There are a lot of moving pieces to any home remodel. Between planning the renovation itself, buying supplies and tools, and organizing all the people who will be working on the project with you, some things can easily fall through the cracks. And of all the things that could fall through the cracks, the paperwork is the most likely to do so. Unfortunately, not having all the essential paperwork for your home renovation project is the quickest route to unnecessary delays and costs. That’s why we’ve assembled a handy list of the documents you don’t want to forget.
Permits
Not every home improvement project requires a permit. For example, if you’re just redoing the floors or painting the walls, you don’t have to worry about getting authorization. However, major home projects that involve adding new structures or drastically altering your existing structure often require permits. A few projects for which you may need a permit include:
- Building an addition onto the house
- Designing a new patio or deck
- Adding a pool or hot tub
- Changing the fencing
- Repairing or replacing the roof
- Finishing the basement
- Doing major electrical work
If you aren’t certain whether a renovation job will require a permit, contacting your community to find out is always in your best interests. Otherwise, you could be hit with a large fine.
Contracts
DIY home renovations are all the rage, but some tasks are best left to the professionals. Bringing in a contractor is essential for tasks such as electrical or plumbing work or for major renovations with which you have no experience. And where there’s a contactor, there must be a contract.
People who have had bad experiences with contractors will tell you that one of the easiest ways to end up in a bad situation with a contractor is to fail to get everything in writing or read the contract in its entirety. Here are a few pieces of information you should make sure you have in your contract:
- Approximate start and completion dates for the project
- Exactly what work will be done
- How much each individual project will cost
- A change order agreement
- Warranty information
Home Plans
For major projects such as home additions and floor layout changes, a contractor will need the precise dimensions of your home. This means you must add home plans to your list of documents you’ll need for a home renovation. However, there are several different types of home plans—including as-designed, as-measured, and as-built designs—and having the right type will be very helpful for your contractor.
