By sunny 
When you first set out to renovate your house, it’s likely that you’ll habitually ask your renovator, ‘How much will it cost me to renovate this house?’ But to be honest, it’s not easy to get an accurate answer to this question. However, after reading this article, you will learn how to communicate effectively with your renovation company to ensure that your renovation plan is both on budget and delivers the desired results.
The first step in communicating with your renovation company: clarifying your budget
Talking about money doesn’t hurt, and the first step in renovation is to clarify your budget. Even if you don’t have a concrete idea of what your renovation budget will be, you should have a general price range in mind. After all, only you know best how much you’re willing to spend on the house. Some people may be wary and not want to reveal their bottom line right away, but considering the budget is an essential step.
In the case of a 100 square metre house, for example, the budget could be between $100,000 and $150,000, assuming that you want the renovation to be of turnkey standard when it’s finished. With this price range, you can further allocate your budget wisely.
Budget allocation: hard furnishings, soft furnishings and furniture and appliances
The first thing to consider is the hard furnishing part, including labour cost, auxiliary materials and main materials such as tiles and sanitary ware. Next is the soft furnishings, such as lamps, switches, curtains and decorations such as wall paintings and ornaments. Lastly, the furniture and home appliances part, including TV, air-conditioner, refrigerator, washing machine, hood, cooker, water heater, etc., as well as furniture such as wardrobe, sofa, coffee table, TV stand, dining table, bed, bedside table, dresser, desk, and so on.
If your total budget is around $150,000, a reasonable allocation might be $60,000 to $80,000 for furniture and appliances and soft furnishings, and $70,000 to $90,000 for the hard furnishings portion. With this budget allocation, you can communicate with the decorator in a more targeted way, such as asking, ‘What kind of decorations can you make if my hard furnishings budget is $70,000 to $90,000?’ This is a much more effective way to communicate.
Focus of communication with the renovation company: materials, construction and payment
Once you have clarified your budget needs, you can focus on materials, construction and payment issues when communicating with the renovation company. Here are 22 key questions you need to ask to avoid getting screwed or incurring extra costs.
Six must-ask craftsmanship questions
1, Do you have your own workers or do you contract out the work?
- This relates to the quality of construction and where the responsibility lies.
2, What is included in semi-contracted and fully-contracted? Please be specific.
- Knowing what’s included in different renovation packages will help you choose the best one for you.
3, Is there any charge for wrapping risers? Do I need to waterproof my balcony and kitchen? How is the cost calculated?
- These details are often easily overlooked but can affect the overall budget.
4, Can I do crafts such as plastering large bricks on walls, begonia corners, niches and sunken bathrooms? Are they charged separately?
- If you have special renovation needs, be sure to ask in advance.
5, How many coats of putty will be done? Should glue be used? How many coats of latex paint? Will it be sprayed or rolled?
- These details determine the quality of the finished renovation.
6, Do you have any construction sites underway? Can you visit them?
- A site visit can give you a more intuitive understanding of the renovation company’s construction quality and workmanship.
Six must-ask questions about materials
1, Is it possible to personalise the choice of auxiliary materials and make up the difference in price?
- This is important if you have special requirements for materials.
2, Are all materials guaranteed to be genuine? Is there any promise of a fine for fake ones?
- Genuine materials are the guarantee for the quality of decoration.
3, Is there an additional charge for backer board or tile adhesive?
- These small costs can add up to a significant expense.
4, Which type of backfill is used in the bathroom? Is there a charge for ceramic backfill?
- The choice of backfill method may affect the effectiveness and longevity of the bathroom.
5, Should I use melon chip or pea stone for underfloor heating levelling?
- Different levelling materials also have an effect on the effectiveness of underfloor heating.
6, Are disposable toilets and floor protection film provided?
- These details reflect the professionalism and thoughtfulness of the renovation company.
Five must-ask quotation questions
1, Is the quotation based on floor area or utility area?
- This is directly related to the accuracy and reasonableness of the quotation.
2, Is there a charge for the design? How much is the price? How many drawings are produced?
- This is important if you need a customised design solution.
3, Is plumbing and electrical point-to-point or per square foot? Is there any pre-charge upfront?
- Plumbing and electrical remodelling is a big part of the renovation, so be sure to ask how the costs are calculated.
4, Are there any additions? Clarify which items need additions and write them into the contract.
- Avoid additional costs during the renovation process.
5, How about the payment method? What is the percentage?
- A reasonable payment method can protect the rights and interests of both parties.
Five must-ask liability questions
1, Clarify how long the construction period will take and how to compensate for exceeding the period?
- A delay in the construction period may bring you additional losses, which should be agreed in advance.
2, Will the back wall of the bathroom be painted waterproof? Who will be responsible for any problems later?
- Waterproofing is the key to bathroom renovation, the responsibility must be clear.
3, Who is responsible for site problems caused by workers during construction?
- Accidents in the construction process are inevitable, the division of responsibility should be clear.
4, Who is responsible for worker casualty problems during construction?
- This is a serious issue, but it must be considered in advance.
5, How long is the construction warranty?
- The warranty period is a guarantee of the quality of the renovation and must be asked clearly.
In the process of communicating with the renovation company, make sure to keep clear and organised thoughts. Clarify your budgetary needs, ask about key material, construction and payment issues, as well as the division of responsibilities. This way, you can ensure that your renovation plan is both on budget and on target. Remember that communicating with a remodeller is a two-way process, expressing your needs as well as listening to each other’s suggestions and opinions. Only then will you be able to find the renovation plan that best suits your needs.