REMODELING?
WAKE UP TO REALITY.
by
Kirsten Kemp
Whether you
plan to own your house long-term, want to fix up a dump and sell it for
big bucks or are just looking for a little change in your surroundings,
knowing what to improve, what to gut and where to start are always
challenging decisions. It is best to examine every room in the house and
address either the area you frequent the most or the one that has forced
your hand (How much longer can you wash the dishes in the bathtub?). The
first two things you need to consider are your budget and timeline.
 |
How
much money do you have to spend and where can you invest it most
effectively? |
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How
much time will it take to make the improvements and who is going
to manage the work? |
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Can you
live on-site while construction is underway? |
Maybe a
home-office would cut down your commuting time and therefore vastly
improve your quality of life. Perhaps with an updated kitchen or family
room you’d actually entertain. Maybe you’re an outdoorsman who cringes
every time you set foot on your Astroturf-covered back patio or a
do-it-yourselfer who’s finally ready to turn one corner of your
overstuffed garage into a workshop. Whatever your circumstances, make a
list and start to prioritize.
If you are not
the sole decision maker in your home, talk with your partner or spouse
to find out what they would like to upgrade first. You have to set some
goals together. You may be surprised to learn that your wife loves the
cold terracotta tile in the kitchen but will leave you if you insist
that the dated “stone” around the 70’s fireplace is retro chic. You may
also discover that while you fantasize of creating a “media room”
replete with a plasma TV suspended in mid-air, invisible bookshelves and
a universal remote control that massages your feet (somehow), your
partner intuitively knows you should probably fix the leak in your
bedroom ceiling first.
Once you can
agree on a project that fits your budget and timeline that will also
enhance your lifestyle and the value of your home, get proactive about
starting it and completing it. Whether you are talking about changing
the paint color in the kids’ rooms or adding an entire new wing to the
house, the biggest source of conflict and turmoil results from lack of
planning and an inability to manage your expectations – of each other
and the folks you may hire to get the work done.
Just as an example,
let’s say you’ve agreed to expand and update the master bathroom,
partially because your real estate agent has informed you that you’ll
see a 127.5% return on your money when you sell (and believe me, he
wants you to sell), and partially because your water bill has tripled
since the tub spout sprung that nasty leak (the one you’ve been
neglecting for 6 months). By fixing it now, you actually get to enjoy
the fruits of your labor—as long as you’re not forced to sell once the
work is complete because you spent tens of thousands of dollars you
don’t have and can’t afford to borrow indefinitely (see where I’m going
with the poor planning thing?).
Before you tap the
first nail, I offer you a little reality check:
- EXPECTATION:
We’ll buy tile when we need it – it will be in stock, there will
be a lot to choose from and it won’t be that expensive. We are
still in the framing phase of the job, let’s not get too hasty
and spend the money now on tile, a toilet, the tub, sinks – we
get all of that later.
REALITY:
You are already paying for change orders out the wahzoo and your
timeline just doubled. As soon as you decide to remodel the
master bath, start ripping out pictures from magazines that you
like and start sourcing all of the items you will need. Once you
find them, purchase them and get them on site. A great way to
research the costs and comparison shop is to use the Internet.
HOT TIP: To save on both material
and labor costs, measure your backsplash space based on
installing full tiles (If you’re using three inch tiles, plan to
go six or nine inches high, not eight, etc.) and make sure your
plugs are either below or above where the backsplash stops.
- EXPECTATION:
We’ll find a reliable contractor who can start on Monday and he
will come in under budget and on time! He will take care of
everything and I can tune out for the next two months while the
work gets completed.
REALITY:
That guy (or gal) doesn’t exist and if he or she does, you are
not going to end up with the bathroom of your dreams but rather
the vision of some hammer-wielding Neanderthal who enjoys
spending other people’s money. Get at least three referrals
(your real estate agent may be a good source for names) and then
check out the status of their license, go look at their work and
talk to their previous clients (they should have a list of
references if they have maintained good relationships from
previous work).
HOT TIP: Prepare a list of
questions for your potential contractor. You are setting the
tone for your work relationship from the first moment you meet,
and you will get better service out of someone who perceives
that you are prepared and know what to expect from your
contractor.
- EXPECTATION:
I’m going to love everything about my final result. I saved for
this project, I planned it out carefully and nothing can keep me
from being ecstatic when I take my first bubble bath in decadent
luxury.
REALITY:
There will always be something you’re going to wish you had done
differently. Even if everything looks perfect upon completion,
the plumbing might spring a leak, the white grout may turn
black, or the countertops might stain (Saying things like "Why
did I let my contractor talk me into black honed granite?).
Learn to roll with it and know that everything can be fixed…for
a price.
HOT TIP: When you don’t know what
finish to choose, always get a second opinion from a
professional in that field. For example, a counter top expert
will know what sealer to apply to your new stone slabs—and will
remind you that it is your job to reseal them in six months in
order to protect your investment for years to come.
