Pall Spera Company Realtors-Stowe, VT
Pall Spera Company Realtors-Stowe, VT
Teresa Merelman, Broker, Pall Spera Company Realtors-Stowe, VTPhone: (802) 793-5171
Email: [email protected]

Preparing to remodel: Contractor selection

by Teresa Merelman, Broker 11/06/2024

If you’re planning a major home remodel, contractor selection should be at the top of your to-do list. Home remodeling contractors are specialists in working with your existing home to help you achieve your goals. They can also help you navigate logistics like obtaining all the necessary permits and selecting building materials.

But how do you choose the right contractor? Before making your home a job site, here are some tips to consider:

How to hire a remodeling contractor

The first step to finding a quality contractor is to ask others for recommendations. This will provide you with an excellent starting point, and help you get important information about the overall experience of working with them.

You can also research local contractors online. Try to find a contractor experienced in the specific projects you need help with, like bathroom or kitchen remodeling.

Some contractors work independently, while others might work with larger construction firms. Investigate both kinds of contractors and compare their credentials and reviews.

Questions to ask a remodeling contractor

Once you find some possible contractors, it’s time to interview them. Some questions you should ask include:

  • How long have you been in business?
  • Do you offer liability insurance?
  • What is the timeline for project completion?
  • What is your preferred method of communication?
  • Do you offer a warranty for service or building materials?

These are only some questions a qualified home remodeling contractor will be able to answer for you. Obtaining this information will help you determine whether you’re choosing the best person for the job.

About the Author
Author

Teresa Merelman, Broker

 Teresa's beginnings were at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. She was child #5 of 8 and born into an Air Force family that moved all over the United States but usually ended up back in the Washington, D.C. area. Teresa attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and received her bachelor's degree in business from George Mason University, in Fairfax, Virginia. Some of her prior careers include: computer buyer in Fairfax, Virginia; Deputy Clerk at the U.S. District Court in Denver, Colorado; Police Officer in Steamboat Springs, Colorado; and Bed & Breakfast owner in Stowe, Vermont. Teresa obtained her license as a Realtor® in 1998. She has been through many ups and downs in this profession and continues to learn every day. She very much enjoys the real estate profession and the wonderful people she has met and assisted along the way. In order to serve her clients and customers, Teresa continually attends classes and seminars. Some of her Designations and Certifications include: 

  • ABR - Accredited Buyer Representative (2003)
  • CBR - Certified Buyer Representative (2000)
  • e-PRO - Internet Certified Professional (2001)
  • CNHS - Certified New Home Specialist (2005)
  • CRS - Certified Residential Specialist (2005)
  • AHS - Accredited Home-Stager Specialist (2008)
  • TRC - Transaction Referral Certification (2009)
  • RSPS - Resort and Second Home Specialist (2009)
  • GREEN - NAR's Green Designation (2009) 
  • SFR - Short Sales & Foreclosures Certification (2009) 
  • SRES - Senior Real Estate Specialist Designation (2012)
  • AHWD - At Home With Diversity (2021)
  • SRS - Seller Representative Specialist (2021)

Teresa has also served and continues to serve on several boards:

  • Lamoille Area Board of Realtors - President and Board of Directors
  • Vermont Association of Realtors - Board of Directors
  • NEREN (MLS) - Board of Directors and Shareholder 
  • Vermont Real Estate Commission - as a member of VAR's Liaison Committee
  • Stowe Vibrancy - Board of Directors - this is a volunteer group that promotes activities in the Village of Stowe

In 2007, Teresa was named Vermont Realtor of the Year.Teresa and her husband, a local attorney, moved to Stowe in 1987. They had two sons and Stowe has been their home for the past 36 years. She still feels the Stowe area is a wonderful place to raise a family, there's always something going on. Teresa can often be found behind the lens of her camera documenting the beauty of the area and its many events.As an update, Teresa's older son is now a Doctor/resident at the University of New Mexico's Emergency Management Program. Her younger son graduated from James Mason University and currently resides in Chicago, IL as a supervisor for OKTA.