Design, Design, Design…..when gearing up for a major home remodeling project gathering design information is key. Have you prepared yourself for the project; the color scheme, where you want the faucets, electrical fixtures, paint colors, what stays and what goes? These questions can be overwhelming to say the least. Having a design professional can help you to make hard decisions along the way.
When preparing for a remodel the design is crucial. Have all of your ideas ready to present. Gather pictures, magazine clipping, paint samples, tile and floor covering samples, talk in depth with your spouse or significant other so everyone is familiar with your vision. Count on hundreds of questions that you’ll need to answer as your project proceeds.
Being realistic on timing with a renovation project is also a key to success. Will your materials be in stock? What problems can and most likely will occur when walls are opened up? How many change orders will be made in the process? Give yourself and the contractor a rough estimation on completion rather than a concrete deadline. Be prepared for the unexpected. Count on finding something no one could have anticipated in your budget and your time frame, and you will be well prepared when it happens. At the end of your project, expect one or two punch-list items that will take longer to resolve than anything else. It may be a light fixture that arrives broken or the very last two pieces of tile. The important thing is to get the final details right, even if they take a little longer.
Living through a remodel can be rough. Do I stay or do I go? Have you considered the noise, the dust, the inaccessibility to the bathroom and or kitchen? If you need to move have you secured a living location? What items should you pack? What items can you leave in the home, if any? Look into pricing for local rentals, price out mobile storage pods, and add those costs into your budget. Ask your contractor if a dumpster will be on site to clear out unwanted items. If a move is in order prep the home and protect items that you may be leaving behind.
Let out a sigh and find your place to escape. It may be that you just want to be done, or that you’re tired of answering so many questions and writing so many checks. Or you may just be tired of having so many people in your house. Hang in there — remodeling fatigue will be short lived when you get to move back into your newly remodeled space.
At the end of the successful project, plan a party. Everyone is ready to celebrate your new home. Invite friends and contractors to view your beautifully finished home. It is gratifying for everyone involved to see a project’s completion.
PROJECT COMPLETE, Now sit back and enjoy!