I wish I knew THAT before my remodel!

At the end of a show, most good theater groups will conduct a post mortem - an evaluation of the performance and ways to improve.  At the end of a remodel I often have a similar evaluation with my client(s).  A favorite question is what they wish they had known or done before the project started.  The answers run the gambit from the necessity of a nice robe - so as not to be caught unawares fresh out of the shower to a person’s limit on fast food and takeout.  

Most "I wish I knew" responses have to do with either 1) time or 2) money (and in most cases both).  Here’s a few common responses to the post remodel post mortem from some recent kitchen renovations and some suggestions on how you can avoid these pitfalls (or at least prepare for them).

First it is important to remember that kitchen remodels are stressful.  Statistically they are the most expensive and lengthy renovation projects.  The first suggestion is go in with the understanding it will be stressful.  During a renovation your house is in a constant state of flux (sometimes looking more like chaos than progress), you are living in an often dusty unfinished project for an extended period of time, and, if you hire a professional, you have people regularly in “your space.”  Prepare for the impact that this will have. Some good advice from clients a few clients who have recently gone through this process is plan a few evenings away.  It's okay to leave the “cloud of progress” behind for a few hours or even a few days.  Plan visits to friends and family or an evening out on the town.  It doesn’t have to be a huge event,  even a visit to the next door neighbors, can do wonders for maintaining healthy levels of sanity.   

Renovating a kitchen typically means you will be without a functioning kitchen for at least a few days - depending on the scale this could be considerably longer.  Make sure you have budgeted for the time you will be eating out (and maybe a few sessions at the gym – 3 months eating under the golden arches won’t do you any favors) or make arrangements with your General Contractor to have a temporary kitchen set up.  This can be as simple as a couple of cabinets in the garage to store some basic items (utensils and such) and a place to put the microwave, hotplate, etc.  It may not be the most ideal place to prepare your meals for the next few months but it gets the job done and may save you having to spring for that gym membership. If you choose this route, don’t forget about where an accessible sink is to wash dishes - you may also want to store the coffeemaker near it.  Whatever your decision, be sure to discuss your options prior to the first swing of the sledge hammer.   

Unless you change something or something happens that is beyond the contractor’s control (something they could not have reasonably planned for) your price should be what was quoted.  When you, as the customer, have made a change to the scope of the project this is called a “change order.”  Change orders generally mean more money as well as more time.  The final “I wish I knew” (for this blog anyway) is how quickly change orders can add up.  It’s easy to overlook the rapidly growing bottom line when you don’t see it in front of you regularly. Regularly  updated invoices with the recent change orders listed (especially during a lengthy project) can prevent a plethora of financial woes down the road and help keep you within your budget or at least allow you to make a more educated decision on whether or not you can afford the change you are considering.  Change can be a good thing, but bare in mind it rarely comes without a dollar sign attached.  Also keep in mind each change order can potentially set back the project weeks - before making your decision make sure you understand what it will "cost" monetarily and in time.

The biggest mistake a homeowner can make is not communicating.  Whether you're doing the project yourself or you hire a professional, communication is the key.  It can make the difference between a project you’re just glad is over and a beautifully renovated kitchen worthy of a standing ovation. 

Happy Remodeling