If you’re rushing into a renovation, you’re making a mistake
We’ve all been struck by inspiration with a brilliant idea we simply cannot wait to see carried out to beautiful fruition! As an interior designer, my ideas usually revolve around ways to improve the beauty and functionality of my home! I’m sure you’ve been inspired by something on TV, social media or visiting a new place that made you say, “I want this in my home!” Then, if you’re a go-getter personality type that jumps headfirst into new projects you’ve likely already researched all the local builders and designers in your area and set up interviews with the most likely candidates by weeks end.
I love your enthusiasm! Truly it’s great! Being excited to get started is a beautiful and necessary part of a renovation project. I am, however, going to have you pump on the brakes a bit here.
Before heading into an interview with other professionals, there are a few things you need to know first so that you don’t rush into a renovation and make a big mistake!
Allow me to enlighten you on what can happen if you rush into a renovation.
First off – if you dive into a deal with the first person you interview, you may get lucky and find the best option, however, that’s not usually the case. You need to spend time with the builder and designer discussing design ideas, the scope of work you want, how they communicate, how you communicate. What does their process look like and what’s their fee structure? What happens if you change your mind part way through the process? Can it be undone? Does it cost you extra? Are you going shopping with the designer, or will they do that for you to save you precious time? How involved will you be in the process? What’s your time commitment?
There’s a lot of groundwork to be covered before you sign any contracts. If you rush in without all of this and more vital information, then everyone will have unmet expectations. That is a recipe for disaster or at the very least a highly frustrating renovation. Nobody wants that and it can be circumvented by taking time to ask the right questions.
If you’ve rushed past the part where you hired someone without asking enough questions and into the “Say yes to the design” phase, there’s more trouble ahead. The professionals come in with flashy presentations, pretty colors, fun shapes, a beautiful look for everything you’ve asked for! This is excellent! Absolutely you want to do everything they’ve suggested, and you cannot wait to sign on the dotted line! You’re excited by what you saw, you are ready for it to be done, tomorrow.
Your next problem is just around the bend. You have been daydreaming and sleep dreaming about all the amazing things your designer and builder are going to provide you that you forgot to discuss what your budget should really look like for this project. You didn’t even ask what anything cost. You just assume the professionals know best and that it will all work out in the end.
Then the day comes when they send you the purchase order for everything you agreed to, and you fall out of your chair. What!? How could it possibly cost that much to do what they’d suggested? This can’t be right! You have money to spend on your home, but you didn’t know it could cost so much! What’s going to happen to those things you’ve been dreaming of non-stop?
You finally sit down to have a realistic conversation about what you’re going to be spending on this project and how things will need to change to be realistic. Many things must be deleted or done in a different way so that you feel like you’re losing out on your dream design. You’re devastated as you leave the meeting feeling many emotions from frustration, anger, and sadness to disappointed and embarrassed. This is no longer a fun journey you’re on. No one explained to you the cost of anything, you simply assumed it would be more than enough to achieve what everyone was talking about. How could they not explain costs sooner?
You’ve rushed into this project and there’s probably already been some demo work done, let alone deposits made that you’re not sure you can get back. It would be a nightmare to start again with new professionals, so you keep trudging forward. Months go by and you’re still discontented with the design you’re left with because you were disillusioned at the start with what this would look like.
You make payments and you watch carefully what the builders and designers put before you now. Some of it’s exciting, some of it may even be the same, but it’s lost its allure. You’re just ready for it to be over as the timeline is taking much longer than you expected and since you rushed in without a realistic expectation of that. Problems arose that could have been avoided had you and everyone else taken the time to properly assess the site.
Finally, much longer than you originally expected, it’s time for reveal day when you finally get to see it completed. It’s not bad, it’s not the best you’d hoped for, but it’s better than it was and at least it’s finally done. Your renovation that started off so amazing in your head, turned into a nightmare and you have many regrets.
Yikes!
Now of course, those were numerous worse-case scenarios all rolled into one. I know you have more sense than our fictional character. I’m going to teach you why I like to take my time designing a renovation project and why it’s the best choice for you too, my savvy businessman or woman. My goal is to convince you to seek out me or a professional local to you with the same kind of mindset that going slower is better for you, the designer, the builder and everyone involved.
When I say, “take my time”, I’m not implying we take forever or go as slow as molasses. I simply mean taking the time necessary for everyone to ask the right questions, get to know each other, discuss expectations and really flesh out the design before anything gets signed off on or demo day begins.
When we take our time to fully design things before any true renovation work begins, we circumvent a multitude of problems, are clear on costs, timeline and what is necessary to make your design dreams come true. This is the ideal situation.
When we take our time to design something well, the journey becomes enjoyable and something you’ll rave about. It’s something you’ll even be willing to undertake again because the journey wasn’t a hassle for everyone, it was a pleasure. Hiring a professional like me who can give you that experience is the smartest way to go. It all starts with a thirty-minute Discovery Call so we can start getting to know each other. If you’re ready to start off your renovation with a professional who won’t rush into the process, then head on over to my Contact page and book a Discovery Call with me today!
Now, let’s break down how you avoid the mistake of rushing into a renovation.
1 – Know what type of work you want to do in your home. I’m certain there’s a lot you would like to have changed in your home and maybe you have the budget to do all of them in one go. However, I suggest setting a list of priorities for the work you want done. This way, you know what can wait based upon any budgetary or timeline restrictions you may have.
2 – Have questions prepared for your designer and builder prior to your interview with them. Do you remember the list of questions our hypothetical homeowner failed to ask above? Let’s look at it again for some suggestions of what you need to know.
What are the communication expectations on both sides?
What is their fee structure? What’s the ballpark price for the scope of work you want to do?
Do they have experience with this kind of work? Do they see anything on site that could be a big cost factor or cause problems for your design goal?
Can you make changes after your initial decision? What’s the process for that and is there a fee?
Will you be shopping with a designer, or will they handle that for you? How involved will you be in the design process? (For example, I do all the shopping for you and provide you with 2-3 options of almost everything, so you get to pick the best one. This saves you valuable time and lets you be involved in the final decisions of your home design.)
What’s an expected timeline for this scope of work?
How much of a contingency budget do they recommend having for when something unexpected happens? (Typically, it’s 5-10%.)
Honestly express your current expectations of budget, timeline, involvement during this process.
Keep in mind, this is not an exhaustive list, that can be a whole blog post for another time. It’s also good to note that you’re interviewing each other for this project. Your work may not be the best fit for what their company does, or you may not feel a connection or level of trust with them. If that’s the case, then you need to keep searching until you do.
3 – Once you’ve decided who to work with, take time to meet several times with your designer and builder so that all ideas can be fully looked at in detail, fully priced and thought through prior to signing off on any final decisions. Ideas often evolve over time as you look closely at the options available and that’s important to figure them out in advance so you don’t make a decision that would cause work to be re-done and cost extra time and money.
4 – Review design presentations, drawings, and purchase orders in detail to ensure you’re getting what you thought you were and make sure you understand the design. You don’t want to walk into a furnished and completed space only to realize you didn’t see it that way and it’s not what you want. If you have a question, ask before you sign off on it.
5 – Communicate regularly with the progress of your project. It’s important to trust your professionals, and we are all human, so misunderstandings, mistakes, and accidents happen. When we’re all communicating regularly, much of that can be avoided or corrected before it's too late.
6 – When it’s all said and done, let your professionals photograph your space and leave them a glowing review. You want to help others find quality professionals and your reference plays the biggest role in their future success! When you’re ready for another project, call the same people and enjoy the process all over again, better informed than you were the last time.
As much as I’d like to say that knowing all this will help avoid every feasible problem you can face in a renovation, it doesn’t even come close to true. Every renovation is different, and every renovation encounters an unexpected obstacle or two or three to be overcome. That is the nature of a renovation process. Trust me and your professionals to be able to handle the situation and provide you with the best solutions possible. You’ll be able to weather it with that contingency fund you set aside at the start of the project.
Taking your time before rushing into a renovation will help you feel more confident in the long run and set you up for success. Since I know you’re a smart homeowner, this is the path you’ll want to take. If you’re a homeowner in Northern Palm Beach County, then schedule our Discovery Call with me today and let’s get to the heart of what your home needs to become the beautifully functional and sustainably designed home unique to you and your family’s lifestyle.
