Preparing for a Contractor Meeting

REDWOOD CITY — Prior to meeting with a contractor to discuss your upcoming remodeling project, it’s important to do your homework. You’d be surprised how many homeowners don’t take the time to do this and simply expect their contractors to have all the answers. Your contractor’s job is to translate your vision for the project into reality, but if you don’t have a vision, there’s not much to work with. That’s why you should come into the meeting with at least a rough idea of what you want and how much you have to spend.

Consider the following steps to prepare for your meeting:

• Look through remodeling magazines and cut out pictures of designs and materials you like. In addition to helping you gather ideas for your project, this will give you a visual aid for communicating them to your contractor.
• Make a list of features you’re looking for with your project. Divide these into two categories: “wants” and “needs.”
• Estimate the project’s budget. Your budget will determine the scope of the project, as well as the kinds of features and materials you can afford.
• Research materials and appliances to get an idea of what’s available and what would work best for your project.
• In some cases, it may be more efficient to meet with a designer or an architect first—that way, you’ll have drawings to present to your contractor.