Homeowners

There is an old adage that says, “we often don’t know what we don’t know.” This is particularly true when it comes to home renovation. Unless you are an experienced builder yourself, how can you possibly know everything that needs to be considered to complete a successful renovation project? The best way we can think of is to work with someone who does know!

One challenge with renovation projects, much more so than with new construction, is the ‘unknown’. Even with the most detailed plans, challenges always come up that require some modification of your plan or your structure. Many times, this can lead to a ‘domino effect’ in your project - even a need to rethink your approach. Input from your service providers is always valuable, but they don’t necessarily have your best interests in mind. After all, their focus is on completing your project and moving on to their next one. And then there’s the question of who should pay for the issues that arise.

If you're planning a renovation project, it's important to understand all the costs involved. You'll want to know what to expect for your demolition costs, debris removal costs, and actual remodeling costs, then set a realistic budget before starting the project. Additionally, if you need to get expert opinions on structural issues, upfront is the time to do it.  

But it’s not just about the challenges. Building codes generally focus on safety, not convenience or utility. For example, did you know that there are multiple types of piping that plumbers can use that will have an effect on how fast the water comes out of your faucets? All of them meet building code requirements but not all of them allow for the same flow of water. Additionally, service providers rarely take into account the needs of other services providers when they do their work. Whoever is in the workspace first does their own thing. This can affect the quality and efficiency of your systems. How would you ever know?

Finally, there’s the question of how well your renovation experience will meet your longer-term expectations. We use the phrase ‘longer term’ because that's the true test. We are generally happy when old, less functional or attractive items are replaced by newer, more functional ones. But the honeymoon phase eventually ends and the ‘would of, should of, could of’ phase kicks in - ‘if we had just paid more attention to the plumbing, the kitchen sink would get hot water faster’,  or, ‘we really should have put a light switch over here or made this a 3-way circuit’, or ‘why didn’t we make these outlets 20 amps instead of just 15 amps’? And these are just the EASY ones!

Here are just some of the things We can help you with:

• Pre-renovation review - discuss your home renovation ideas and plans, and do a ‘structural review’ of the area affected,
• Plan review - look at functional aspects and system details,and review projected renovation costs,
• Material / fixture selection - from faucets to flooring to outlets to tile, we are here to help you understand your options,
• Vendor selection - which service providers will do the best job of meeting your particular needs,
• Project planning - home renovation planning can have more variables than you can imagine.  It pays to come with a work schedule that allows for contingencies and works for you
• Project tracking & review - making sure your renovation project is going according to plan and the work is being done correctly.
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Being smart, planning ahead, and working side-by-side with an experienced partner will save you time, money, and plenty of frustration!!! We can help you as much or as little as you want or need.