Take initiative with major remodel

When you think of the remodeling team, you may first think of the architect, the interior designer or the contractor. However, the role of the homeowner is often underestimated — usually by the homeowner.

Ultimately, you, as the homeowner, are in charge. You have to think of yourself as a manager hiring and delegating the work to the professional members of your remodeling team.

There is work involved in being a good member of your own design team.

You need to be professional and serious about choosing the designers and architects for your project. Last week, we gave you tips for hiring a good contractor. The short story is you must do your research and take the time to interview the contractor and his referrals before choosing your contractor.

Depending on your skills and personality, you can take a little or a lot of the responsibility of the project. Some clients even go as far as serving as their own general contractor. But even if you choose not to be the owner/contractor, a good remodeling client is involved and oversees the process.

Your first responsibility is to have a vision of your remodel that considers your family's lifestyle. When you entertain, does everyone gather in the kitchen? Perhaps you need to expand the kitchen and add an island or some comfortable chairs. Do you look to your bathroom as a place to escape the world? Add a whirlpool tub or a deluxe shower with multiple shower heads to create a personal paradise. If you get a lot of traffic through the house, consider hardwood floors.

To find that vision, it is helpful to look at magazines, books, newspapers and homes of family and friends. If you have a basic picture of your design style and functional goals for how your home could work better for your family, an architect can more efficiently help you create realistic plans and specifications that will meet your wants, needs and budget.

The more details you finalize during the design phase, the fewer decisions you will have to make during construction. There are so many choices to make during a remodel, it can be overwhelming. Use the knowledge and experience of the other members of your team wisely, but don't hesitate to be assertive and stand up for what you want. It is your home, so you should not leave it up to someone else to make decisions for you.