Over half of all contractors have had at least one project that has failed. According to a 2015 survey by KPMG, most of these failures were attributed to personnel issues. For the homeowner, this means you need to carefully screen a home-improvement contractor to find out how well the contractor stays on schedule and what remedies there are for him not meeting a deadline.
Construction projects require a significant investment in time and money, and renovation projects can be extremely stressful if not properly planned and with the help of general contractors westchester. Here is a list of the seven most common causes of delays for home renovation projects and how to avoid setbacks:
Problem One: Underestimating Costs
One of the most frequent, and expensive, reasons for a home renovation project to get off track is inaccurate estimates. Specification errors, miscalculations, omissions, excluded or forgotten permit requirements and varying market prices for such things as materials costs and labor all contribute to cost overruns. These can leave both the contractor and homeowner very stressed and unhappy.
Solution: Better Estimates
A good contractor will double and even triple-check their numbers to prevent errors and cost overruns. The homeowner should insist on an itemized bid and triple check the contractor’s numbers.
A detailed checklist and project plan can guarantee omissions and catch mistakes. Both parties should be aware of and agree on every dollar before a contract is signed. This provides ample opportunities to catch cost increases and decide how to handle the extra costs. Additionally, there are several free cost-estimation software programs available online to help check all figures.
Problem Two: Scope Creep
Scope creep expresses how the amount of work increases beyond the original estimate. The three main reasons for scope creep are:
- The client makes additional requests that were not included in, or are outside the
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