Renovation Do's and Don'ts
Renovating Do’s
1. Get 2-5 estimates from contractors
Each contractor that you request an estimate from should conduct a thorough walkthrough of the job site which includes taking measurements and having an in-depth conversation with you as the client. Quotes can vary greatly. Some contractors have crews of their own rather than subs for certain things which can lower costs. Some have more experience in specific areas that might help in your particular project. You could easily see some quotes come in double the cost of others. Getting 2-5 estimates will help you understand the full range and put you in the best position to choose the bid that works for your project the most. (Hint: that is often not the cheapest one). Some contractors will include allowances for such items as tile, flooring, or light fixtures. At Congressional Group LLC, we prefer to leave out design elements from our estimate. We will however provide you with a comprehensive “Shopping List” of the items that you will need to decide on and cost estimates for each. We also like to have as few surprises as possible. Some unscrupulous contractors will underbid to get your job, and then bombard you with change orders. So be sure to compare apples to apples and READ THE FINE PRINT!
2. Make sure you have the right team (contractor, architect, designer and suppliers)
It’s one of the first things you’ll do and arguably the most important. You’ll be spending a lot of time with these professionals. Be sure that they understand the project, have the skills needed, have a good track record, and are easy to communicate with.
3. Organize your inspiration photos so you have a good sense of what you want
For many people, going through a renovation will require making more decisions in a short period of time! It will take time and you’ll want to think about details and materials carefully. Start organizing your thoughts early so that you know what you want later. See our post here to see what a vision board can do for your project.
4. Get together a solid budget and leave room for contingency
Surprises can be waiting when you open up the walls. Decisions you make in the design phase can also impact the budget. Making large structural changes can require the need for a structural engineer. HVAC plans may call for a mechanical engineer. Be prepared to set your priorities and create a budget that leaves room for the inevitable surprises. Depending on the size of your renovation, leave about a 10-20% contingency.
5. Order finishes with proper lead times and the right quantities
Some finishes have longer lead times than others. If you don’t have enough of that custom tile to finish your bathroom, you might have a 6-8 week wait for more (whoops!) We will assist you in ordering accurate quantities as well as shopping with you if desired to pick out design elements such as flooring, tile and plumbing fixtures.
6. Plan on a lot of things taking longer than you expect
Permit approvals (if needed), finishes selection, and material delivery are all part of the process. Things along the way will also create delays. If you build in extra time, it will be much less stressful. At Congressional Group, LLC, we will give you a list of items that should be “in-house” prior to breaking ground. We don’t want to start opening walls and then find out that your tub won’t arrive for 3 weeks!
6. Have weekly meetings or phone calls with your contractor but remember they need their space to work
Hopefully, you have selected a contractor responsible enough to be given some autonomy and who is easy to communicate with. If not lucky enough to have alternate housing during your project, your team may be arriving as you depart for work and leaving before you get home. Therefore, it’s a good idea to set a weekly walkthrough with your contractor to review the previous week’s progress, discuss any issues that have come up, and the schedule for the coming week. At the same time, it’s probably not the best idea to micromanage your contractor on a daily basis. Individual areas may not look quite right until you see the finished product as a whole. You want your team to work efficiently and you should be able to trust them to get the job done. If you don’t then you might not have the right team.
Renovation Don’ts
1. When at all possible, don’t live in a construction zone.
The budget is tight and a month-long camping trip in your own house might sound fun, but the process can be stressful. It can easily become unmanageable. So where at all possible, we suggest finding alternate housing. When purchasing a new home, delay your move-in date until your upgrades have been completed. Take an extended vacation if possible. Travel to a summer (or winter) home if you have one. It will be less stressful on you and your family and your contractor can focus on completing the renovation. Our Team spends time each day tidying up your home and their equipment when you are living there. If the house is unoccupied, that time can be spent working on the project itself.
2. Don’t put off work that can easily be done while walls are open and unpainted
Your budget might require you to push some items to the future, but make sure they are projects that make sense to do once the main renovation is complete. For example, don’t add an AC system or move walls. You will destroy a lot of recently finished walls and floors. While your walls are open, do the projects that require any electrical or plumbing changes. Before the floors are finished, this is the time to move walls. Always wanted a pot-filler? Be sure to run the water line prior to closing kitchen walls. Even small items such as running wires for TV and cable are more easily done before drywall completion.
3. Don’t change your mind and your plans throughout the process
It’s one of the biggest causes of delays and cost overruns. Changing finishes, configuration, and plans mid-renovation will slow things down to a crawl. Make decisions early so that you have time to let them sink in so that any changes are made well before each renovation phase starts.