The South is growing at a rapid rate. Of the twenty-five fastest-growing cities in the country, twenty of them are in our part of the country. The reasons people make their way to places like Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Alabama are numerous:
As one of the first places European settlers set up communities, our region is home to many old buildings and properties. We have seen any neighborhoods come and go and then come back again. If you’re a contractor who is about to rehab and renovate a property, there are several things you need to know before your start your project. Here are a few that may or may not be obvious.
What You Need To Know Before You Begin Renovating a Residential Property
1) Hire a General Contractor
If you’re planning a renovation project, don’t shy away from hiring a general contractor. A trustworthy GC is going to be able to manage your project much more effectively than a handyman. The benefits of using a general contractor include:
- Contractors can pull permits
- Contractors have proper licenses
- Contractors can set timelines
- Contractors have connections for materials and expertise
- Contractors have a traceable body of work
If your renovation project is large, you’re going to have to use a contractor anyways. A home renovation can add value to your property if done well. If done poorly, it could show up when you try to sell.
2) Set a Realistic Budget
When setting a budget, you might want to make it as low as possible. However, the last thing you want to do is cut corners during the project, so you certainly don’t want to attempt to cut corners on paper. It would be better to set a high budget that you don’t spend than a low budget that you end up having to exceed.
3) Expect Surprises
When you start making changes to an existing property, the chances of running into a surprise or two are pretty high. That’s why it’s so important to create a realistic budget and timeline. You never know what surprises await that could delay your project or increase the costs.
4) Make Sure You Know What’s Below the Surface
If you’re going to be digging, excavating, or laying concrete or asphalt, you need to know what is below the surface before you dig. Unfortunately, simply calling 811 may not be enough to determine what is in the ground or beneath the surface of the concrete. You need ground-penetrating radar to get the full picture before you:
- Dig to install posts for your deck or porch
- Dig post holes for a new fence
- Install a new septic tank or plumbing lines
- Add an additional wing or room to your home
- Make changes or repairs to your basement or foundation
- Drill or dig into concrete surfaces like your patio, driveway, sidewalk, or foundation
- Installing a Koi Pond or landscaping
If you do have a project that requires digging, drilling, or excavating, we can help you locate everything that lies beneath the surface.
What You Need To Know Before You Begin Renovating a Commercial Property
1) Set a Tight Budget
Like residential projects, you want to set a realistic budget, but you want to get our estimates as close to the total as possible to maximize profitability. In other words, there may be some areas where you have to opt for practicality over extravagance.
2) Pay Close Attention to Laws, Regulations, and Pull Your Permits
In the South, rules may not be as strict for residential property as they are for commercial property. Failing to pull the proper permits and pay close attention to ordinances can cost money in fines and cause substantial delays.
3) Get a Realistic Timeline
You will inevitably run into delays and surprises during your commercial renovation project. When you establish your timeline, make it realistic. You don’t want to announce your opening date on social media only to have to postpone it again and again. Try your best to set a realistic timeline, knowing you can celebrate if the project is completed ahead of schedule.
4) Get the Full Picture Underground Before You Dig
If you damage underground lines or pipes while digging in your commercial parking lot or drilling into concrete, you could be looking at substantial costs and lengthy delays. Those delays will end up costing even more money in the time that is lost. Ground-penetrating radar and concrete scanning services help you identify the locations of objects like:
- Pipes and lines that were previously unknown
- Sinkhole-producing voids
- Graves that are unmarked
- Rebar and other structural materials
- Buries are made up of a variety of materials.
- Septic tanks
For residential and commercial projects within a two to three-hour radius of Atlanta, SitRep Services provides state-of-the-art ground-penetrating radar, concrete scanning, utility locating, and ground fault locating services so you can dig confidently. Contact us to schedule your service today.
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