01/

Start big and finish small

You may be working with a limited budget, nevertheless, it is wise to discuss a wide range of possibilities and options (even beyond your budget) with your architect or contractor. A broader working knowledge of the various options will give you confidence to make the best choices according to your budget.

Those who start off with a "tight budget" often find themselves regretting what they didn't know and feel forced to make changes which exceed their budget more than necessary.

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02/

Look into the details

Ask your architect or designer to provide a bill of material (BOM) :  a list of each renovation task to be preformed, as well as the all the raw materials required for the project supplied by the contractor and by the client himself. If there is no architect or designer involved in the project, ask the contractor to provide the BOM.

 

Using a BOM reduces surprises and misunderstandings during the project. Additionally, if you decide to make any alternations, the BOM will be used as a price list so that you can know exactly how much any addition or subtraction to the original plan will cost.  for example - if you planned to build a 10 square meters partition that costs 200 NIS per square meter but eventually decide not to build it, you can know the exact amount of your refund). Click here to see an example of a BOM.

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03/

Expect the unexpected

Ask the contractor what potential difficulties or problems he anticipates after seeing the plans for your remodeling project. An experienced contractor is able to identify mistakes or point at details in the architect's plan that might cause future problems. For example, when installing flooring in a living room, it should be taken into consideration that removing the old flooring might reveal old water pipes that will have to be replaced before the new flooring can be installed.

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04/

Sign a contract

The contract protects both sides, the client as well as the contractor. Since remodeling is a dynamic process with many changes taking place along the way, some details might be forgotten and it is good to have everything both sides have agreed on at the beginning written down.

The contract should include the details about the job, payment times, date of completion, guarantees offered by the contractor  for each job preformed, etc. A good contract is a short one. Click here to see an example of a contract.

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05/

Write everything down

Every request for a change in plans should be written down . Do not be satisfied with a verbal agreement, but rather, have all your requests documented (it can be by mail or text message) and ask your contractor for a written reply including the price you have agreed on. You should not feel that by doing this you are showing mistrust. The remodeling process includes countless details and it is important to prevent any misunderstandings and bad feelings.

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06/

Insist on professionals

Make sure your contractor chooses a certified electrician for your project. Electricity is a matter of life and death. an incompetent electrician is dangerous and unacceptable. It is also an obligation by law.

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07/

Do your homework

When choosing a contractor, check carefully the client reviews. Ask to go and see some of the projects he has done (and don't rely merely on pictures). A certified contractor is preferable in order to stay in compliance with Israeli standards and legislation. However,  certification alone does not guarantee a high quality renovation.