My business has been steadily growing and am now doing what I would like to do, which is whole house remodels and additions.
What I am looking for is a checklist with items needed done during the process. Such as changing outlets adding outlets, additional lighting, additonal cable lines.
Things that should be done when DW is removed but before put back up.
I have completed 2 complete interior remodels now and am looking at another one. I would like to have some sort of list to go off of with the customer.
Do not want to hit them with a laundry list of change orders because we forgot to think of anything.
Anyone have a list like this or know a good source?
I have started one on my own but I am sure there will be something I missed.
Thank you
John
Replies
JDale,
How about posting your list and allowing others to add to it?
I don't have a checklist, but here are a few things that come to mind.
Check out the smoke detectors in the house. Our local code requires that you update the smokes to include one in each bedroom and a minimum of one on each level, if you pull a permit for any interior work.
Just got called on that last week. Did a bathroom in a 20 yr. old house and now have to upgrade all the smoke detectors in the house to pass my final inspection.
Review as many of the finishes as you can with the HO. Often times it will be impossible to match older door knobs, trim, light fixtures, etc.etc. Usually most people understand, but there are those who expect exact matches. Better to define it up front or exclude it in the contract before you find yourself having to custom mill 50lf of casing.
Measure everything! Don't assume that because the door is 3/0 width that it will also be 6/8 high. Nothing worse than ordering the 6/8 door (82" unit height) and finding out that the old door had a unit height of 80"). I like to take exact measurements of all the existing components that will be replaced, including jamb thicknesses.
If you are doing any plumbing, get your plumber there to look at the job before he bids it. I know little about plumbing, so what seems easy and cheap to me could get quite involved. Often times you will end up having to upgrade some of the existing work. Like moving the closet flange to meet code required clearances.
Check egress requirements for basement windows. A lot of people want you to finish the basement and add bedrooms. If you cannot meet code egress, it won't be considered a bedroom. HO will say, "we'll just call it an office until we pass inspection." That's all good and fine until they list the house for sale and then discover that it can't be listed with a 4th bedroom.
If you add bedrooms to a house with septic, make sure the septic system was designed to allow it. In my area, they have to design the septic based on how many bedrooms the house has, not how many bathrooms. If you exceed the design of the system, you may not even get the permit issued, or you may have to upgrade the system. That could get expensive real fast and could easily kill the project budget.
You cannot convey tone in an email.
I agree that you should post what you have - sometimes giving everyone a starting point gets the ball rolling faster.
I have 3 sets of checklists for kitchen projects that I've compiled over the last couple years. I broke mine down into major categories first: cabinets, appliances, drawings, orders, contracts, etc. Under each there are sub-headings for things like plumbing, electrical, structural, as well as headings specific to kitchen design. Helps me make sure I've covered as many bases as I can.
It might help to start like that. Just start with "Electrical", let's say. You'd be looking for access to the box, adequacy of service, relocation/addition of outlets, etc.
Once you get through all that you those you could have a checklist for things like limitations on hours of work, access to bathrooms, noise considerations, materials delivery limitations, etc.
Then post what you've got, and I'm sure everyone else will chime in!