Ten Ways to Prepare for your Remodel
Allow me to start with the bitter truth: Even with numerous remodels under my ubiquitous tool belt, I am still amazed that so many things can go wrong during a project. No matter how well prepared or experienced I am, I learn something pretty significant on every job. I guess that's part of what makes me a victim of Flipitis (an acute addiction to the property buying-fixing-and-selling process); there's always something new, it's never the same routine and it's really hard to get bored.
Going through any kind of remodel requires organization, creativity, tenacity and patience. I've given you the practical basics, such as having a budget and timeline in place before you begin. We've covered the nuts and bolts including where the money is coming from and how to assemble a team of experts to fill in your weaknesses. Still, your planning list doesn't stop there. Here are ten (less obvious) things not to overlook as you prepare for your remodeling adventure:
Parking
Where are all of your vendors, sub-contractors and neighbors going to park when your house has more people in it than Home Depot has on a Sunday morning? Designate an area, talk to your neighbors, or borrow a driveway. I once did a flip on a cul-de-sac that was a nightmare because I disrupted close quarters with cement mixers, slab deliveries and NOISE. My temporary neighbors were not happy with the uninvited chaos and did everything in their power to sabotage my remodel. Not nice.
Organization
Before construction even begins, set up a system to keep you organized. At the very least, have a box of files or a notebook with dividers labeled for each room, vendor, and a special section for that ever-increasing budget. You should have a phone list of every sub and supplier that you have contacted or plan to do business with at your fingertips and keep adding to it along the way.
Order
A clean and organized jobsite will help you stick to your timeline, as you will not waste precious minutes, hours or days trying to locate your tools or supplies. As materials start to get loaded in, a Sharpie can be your best friend. Label everything and put all the tile, fixtures and hardware for one room together so that there is not a mix up such as the oil rubbed bronze sink getting installed in the chrome finish bathroom. Designate a secure area on site or rent a container to store all your supplies and materials in an organized fashion to facilitate locating them and decrease the chance of damage to your imported Italian sink.
Stockpile
Before you rough in your electrical and your plumbing, have your lighting and plumbing fixtures on site. It's easy to put off ordering these items but you will save time, money and frustration by having them handy when you're laying out the space. Is the faucet going to be in the way of opening the medicine cabinet door? What height should the sconces be on either side of the window to avoid hitting the drapes?
Think ahead
When you make big purchases such as tile, appliances, fabric and furniture, get samples of the materials whenever possible and mechanical cut sheets (for larger items) to help you install them. When you are waiting for these materials to arrive this will allow you to color match your paint selections, determine dimensions, allocate space and give you the visual incentive you need to complete the project.
Measure twice, cut once
How many times have I seen appliances that don't fit, doors that don't close, windows that can't be installed and drapes that are too short? Too many. Be precise in all of your dimensions and double-check your work and then check it again. I once wasted an 18' beam I needed to install a new slider because it was cut too short. That’s $500 down the drain. I also witnessed a fantastic kitchen with proper dimensions within the cabinetry to accommodate the appliances, but the door widths into the kitchen were too narrow to let the appliances in the room. Big bummer.
Accessories
If you replace interior doors thinking it's a simple high impact, low cost item, take it one step further and consider you probably need hardware and trim and a line item in your budget for a carpenter to install them. By the time you pay for everything associated with one little door swap, what is the total cost and is it worth it? Same with cabinets, windows, and just about everything else. Don't forget the "extras" which can add up and increase numbers quickly!
Do a dry run
Before your kitchen faucet reveals its ugly leak during your house-warming party, test everything. Turn on the sprinklers to examine proper drainage, take a shower, do a load of laundry and run the dishwasher simultaneously to see if there's enough water pressure to enjoy that shower and ensure there aren't any leaks that could ruin the new suede faux finish in the study below the master bath (Yes, it happened to me).
Know your codes (or hire someone who does)
If you're rebuilding a wall or changing the floor plan, you might as well have the proper amount/spacing of outlets and think of any possible scenario in the future that may require a plug nearby (Imagine a live band playing on the front porch at your New Year's bash? Fancy one of those must-have self-heating toilet seats? See what I mean?). It's cheaper to run wire for speakers through an open soffit now, than it is to decide you want some tunes in the family room after you have dry walled, taped up and painted. If you think you may want it in the future, try to make decisions in the correct sequence.
It's all in the details
Try to think of creative ways you can make a big impact for not too much extra money, such as installing an outlet in the living room floor to avoid sloppy lamp wires, or putting recessed lights over the master bed with individual switches above each bedside table. I love to allocate a space in a front hall closet or obscure area for media recharging - a center with lots of plugs to store and charge digital cameras, video cameras, Ipods and cell phones helps with organization and cleaning up clutter.
Above all, enjoy the process and expect the unexpected. The better prepared you are for things to go wrong, cost more and be delayed, the less disappointed you will be when it happens – and it will happen. It’s construction! You’re not solving war peace or finding a cure for cancer – your perspective during a remodel can really help you maintain a healthy mindset. Build on!