Remodels - Part 3 - Periodic Review

Now that you have picked a good quality contractor and you've pinned down your selections, you have a budget and a start date, what part do you play now? Some would believe that you sit back and wait for it all to happen. Sometimes that is the case. I have found that most people cannot visualize what they saw on paper and it can come as a bit of surprise to them when they see it in their home. This is why you can't just sit back and relax.

Yes, I have had clients that have left for extended periods of time during projects, but it required very, very careful planning and even some mock up 3-D models to make sure it happened exactly how they envisioned it would. But it still took some phone calls and emails to England or Hawaii (or where ever the client ends up) to make it happen. Walk around your project, think about how doors will swing open. Where are the light switches? Does it feel like it will be able to be used in the way you envisioned you would use the space? Will there be enough light? Too much light? Where will I store my...?

Now, since you picked the best general contractor you could find, these were questions he asked you BEFORE you started the project, but you should still confirm it periodically throughout the process. This is an important practice. Sometimes what you thought something would be, just simply ends up not being what you expected.

This all leads to the goal of enjoying the building process and the finished project instead of lamenting decisions.

Remodels - Part 2

As I have been paying attention to websites that allow customers to post work or projects they would like to complete, a couple of things become extremely apparent. Communication and reality. There was a posted project asking for drywall, insulation, and finish carpentry in a basement. Easy enough to understand. The poster happened to forget to put his phone number in the post. The very first comment by a builder was a sarcastic comment about needing a phone number if you expect people to call. Cross that builder off. The next one said he would be happy to help with everything, including things the poster was not asking for. In and of itself there is no real harm in seeking after additional work, but then he followed it with a "Life-time warranty". Does that mean 20 years from now when a cabinet door has seen it's useful lifetime, he will repair or replace it for free? If so, have this company build everything and you'll never have to worry about maintaining your home! Now why would he offer that? Because he knows that he won't ever have to be held to it.

Now, that being said, I warrant my projects longer than the required 1 year. But I communicate clearly what that means, and it does not mean a life time warranty. This is construction. Nothing, even if it is perfect on the day the project is finished, remains perfect for its lifetime. That is just a fact. Early in my career I was managing a job for a doctor and we were finalizing the project details prior to beginning the work and my employer at the time, with good intentions, said, "We'll give you a perfect job." Those words are dreadful to the ears of the person responsible to live up to that on a remodel. Luckily, the owner was keen enough to say, "Don't promise that because you can't deliver it. I just want the best you can give me, which is why I am hiring you." Profound. This goes back to the previous post about proper expectations being established on the work to be done and what is considered satisfactory.

This doesn't mean "see what you can get away with", but rather it puts you and your builder in the realm of what is important and what someone is willing to pay for. For example, there are multiple "classes" of drywall finishes, each progressing in steps of difficulty and needed expertise, and therefore progressing in price as well. Does a home need a class five finish that is usually reserved for high end commercial projects? I would say it would be a waste of money in most homes. The list of examples goes on for each step in constructing a home and then is multiplied if you are doing a remodel. I am currently remodeling the kitchen of a 100 year old home. The walls are literally built from mud adobe brick. Luckily, the client understands that and we have established what we will do to meet her expectations and stay within her budget. To even come close to a promise of perfection on job like this would mean to tear the house down and start over.

To reiterate, establish proper expectations with your builder. Don't be swooned by dramatic promises of performance or warranty. Stick with the addage of,"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't". I would add that if your subcontractor or builder isn't listening to what you want and he doesn't have the job yet, he won't listen to you when he has your kitchen torn out either.

Starting a Remodel

Deciding to remodel your home can be a stressful situation. You may be without a bathroom or a kitchen, your access to your home may be impeded by your intent to improve it, you may have to (almost assuredly) deal with dust for a while, and you most likely will second guess yourself at least a couple of times. Relax, it's all okay. Take things one step at a time. First, think of the end product. How are you going to use it? How much do you think you will enjoy it? Is it something you've waited a long time to do? Does it improve your home? If "yes" is an answer to any of those questions, you're on the right path. Some people think they should remodel to improve the resale value of their home. This is true in some cases, but it should not be your sole motivation for going through the process. Some areas of the home provide a better return on your investment by way of resale dollars, but NONE of them return dollar of dollar. In best case scenarios, such as kitchen remodels, it is possible to get an 85% return on value. So if this was your sole motivation, you just invested in something that lost you 15%.

Now, it may seem I am not selling the remodel process very well, but hear me out. If you do this same remodel to improve performance of your kitchen, or have always wanted to remodel your kitchen, and you know you will enjoy it and it will last longer or hold up better, then you have not only improved your resale value, you have improved your lifestyle value. The same holds true for bathroom, bedrooms, patios, etc. You have to weigh your lifestyle enjoyment as part of the equation for making the decision to remodel or add on to your home.

Now that you've established your motivation for wanting to remodel, your next step would be to decide specifically how extensive of a remodel you want to do. Most people would LIKE to re-do it all at once, but it doesn't always work that efficiently for most. How long can you really last without a kitchen, bathroom and your closets? Not long. This is where you live, where you come home and want to relax. So it will seem like the contractor is taking FOREVER, even if he is working hard every day. Trust me, I have done enough remodels to know that when you tear apart someone's personal space, they seem to notice. So, if you decide how much you can handle, it will be a much more enjoyable experience for all involved. On that point, get a schedule from the contractor. Every contractor should be willing to submit a schedule with his budget estimate. It's his job to know how long it should take and to let you know what will be happening each day. Communicating these expectations helps everyone be on the same page and reduces unnecessary stress.