For many, remodelling the kitchen, living room, or even the toilet is a breath of fresh air that gives the property new life. And it frequently aids in enhancing the housing's thermal comfort. But, there are numerous factors to consider before moving forward with renovation work at home, from choosing the contractor to finishing the work. Find out all the precautions you should take if you plan to renovate your property or perform minor conservation work.
In the current environment of high house prices, high inflation, rising interest rates, loss of purchasing power, and an energy crisis, these are all things that we have on our mind, include the difficulty in obtaining housing, the need to save money on energy costs, as well as an improvement in the thermal comfort of the home.
What precautions must be taken before selecting the building contractor?
You should seek quotes from numerous contractors if you really want to move forward with a renovation or construction project on your home. You can ask them right away to communicate all the specifics of the work, including:
differentiating all the work that needs to be done and the cost that needs to be paid for each task;
sending information about all materials and their brands;
the timeframe in which the work will be completed;
the method of payment for the work, clarifying whether a down payment is required and whether the payment will be divided into construction phases or 50% up front and 50% later.
You will not be able to choose which contractor you will use to renovate your home unless you have thoroughly analysed and compared all the details of various budgets.
What should you do if faults are discovered a few months after the building work is completed?
If there is a problem with the work that has been done, you must notify the contractor in writing straight away, by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt, so that you have documentation to support your claim.
The following are two potential solutions to this issue:
If it is possible to repair the problems detected in the work;
If it is not possible to do so, you may need further construction.;
Make sure that na agreement has been made about the extra costs associated.
What happens if the contractor refuses to fix the faults in the work?
It is acceptable to suggest that the work is fixed at the constructors cost. However that are other factos which need to be considered and you may have to pay a percentage to get it fixed. The cost should cover the financial gap between the agreed-upon sum for carrying out the work and the expected cost of fixing any flaws.
You may take the contractor to court if they refuse to address the defect(s) after receiving your message about them and an out-of-court settlement cannot be reached.
Does the work come with a guarantee of any kind?
Consumer goods have a three-year guarantee when they are supplied as part of a term of contract and are subject to the legal guarantee regulations. For instance, the appliances offered in a kitchen renovation have a 3-year warranty. It is crucial to remember to request an invoice because it serves as proof in the event of a later complaint.