Custom Remodeling | Programs (2024)

The Remodeling Process

How Do I Keep Everything Organized?

Planning Phase

The key to a stress-free remodeling project is thorough planning. We've remodeled thousands of homes and have a proven system for planning every imaginable detail and anticipating any situation that could arise. Your project will be "completed on paper" long before a single nail is pounded as we work together to complete our exclusive Remodel Manual. This section will allow us to work through the budget, home review, home plans, specifications, and job costing of your remodel project.

Your Customized Remodeling Manual

Planning your remodeling project from A to Z is easy when you work with UBuildIt. Your Construction Consultant will walk you through our Remodel Manual and lend expert advice and opinions on the topics shown on this page. The goal is to plan a remodeling projectthat’s done right, on time, and within your budget. With our help and this manual, chances are excellent that you'll have a pleasant remodeling experience.

Construction Phase

Once you've planned your project, then it's on to actually remodeling the home. Naturally, the diligence we put into the planning phase will make construction go more smoothly. But with hundreds of details to keep track of, having a systematic way to approach the project is a MUST. We'll work with you to create a customized Construction Plan that will let you know exactly what needs to happen and when it needs to happen. With our expert oversight, you'll find that your job as general contractor is one that you can capably handle.

Savings & Instant Equity

The markup from traditional remodeling companies ranges from about 35% to 60%. Simple math shows that with the average contractor's 50% markup, you'll be paying them $25,000 on a $50,000 project... that's as much as$75,000on a $150,000 project. By taking on the project yourself, you get to keep the majority of that money in your pocket where it belongs.

The appraisal on your home is based on market value for homes in your area. And since the vast majority of remodeling jobs are done by contractors, not individuals, they all have the contractor markup figured into their worth. That's good news for you because the appraiser doesn't know — and doesn't care — that you did it yourself. Presto! The home will appraise just as if you'd paid the contractor's markup, which means you'll find yourself instantly in an equity position!*

What you do with that equity is completely up to you. Some people upgrade their home's furnishings. Some people choose to just sit on it and let it grow and enjoy the feeling of knowing they've just added to their net worth. Regardless, the savings that come from remodeling your own home is clearly one of the major benefits of taking the project on yourself.

*Naturally, every situation is unique, and there are many variables involved. Not every home will have instant equity, and we make no guarantees to that end. But the vast majority of projects we work on do indeed cost less than they are appraised for, resulting in instant equity.*

Control

Remodel your home your way — you can do whatever you want when you're the general contractor! A few elements of control that you'll enjoy are:

Control Over Subcontractors— Careful selection of subcontractors is vital to remodeling your home properly... after all, the subs are the ones who are going to be doing the actual construction! When you remodel your own home, you'll know exactly who you're dealing with and will have the ability to intervene if problems arise.

Control Over Materials— Let somebody else build your home and you never know what kind of materials they'll use. When you're the builder – you'll get exactly what you want and ensure the level of quality that you desire.

Control Over Payments— When you remodel your own home, you hold the checkbook. Payments only go out when you say they'll go out, and only to those who have truly completed the work to your satisfaction. Plus, no surprise charges will appear for work done that either wasn't authorized or was underbid.

Control Over Your Time Schedule— Time overruns are one of the major complaints people have when hiring a remodeler, because most remodelers are juggling several jobs at once. You can get things done when you want them done and stay on schedule.

Satisfaction

Imagine how you're going to feel when eating breakfast in your new kitchen, or soaking in the tub in your new bathroom. Or enjoying the extra space in your new room addition.

When you remodel your home yourself, the home transforms from a "place to live" to a "place that lives and breathes with your family" — after all, it is YOUR creation. You dreamed it up. You designed it. You planned it. You chose the materials and contractors. Who knows, maybe you even picked up a hammer or paint brush or rolled in some carpet — although you certainly don't have to provide the manual labor if you don't want to!

Now imagine the feeling of satisfaction you'll feel when friends and relatives visit and discover that you did all of this yourself! Even if you've never been "handy" you can do this using our unique program — and people who know you will marvel at what you've accomplished. Then when they find out that you're not just a construction genius... but also a financial genius (for saving so much money)... you'll be elevated to near rock-star status!

Sounds a little melodramatic? Not so, say the thousands of families that we've helped build and remodel in the last decade plus. They rave about the feeling of a home they’ve remodeled themselves. To understand why, just close your eyes and dream a little. Imagine holding the blueprints and smelling the sawdust. Think about the framing and the painting and the roofing — and overseeing it all. If you're excited at all, then remodeling your home yourself is the right move for you.

Upgrades

When you're saving money by remodeling your own home, you can afford to spend some extra money on upgrades for your home. After all, you're going to be living in your home for a long time... so why not make it as nice as possible?

Some of the most popular upgrade choices are kitchen appliances, countertops, flooring, paint, molding, more square footage, and audio/visual equipment.

Many people find that they can add upgrades and still spend far less on their home than it appraises for — which means you get a nicer and/or bigger home AND instant equity. What's not to love!?

Expertise

Unless you have a significant amount of construction experience, including having remodeled residential homes before — you absolutely SHOULD NOT try to remodel your own home without expert help. Obviously, remodeling a home is a huge project with dozens or even hundreds of details to manage. Without the benefit of an experienced construction partner, your project will almost certainly be a painful experience.

UBuildIt has the experience to get your job done right, on time, and on budget. We've been in business since 1988, and our combined network of construction consultants have completed well over TWO BILLION DOLLARS in new construction and remodeling jobs. Each of our consultants is a seasoned building professional who has anywhere from dozens to hundreds of homes under his/her belt.

We'll work with you from the very beginning — from financing your project, to home design, materials choice and job costing... right through the construction phase with step-by-step guidance at every turn. We know what to look for and what to look out for. We've experienced the problems that can pop up and know how to avoid them in most cases, and deal with them if they do arise. In short, we've "been there, done that" enough times to be a worthy guide for you in this process.

Remodeling Done Right

Getting the job done right starts with detailed planning of the project.

We'll sit down with you to determine your financing options and define your budget. Then we'll work with you to plan the project. We'll provide plenty of input on the design by looking at the plans with a "builder's eye." We'll advise you on the design's impact on the value of your home and impact on your budget. Then we'll work with you to prepare detailed specifications of material choices and establish realistic project costs. A detailed costing report will be provided.

Once construction begins, we'll help you through all the details — from permitting, to scheduling, to ordering materials, to subcontractor selection, to managing your budget. We'll conduct regular site visits to review the work being done and make sure everything is ready for the next step.

Bottom line— we'll give you the system, tools, and oversight to make sure your project gets built RIGHT.

Completed On Budget

When you work with a UBuildIt Construction Consultant, you can be confident that your project will come in very close to the original budget. That's because we "know the ropes" and can guide you to every cost savings available.

Plan Development— Our relationship with architects and designers provides several benefits including fewer plan revisions and designs more attuned to your budget goals which can result in savings. This means fewer mid-project changes which helps to keep you within your budget from the very beginning.

Material Discounts— You'll pay for all building materials directly to the supplier with "open book" invoicing, which eliminates markups. Many suppliers give our clients "contractor pricing" and other discounts due to our volume purchasing.

Contingency Savings— When a contractor prices a project they typically include an extra percentage to cover cost overruns, which may become extra profit for them. With UBuildIt, if the project goes as originally planned, this money goes back into your pocket, not ours.

Personal Involvement— As a UBuildIt Client, you, or your friends and family, can contribute some of the skilled or unskilled labor to realize additional savings and control. This is a direct savings to you that is not available with a traditional remodeling contractor.

Project Costing— Our process of collecting bids prior to construction results in accurate project costing. Our recommended subcontractors provide the best mix of quality, value and reliability. You may also obtain bids on your own using UBuildIt as the benchmark, which can result in additional savings.

Minimize Mistakes— People remodeling on their own often make mistakes due to lack of experience and the overall complexity of the remodeling process. When you go with UBuildIt as your partner, mistakes are reduced and you save money.

Change Orders— As your project progresses you may want to make changes. These changes can carry a high markup when working with contractors. With UBuildIt you pay the actual cost of any changes with no markup, penalty or margin. Plus, your Construction Consultant can help establish fair costs for those changes and how they impact other budget items.

The Planning Phase

Homeowner

• Decide on financing options
• Discuss budget
• Choose designer & architect
• Create & finalize plans
• Give input on home specifications
• Make materials choices
• Finalize budget/job costs
• Review project

UBuildIt

• Provide financing options
• Help you define target budget
• Recommend designers & architects
• Input during design
• Prepare detailed specifications with you
• Explain material choices/budget impact
• Establish realistic project costs
• Create detailed costing report

The Construction Phase

Homeowner

• Get permits
• Select suppliers & subcontractors
• Order and schedule materials
• Attend planning meetings with UBuildIt
• Attend site visits with your UBuildIt consultant
• Monitor the progress

UBuildIt

• Project guidance
• Vendor recommendations
• Material recommendations
• Review construction phase
• Quality assurance
• Provide remodel manual

Time Commitment

How Much Time Will It Take To Remodel My Home?

Did you know that you can remodel your own home in as little as 2 to 4 hours a week?

It's true — and depending on what service level you work with us on, it could take as little as 1 to 2 hours a week. We offer two plans:UBuildIt Classic, where you are more involved and handle most of the detail work... andUBuildIt Plus, where you offload some of the duties to us to lighten your workload. Either way, you'll experience the satisfaction and savings that comes from remodeling your own home.

*Please note that each remodel project is customized; timelines are customized to your project and may vary for you home. Please consult with yourlocal officefor details.*

Remodeling with URemodelIt

URemodelIt is best for people who want absolute control of their project, want instant equity when remodeling their home, have 5-10 hours a week to manage the project, and those who DO NOT have extensive construction experience. Our programs are not ideal for those who do not want a hands-on building experience.

The biggest advantage of working with URemodelIt is that you get the exact home that you want with instant equity and no experience is necessary. The only disadvantage is that you will need to work on your home for 5-10 hours a week.

Remodeling Yourself without URemodelIt

Remodeling a home without URemodelIt is best for people who want absolute control of their project, want instant equity when remodeling their home, have 15-30 hours a week to manage the project, and those who DO have extensive construction experience. If you do not have any construction experience, this option would not be a good choice.

The biggest advantage of not working with URemodelIt is that you get the exact home that you want with instant equity. The only disadvantage is that you will need to work on your home for 15-30 hours a week.

Hiring a Remodeling Contractor

Hiring a custom remodeler is best for those who don’t want to be involved during construction and those who don’t mind paying more for someone else to manage the project.

The biggest advantage of hiring a remodeler is that someone else handles the small details and the process is more hands-off. Disadvantages include cost overruns, work not being completed on time, and the overall cost.

Aging in Place

Life changes.

Remember how your housing needs changed when you brought home your first child? Or as your family grew as you added more kids… and then shrank again as they moved away one by one? The only constant is change: Throughout your life you’ve had to adapt your living area to fit your family’s current needs.

As you enter your “golden” retirement years, the next change for many people is called “aging in place.” That’s a fancy way of saying that it might be time to make some changes to make your home easier and more convenient to live in as you get older. Simple things like opening jars, caring for the lawn, and navigating stairs can become more challenging.

Eventually, everyone has to face a few big decisions: Is it better to build a new home that caters to your retirement lifestyle… or would it be better to remodel your existing home to make life easier to navigate for the next ten to 20 years? And either way, what’s the best way to pay for it?

Your local URemodelIt consultant can help tailor the perfect solution for your unique situation. We’ve remodeled hundreds of homes to just flat-out work better for older adults. From curbless showers and walk-in tubs… to wider doorways… to easy-to-navigate kitchens… we’ve done it all. We have the design and construction expertise to help you navigate this next chapter in your life.

Please contact us for a free planning and idea consultation. We are here to serve with ideas and solutions you probably don’t even know exist! WE can also help with financing and construction.

Call or email or just drop by. We would love to meet you and we are here to help!

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