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To renovate, or not to renovate? That's the question these days; however, the decision isn't an easy one with ever rising home and material costs, and the burden most people are facing working from home in a pandemic. Before you make the decision to renovate you need to consider these 7 things:
It will mess up your schedule. You might be the most organized person on planet Earth, but having a contractor bang on your door at 7am will throw anyone for a loop. You need to plan to be flexible, and organize your life around a little chaos.
The mess and the noise are going to suck. No matter how cleanly your contractor, the dust will be really bad. It travels and it settles for days after it's stirred up, and it isn't the same as regular house dust. Construction dust is chemical filled and nasty. Not everyone can live elsewhere during a remodel and it's important to consider whether you can feasibly live through a remodel. Do you work from home? The noise will be loud and distracting. Do you have pets or any medical issues? Can you barricade an area in the house for your family to live while this is happening? Can you leave? The best way to prepare for all of these hurdles is to be knowledgeable about the process and to have a plan. Figure out where you're going to go to the bathroom, and where you're going to cook your food if those spaces are out of commission.
The process will be stressful. The emotional roller coaster consists of big highs and big lows. Seeing your trim wall go up is incredibly exciting and picture worthy, while dealing with something unexpected like jenky wiring is a blow to both your wallet and your excitement. Beyond that, you might get to the point where you're just plain sick of having people in your home. I know, many times, I would have chosen privacy over running water. You might not be as cool, calm, and/or collected as you had previously thought, and that's okay. A remodel will test even the most Zen person's patience.
There might be a change order. If you are going over the allowances built into your budget then expect to pay the material differences up front. Factor in 10-20% for contingencies (depending on your personality and what level of preparedness makes you feel the most calm). This will account for materials you go over budget on, and anything not-so-fun that might come up in the process. Even the best contractors can have something unforeseen come up mid-construction. The good ones will make sure they communicate with you about them so you can make thoughtful decisions to protect your budget.
Expect delays. People get sick (especially in a pandemic), materials get backordered or can take longer than expected, bad weather happens, etc. This can all cause schedule delays. Oftentimes aspects of your project will move quicker than you expected. Set your expectations to less than perfect beforehand and allow yourself to be pleasantly surprised if/when everything goes smoothly.
Make quick decisions, or plan A LOT. Expect a million questions, be ready to answer them, or don't rush through the planning stage. This will help avoid unnecessary delays on your end. Sometimes the planning stage can feel like it takes forever, but if you're someone who struggles making decisions quickly then this part is doubly important. Select your materials and have them on site before the project starts. Work with your contractor to form a schedule that makes sense for everyone involved and then pay attention to progress (even the boring stuff like what's happening behind the drywall, which is often more important than the fancy stuff).
Punch lists always exist, and they are the worst. It’s always the little details at the end that seem to take forever. You're living in your home and will notice even the smallest things. A good contractor will take care of them all, but remember that a client without running water is going to take precedent over a paint touch up, or a missing piece of trim. This is one of the most frustrating parts for a lot of our clients, and trust me: we get it. You want to be done and move on. I promise, your contractor does too!
In addition to managing your own expectations before you start, there are some questions you can ask your contractor to make sure they are a good fit, and that your priorities will be well managed.
What is our schedule? This includes a tentative timeline and draw schedule, but also what hours work will be performed during the day and whether or not your contractor works on weekends. It's important to be on the same page with the person renovating your home before the project begins. It's also important for you, as the homeowner, to set clear and reasonable expectations beforehand.
Who will be your point of contact? This is the person you will communicate any questions or concerns to throughout the project. Having someone you can call might help to ease some of the stressors of living through a renovation.
How do we communicate? In our business our clients have our cell phone numbers and emails and can reach us at any time. Emergencies are handled at anytime, whereas non-emergencies might not get answered until the next morning. Some clients prefer email communication to keep organized and others prefer text for a quicker response. What is your preference and does that match up with your contractor's?
What will be done to protect my home? The more questions you ask regarding the amount of dust and debris that will be in your home the more prepared you’ll be and able to request special measures for things that might be important to you. Most contractors will prefer you clear out any spaces where work will be done, but what about the rest of the house? It's difficult for a contractor to change plans mid project, so it's best to figure out all of the logistics before the start date. You'll be thankful when the dust starts flying that you knew what to expect and that your contractor knows whats a priority.
Have any of you lived through a renovation? I'd love to hear about some of your experiences, both good and bad! Did you find any of what I said to be true? I've been on both ends of a construction project, and from the perspective of a home owner it never seems to be easy, though it has gotten easier with every project. Getting up early to have my coffee and walk the dog seemed to help a bit. I found the hardest part was losing privacy, and being okay with the mess. My OCD brain had to practice a bit of letting go, but in the end it was all worth it!
Good luck on your next project! Hope this blog didn't scare you off (lol).
xoxo
Alyssa
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