palmers were asked to remodel an older home by adding a second floor. One quick look told them the project wouldn't work. "It would cost too much to bring [the house] up to par to add the weight," Gary Palmer said. "I had to tell them to knock their house down."

The customers listened and agreed. The demolition paved the way for a custom home that met their needs more efficiently and was more cost effective than remodeling would have been. "They're extremely happy with it," Palmer said.

Communicate

Good communication starts at the beginning, contractors say.

"Usually there's a couple or three things that are very important to them, and we try to identify them very early," Whitlock said. "We request that they think about that and boil it down to what's important." That includes little things, too, like keeping the dog indoors.

"Don't be secretive about setting up a realistic budget," said Pam Palmer, who wrote a construction guide that her company gives to customers. "A professional contractor is going to listen and right away try to be realistic about your budget. He may be able to make suggestions about changes to make."

Attend the preconstruction or kickoff meeting. You'll go over the construction plan so that everyone - contractor, tradespeople, homeowners - is on the same page. Whitlock provides a detailed task list for clients so they know their deadline for, say, selecting flooring or finishes.

If a question or problem crops up during the process, address it. "If there's even the least little thing that bugs them or bothers them... we want to know now, even if it's not something that's critical," Whitlock said.

Be patient and realistic

Construction projects can be a little messy and frustrating.

"[Customers] think it's going to happen overnight," Pam Palmer said. "They don't look at all the pieces."

Construction planning can't eliminate every surprise. "You don't know what's behind that wall or what's in that ceiling until you start tearing into it," DeRhodes said. Rain can postpone work; houses get dusty.

But the best contractors will work hard to make the project a pleasant experience - and it can be, with your patience and help.