Question: How can I share my home- improvement vision with a contractor?

Answer:Thinking about remodeling your home can be overwhelming.

There are so many decisions, so many options and so many products and details to consider.

This makes communication with your contractor vital to a successful finished product.

When thinking about remodeling, it is important to begin with a detailed listing of the current problems you may want to solve.

Common reasons are:

Not enough space for family activities.

An inconvenient or outdated kitchen and/or bathroom.

Home exterior needs a face-lift.

Extra space desired for specific uses, such as recreation, exercise, a home office, in-laws or additional storage.

Once you have shared your basic concept with a design/build remodeler, begin to think through the specific uses of the areas you are adding or improving.

Convey current lifestyle characteristics that you want to be considered in the final product. They might include space for families with young children needing play areas and storage, families with teenagers needing recreational areas, empty nesters reconfiguring existing spaces to be more accessible, or extended family requiring in-law quarters, for example.

Convey the overall effect you would like to achieve. Are there specific items of equipment or appliances to be incorporated? Are there architectural details that would make this project uniquely yours?

Think about your family’s lifestyle. Are you wanting practical and durable improvements or something more luxurious and dramatic, or a combination of both?

Visualization is also a great way to express ideas to a design/build remodeler. Magazine photos and clippings are excellent sources. Photos for everything from product-specific ideas to the finished product also can be found online.

An experienced design/build remodeler should have a portfolio of before and after photos that will help share the vision as well.

Last but not least, it is important to have a realistic budget in mind and know what you will be able to spend on the finished product.

If you are concerned about how a project will affect the resale value of your home, your remodeling contractor can help you understand your options. This will ensure that a good design matches your budget.