Hello my friends!
April showers may bring May flowers but it won’t bring your furniture or faucets any sooner. There is nothing like a year of lockdowns and isolating to make you ready to start anew. After being in our homes for the past year we have had plenty of time to see what is working and what isn’t. We get the bug to make improvements and create a home which functions better (I know I do). Suddenly all the things you overlooked are glaring and taunting you. Once you realize your home’s issues you want it done yesterday. You can’t wait to get started and often jump in without the proper planning. Here are some things to consider:
- Start planning early. Contractors, builders and anyone in the home improvement business is booking out months in advance. You are not the only one ready for a change. It can take months before a contractor is able to start a project. In the meantime, it is not too early to start planning. Keep an idea book (virtually or real) of what you like and what you don’t like. Both can give the professionals valuable information to make the design process more efficient.
- Get all parties involved in the project early. A successful project involves contractors/builders, designers and, depending on the scope, architects. They all work together for a successful outcome for the homeowner. Each carries their own expertise which adds value. A designer will consider different perspectives than an architect and a builder will consider different views as well. A successful project involves everyone working together. The sooner they can all be involved the better.
- Start selecting the materials you would like to use for the finishes. The more information you have for the contractor the more accurate they will be in giving you a bid. It also allows contractor bids to be compared on the same playing field. It can be difficult to stay within the allowance budget provided by a contractor. After all, you don’t do a big home improvement project very often. Once you know the bids you can decide if you need to make changes to the plan in order to maintain a budget. The designer shows on TV don’t reflect the real cost or time of a home improvement.
- Delays can be common, especially now. Currently many of the manufacturing facilities are operating under Covid rules, which mean less people on the floor. In addition, there are delays with materials needed to create the item (foam for furniture). Once items are produced there can be delays in shipping (Suez Canal issue) and transportation once the product hits our shores or is completed. Custom furniture that was completed in three months can take six months or more in the current environment.
If you are contemplating a remodel or update to your home and don’t know where to start or how to break down the process, I would be happy to assist you in exploring the next steps to take. Call me at 952.210.0685 to set up an appointment to discuss your project. I would love to help you make your dream become a reality.
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