R A Renovations, LLC

First and foremost always use certified contractors that are licensed and insured to protect your investment. You can go to http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/ and click on the VERIFY A LICENSE link.

Check references of contractor. Call references and verify; quality of work, time to complete project, professionalism of contractor and sub-contractors, number of Change Orders.

Develop a budget for your project. This will save you and the contractor a great deal of time. The contractor can do a much better job of sharing ideas to keep you within your budget if the budget is known from the beginning. Don’t expect to get a deal, this will get you a contractor that will tell you what you want to hear in order to get a signed contract and you will most likely have nothing but problems with your project.

Your Contractor can assist in the following requirement prior to permitting;

• Obtaining blueprints.
• Obtaining sub-division approval.
• Verifying your set backs for side, back and front of your lot to determine if your addition is feasible or if you will need a variance.
• If you are on a septic system the State requires the system to be certified meeting additional living area (heated or air conditioned space) requirements when adding to an existing structure.
• Zoning will require survey of lot and site plan showing any changes such as additions, pools, patios, storage sheds or driveway changes to existing.
• Energy calculations will be required to verify the A/C is sufficient for any additional living area added to an existing structure.
• Window and door specifications must be submitted that meet FL Building Code when installing either before a permit will be issued.
• Depending on the municipalities you may need to supply other information such as specifications that meet FL / Local Building Code when installing roofing, new soffit, gutters and other things. You can usually obtain the permitting requirements from your municipality’s building department.

Note:

The construction industry is very slow and it is a great time to take advantage of low construction cost. But be aware and use common sense when choosing your contractor. Several contractors that only built new homes are now doing renovation and remodeling work since the new home market has come to a halt. Additionally, some contractors are desperately trying to save their companies and survive. Due to these conditions we are seeing more unfinished projects or poor quality work causing problems because the contractor simply underbid the job. So remember quality and cheep does not work, but you can get a quality results for a fair price.