Month: November 2021

The smell of fresh paint, wood glue, and promise fills the air. Construction is underway and you’re feeling optimistic about the remodel of your home office. A thought pops into your head about how contemporary and functional the final product will be. You’ll finally be able to enjoy where you work and keep your productivity levels soaring. 

Then, as you think about the cost, you scratch your head in confusion, as you try to remember any hint of budgeting before the construction actually began. Did you discuss a budget? Did you discuss a timeline? You received a loose time frame from the contractor and an “it will get done in a few weeks,” statement. It definitely did not give you peace of mind.  

This isn’t the experience you want to have when hiring a general contractor. A new home expansion or remodel can be stressful, and at times you’ll wonder why you didn’t do the job yourself or whether it was worth remodeling in the first place.

We’re here to tell you that there are contractors in Southwest Florida that will not only meet your needs but will also go above and beyond to meet your project goals by setting up the right expectations.  Here are the essential phases of an effective construction process from the start of a project to its completion. Satisfaction of the client and fair pay for the contractor leaves everyone happy. 

Evaluation Phase

First comes the evaluation phase of a project. A highly experienced general contractor will want to meet with the client and get a feeling for the scope of the project. This is where you come in, you must discuss your wants and your needs. Set expectations! Supply the contractor with a general idea of what materials you’d like to incorporate into the build. 

A qualified contractor will also want to ensure that no zoning restrictions, HOA complications, or home deed restrictions affect the outcome of the project. Most importantly, laying out a preliminary budget with your contractor is going to yield the best results for your remodel and compensation for their work. This allows the contractor time to source materials and lay out a plan for the completion of the project in order to ensure cost/time efficiency. 

You’ll want to be specific during this phase. Did you want a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door? How about a bay window with a built-in nook for reading? Did you want a bar that opens up onto the lanai? These are details you’ll want to bring up. The chemistry between you and the contractor will help you formulate the best possible plan for your desired project.

Design Phase

Following the evaluation phase of the project, the contractor will begin the design phase. Specifications and drawings will be created for the remodeling and construction proposal. Your contractors may discuss hiring a design professional before starting construction.

As a part of the entire remodeling process, contractors will frequently solicit bids from trade contractors and suppliers. Painters, plumbers, electricians, and interior designers may need to be subcontracted based on the scope of the project. A bathroom remodel may require an expert in plumbing. Your GC’s scope of work would include vetting the right person/company for the job and overseeing their work.

Preparing a final budget for the contract is the most essential step in this phase. Prepare yourself for a final budget that differs from the original estimate due to changes in the scope of the project.

Construction Plan

The meat of the project will be in the construction phase. Before construction begins, your contractor will have you sign a construction agreement, a paper that gives them the go-ahead to start the work. 

Prior to the start of construction, expect building permits and county/ city paperwork filing as another step for the contractor to complete to ensure that your project won’t become a liability or be flagged for breaking state regulations. The contractor and the client (you) will set a start date for the project and finalize a timeline.

Completion Phase

This is the moment you and your contractor will tie up all of the loose ends of the project. Inspections will test the integrity of the build, ensuring you get the highest quality and longest-lasting remodel for your money’s worth. When you are satisfied with your general contractor’s work, you’ll no doubt sign a certificate of completion, finalizing the remodel.

A good general contractor will review a “final punch list” to see if any details were missed in the initial construction. The closeout will include any final billing that will be discussed and given to the client for review and payment. Expect to receive a survey from your contractor so they may see areas of improvement or praise that you may give them.

Most general contractors take pride in their hard work and may want to take photos of the remodel to share with other prospective remodeling clients. Additionally, a 30-day follow-up visit would be conducted to make sure everything is working out for the client and there are no adjustments or repairs that need to be made. Furthermore, a one-year follow-up visit for overall client satisfaction would ensure the client and the builder are content with the results of the remodel.

Hiring a general contractor shouldn’t be difficult. If your contractor follows these guidelines when working with you on a project, you both should be pleased with the results. Using this guideline will not only help you weed out contractors that don’t keep you in the loop, but it will also help you establish a realistic budget, set expectations, and give you an idea of what type of general contractors you’re looking to hire. Remember, you are thinking about quality over quantity when dealing with your home, your precious investment. Hire an experienced general contractor that goes above and beyond for you. 

Are you interested in a remodel of any room in your home? Perhaps the entire home?! The best general contractor in SWFL is offering their help. All of the phases mentioned above have been coined by Bill Varian, owner of Varian Construction. If you want to have the best remodeler for your home, choose the Varian Process and call 239-514-0103 to get started.

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the Certified Green Professional™ designation recognizes builders, remodelers, and other industry professionals who incorporate green and sustainable building principles into homes — without driving up the cost of construction.

Do you want to save the planet, live in a home that is fully sustainable, and work with a certified professional in doing so?

In order to do this, you’ll need to hire not just any professional, you’ll need a certified GREEN professional. Their proficiency and education will allow them to assist you in all of your building endeavors. The “going green” award will go to you after hiring a sustainable home builder. Look at you, saving the planet board by board. 

Sustainability is an interesting term. Although its definitive meaning is one of longevity and maintenance, societally, we use it to describe or imply ecological balance. There is truth in using the term sustainability when it comes to home building in both aspects of the word. Our goal is to grow and change with society, and one of the main focuses in today’s climate, economically and ecologically, is the health of the planet. 

Sustainable building is using materials and processes that are efficient in causing less material waste, whether it is using recycled materials for home insulation, or using recycled wood for crown molding in a home. Everything from the process to the materials, to the overall integrity of the build, can be done so sustainably. It also means, a home that is built sustainably is likely to promote longevity, materials used will weather gracefully and remain functional for future generations.

Let the Light in

One way in which a sustainable home builder can reduce your carbon footprint and use their certified green education is to make a home that is spacious, airy, and utilizes natural lighting. This can be accomplished by installing energy-efficient windows in areas of the home that would otherwise be fabricated with walls. This will not only make your home look progressively sustainable, but it will also allow you to take advantage of the day’s natural light. Increasing the amount of natural light in your home will supplement your vitamin D levels and improve mental health. The amount of natural light pouring into your home will also prevent the early usage of electrical lights. It benefits not only your health, but it also decreases your lighting bill, therefore, reducing your carbon footprint!

Re-used is the New “New”

Materials can be sustainably resourced from homebuilders that keep materials safely stored from previous builds, ensuring their quality and integrity are intact before reuse. Incorporating recycled wood into a green home can merge the natural textures of the earth with your desired interior design. The earthly textures are complex and alluring, incorporating more natural themes into your home will be welcoming to guests and is sure to become a conversation piece. 

Bringing the Outdoors in 

Do you enjoy the atmosphere live lush greenery adds to restaurants and other establishments you patronize? Plants are heavily used in buildings and interior design for a reason. It creates an inviting atmosphere, can psychologically boost serotonin levels, and pump out fresh oxygen into the surrounding area. If you are planning to live sustainably, you’ll want to incorporate some live plants into your home build. Not only will it improve the air quality, it may also benefit your health and act as another way to please your guests. A sustainable home builder can allocate space to build custom planters or shelves in your home to showcase your greenery with functionality and style.

Don’t Turn Your Back on HVAC

As reported by MyFloridaGreen, Florida’s consumption of electricity per household is among the highest in the United States. The weather in Florida is hot and humid, which drives up the demand for air-conditioning, in turn, using an impressively substantial amount of electricity.  

When it comes to building a home in Florida, we have to account for the all-important HVAC systems that allow us to stay cool amid the heatwave that is summer. Sustainable home builders have been experimenting with the idea of using ventless or ductless HVAC units for each room. The ductless HVAC systems allow for custom temperature and humidity control for each selected room. Using Ductless HVAC systems prevents the air conditioning leaks you’d see in a traditional air conditioning unit. By reducing air leakage throughout the home, you will use less energy in the long run, keeping your Florida home cool and efficient. 

If only there was a certified green professional in my area that could check off all of these boxes and bring more longevity and value to my home! 

You’re in luck! Varian Construction is owned and operated by Bill Varian, a certified green professional who has over 30 years of experience in remodeling homes and using the most sustainable methods to keep your home on the cutting edge. Contact Varian Construction at (239) 514-0103 or visit our website at VarianConstruction.com for more information on home remodeling.