Taking on a renovation project can be intimidating. But you can arm yourself with a little knowledge and a little education to make the experience easier. The good thing is that, as the homeowner, you know what you want. And you’re in control of who you hire.
Make wise decisions at the beginning of your renovation project, and you’ll be sitting on your new deck or looking at your new fence sooner than you think. Before hiring a fencing and decking contractor, decide on the scope of the renovation project.
What Does “Scope of the Renovation Project” Mean?
The scope of a renovation project is basically a detailed outline of everything you expect the contractor to do. You likely already have a very rough draft of the scope of your renovation project already in your mind. You have a vision for this project and how you hope it looks in the end. And you likely have a general idea of what you expect from your fencing and decking contractor.
What’s Included in the Scope of the Renovation Project?
In an official scope of the project, you’ll break down the nitty gritty details all the way down to cost estimates. You’ll likely go back and forth a couple of times before you sign your final contract. And that’s a good thing. The official scope of a renovation project helps you see the details in more clarity, so you’ll become more aware of what is practical and what’s not.
Some things you can expect to be included in your official scope of the renovation project are:
- The kind of materials to build your deck or fence
- What happens to the debris
- Who is responsible for permits
- A general outline of the work to be done (like “rebuild deck” or “remove old fence”)
You can also expect to include something similar to a list of your “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves.” These details give your fencing contractor or decking contractor a good idea of how to actually plan for your renovation project. If it’s on the “must-have” list, it’s non-negotiable. And if he can work within your budget, he can include as many of the “nice-to-haves” as possible.
Why Decide Before You Hire Your Fencing and Decking Contractor?
It’s so important to decide on the scope of your renovation project before you hire, because once you sign your contract, things get a little more complicated. The official contract basically finalizes and locks you into your scope, too.
That means that if you decide you want to change something like asking your contractor to add seating onto your deck or make the fence longer, the price is subject to change. And then your budget changes. That’s why it’s so important to have all the details in writing before you officially hire your fencing contractor or decking contractor.
Contractor Financing for Your Project
And speaking of budgets, wouldn’t it be nice to have all of your “nice-to-haves?” HFS Financial has been in the business of offering the perfect financing options for homeowners and their renovation projects for many years. You can apply for financing in as little as 60 seconds and have the perfect deck or fence for your dream backyard. With HFS Financial, “You Dream It, We Finance It.”