5 Things To Know Before Starting A Remodel

You are considering a remodel and you are so excited to get everything started.  But before you do, I'd like you to remember a few things....  I've narrowed down a list to 5 things you will want to remember from the start to the finish of your project. 

1. This is going to be an inconvenience.  Very few people have the luxury of moving into a temporary living space during a remodel, so go into it knowing that unless it's an isolated space, it is going to be a lesson in endurance.
2. This is going to be messy.  No matter how much a contractor cleans at the end of the day, there will be dust, there will be debris and a general "this is dirty" feel in those spaces.  Most contractors will use plastic to put up barriers to keep it in the construction zone, as well as over the vents, etc.  But some of that dust is going to make it out.  
3. This is going to take longer than planned.  Whether a worker quits, material shipments are delayed or an issue is uncovered during demo, it's going to effect the schedule.   So plan for it! 
4. The schedule is not going to make sense to you.  You will have days that you will wonder why that didn't happen when they did that other thing, or why it seems like nothing happened at all.  Chances are they did do many things, but it's not always obvious, so take a deep breath and prepare yourself.
5. The budget will creep up without careful planning.  A contractor can do anything (or just about) that you ask him/her to do... but remember it all has associated costs.  It's always best to create detailed plan prior to work start in order to have the best idea of what your actual budget will be.  And remember - if you make changes, so will be the budget!  Another note on budget... there can be some hidden issues that come up during the building process and will have associated cost, so plan for those unknowns in your budget as well.

While there are many other conversations I have through out a project, these five always seem to come up and the key to keeping your stress level down is to establish good communication with your designer and contractor.  This looks different with each project. but a bi-weekly status meeting is a great way to start.