Sweeten Blog
  • Home Projects
    • Before & After
    • Entire Homes
    • Kitchens
    • Bathrooms
    • Basements
  • Renovation guides
    • Cost Guides
    • Process Guides
    • Reno 101
    • Meet the Contractors
  • Find a Contractor
  • Commercial projects
    • Before & After
    • Commercial 101
  • Gallery
    • Get Inspired
    • Reno Notebook
  • About Sweeten
  • Home Projects
    • Before & After
    • Entire Homes
    • Kitchens
    • Bathrooms
    • Basements
  • Renovation guides
    • Cost Guides
    • Process Guides
    • Reno 101
    • Meet the Contractors
  • Find a Contractor
  • Commercial projects
    • Before & After
    • Commercial 101
  • Gallery
    • Get Inspired
    • Reno Notebook
  • About Sweeten

Sweeten Blog

Q&A with Jean: What Is an Alteration Agreement?

by Jean June 29, 2018
written by Jean June 29, 2018

Sweeten’s Founder + CEO Answers Your Renovation Questions

Welcome to #9 in our series, designed to bring clarity to some of the mysteries of renovating! Whether you’re a first-time homeowner or a serial renovator, each project brings with it a new set of circumstances and new questions, and Sweeten is here to be a source of knowledge and reassurance. 

Feel free to email me at JBrownhill@sweeten.com with any reno questions or dilemmas you’d like addressed.

QUESTION: What is an alteration agreement?

JEAN: If you live in a co-op or condo building in New York City, you’ll have an alteration agreement. In the document, your board lays out all of the rules and guidelines for renovating in your building to ensure there is minimum disruption to your neighbors while a renovation is in progress. This can include rules on the allowable work hours (to limit noise) and when the freight elevator will be open for deliveries or materials. When you’re buying, or if you’re thinking about renovating in a co-op or condo, you should read your alteration agreement immediately before talking to a general contractor; you’ll need to share those guidelines right from the start.

Another important piece of information usually found in the agreement is how much insurance your building requires. This amount is usually from $1 million to $3 million, which you’ll want to relay to any contractors you’re speaking with in order to make sure that they have that coverage in place before they even step foot inside your home. If you post your project on Sweeten and include this amount in your profile, Sweeten will make sure to only match you to contractors who can cover the requirement.

If you have more questions on the topic, check out our blog post Renovating? Here’s How to Navigate a Co-op Board.

 

Jean signature

 

—

Looking for more advice from Jean? Be sure to check out the eighth installment in this series, Q&A with Jean: When should I start planning for my renovation?

Refer your renovating friends to Sweeten and you’ll both receive a $250 Visa gift card when they sign a contract with a Sweeten general contractor. 

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

Explore other stories

How to Protect Your Home Before Winter

Meet Sweeten General Contractor Michael

A Guide to Aging in Place

2019 Home Renovation Costs Per Square Foot in...

An L.A. Guide to Second-Story Home Additions

A Guide to an HOA Before You Own

  • Pingback: Sweeten Founder Jean Brownhill on Selecting and Ordering Materials()

Start Renovating

Sweeten is a free service that matches renovators with vetted general contractors, offering support until the job is done.

Start your Renovation

Newsletter

Get your dose of reno news + inspiration.

Chicago remodel

Refer a Friend

Sign up to refer a friend at Sweeten.

Follow us on Instagram #mysweetenreno

  • Second only to circles we think square tables might behellip
  • Choosing an NYC coop known for its liberal renovation policieshellip
  • We updated by painting the already there wainscoting black forhellip
  • People travel far and wide to see waterfalls but sometimeshellip
  • Theres a reason Classic Blue was just named Color ofhellip
  • We found the perfect place to plop a turkey downhellip
  • These Sweeten renovators told us they selected a glossy cabinethellip
  • We thought our Winter outfit layering was top notch buthellip
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube
  • Start Renovating
  • About
  • Reviews
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms


COPYRIGHT ©2019 SWEETEN INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED SWEE10®


Back To Top