Every improvement in life begins with a dream or vision of
something better. Unfortunately, not all dreams become
realities; some end up becoming nightmares. Remodeling a home is
no exception.
According to the Consumer Federation of America, home
improvement projects generate more complaints than any other
segment of the economy.
Failure to plan thoroughly is responsible for most of the
frustration homeowners experience when remodeling their homes.
The saying, “Failing to plan is planning to fail”, was never
truer than when remodeling.
Four factors contribute to this expensive lack of preparation.
First, remodeling, though not rocket science, does involve a
certain amount of specialized knowledge. This simply means that
there are principles, practices and terms used in the remodeling
industry with which most of us are unfamiliar
Second, the remodeling industry is rather unorganized. From
architects to day laborers with every conceivable educational
and cultural background, differences in attitudes, methods,
languages and practices make uniformity virtually non-existent
Third, most of us live very busy lives. Preparing for a
remodeling project of any magnitude places a considerable burden
on us physically and mentally. It requires substantial time and
energy. Combine this with the nature of the industry and doing
the necessary research can seem like jogging through oatmeal in
snowshoes.
This brings us to the fourth factor. Contractors often provide
client’s information enough to keep them engaged while
withholding information that might influence them to make
choices the contractor doesn't prefer. Once committed to a
method, product, material or time frame, it’s difficult to make
changes without client approval. To avoid this, one simply
refrains from being very specific. For example, let's say that
the contractor’s bid includes the installation of medium grade
carpet. What is medium grade? When it’s time to select carpet,
rest assured the homeowner and contractor will have differing
ideas about what constitutes medium grade carpet. If on the
other hand the contractor specified the weight, name and
manufacturer of the carpet, there is little room for
disagreement. Frequently contractors make allowance for such
items as floor coverings, cabinetry and fixtures; just as
frequently the allowance proves insufficient to cover actual
costs of quality material. This makes the initial bid appear low
but results in extra costs. These extra charges are written up
as “Change Orders” or “Secondary Work Orders”. Many contractors
make the lion’s share of their money this way. Most of these
extras, billed at a higher rate, can be accounted for in a
thorough set of plans. The savings can be significant.
So how do we plan thoroughly?
First, envision what you want. Don’t be concerned now with
what’s feasible. Just allow your imagination to explore
possibilities. Next, gather anything that illustrates what you
want, like and prefer. Write down ideas regarding the project.
Clip pictures from magazines, visit home shows and model homes,
sketch floor plans, watch HGTV and take pictures of features you
like in other homes. This helps to clarify your thoughts and
communicate with designers and contractors.
Next, hire a competent designer; someone who can capture your
ideas on paper. These preliminary drawings enable you to
evaluate floor plans and elevations and get a feel for how
things will look. A word of caution; many contractors, as well
as kitchen and bath companies, have or work with a designer.
This designer knows the capabilities and preferences of the
company they work for. In order to avoid being led to a
predetermined set of choices, hire your own designer whose
agenda will be to learn what you want and help you plan the best
way to obtain it. You’ll save money and have a better chance of
discovering all your options.
When the preliminary drawings are revised to your satisfaction,
the designer will add details, convert them to working drawings,
obtain necessary engineering, and submit them to the city for
approval. Once approved, you’ll be ready to take bids.
Finally, invest time becoming familiar with your plans before
putting them out for bid. You'll feel better understanding
what's involved and the contractors you meet will realize you
are knowledgeable enough to catch mistakes. Honest, professional
contractors appreciate well informed clients.
So to make your remodeling dream a reality:
· Get clear on what you want; gather material to help you
communicate it.
· Hire a competent designer to turn your ideas into plans.
· Study your project; it means more to you than anyone else.
· Get it in writing; compare, check and verify. |
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© 2007 Kitchen Pro Cabinetry, Inc., Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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