So you are thinking about remodeling your home? May I say that is possibly one of the most stressful situations you will ever go through. The job is very seldom finished in less time than you think. Most jobs have surprises that you did not know were there until demolition starts. To avoid the shocks of remodeling surprises I highly recommend hiring a designer for this process. In the long run it will save time and money. Experienced designers have done this before and know the pitfalls and requirements in your area. They also save time by knowing the best vendors for the project or if not, where to find them.

Here are a few things to remember:

1. There are always surprises in a big job. No, surprises cannot be avoided entirely, but you can be prepared for them! Nobody can ever know what it will look like when walls are opened up

2.The job usually takes longer than anticipated. Even if it doesn’t, it always feels longer!

3. Have a 10 percent cushion in your budget for unexpected items

4. Move out if you can. It is no fun to live in dust or have a non-functioning kitchen or bathroom.

5. Expect that there will be days when nobody shows up. – yes I crack a whip but sometimes this is due to delays in city inspections, etc.

My latest project

I would like to share with you the latest remodel I am working on. Let me first say that it took almost a year to get all the bids, paperwork, selections and contracts signed. The property is in the rental pool of one of my favorite management companies. I was recommended by one of the owners, for whom I have done many remodels. I also remodeled the master bath and bedroom of the neighbor’s house.

One of the causes for delay was that the homeowner changed her mind about the scope of the work after the first round of bids were made. If you have never had construction bids done before, all I can say that it is a very time consuming part for a contractor. There is so much involved and mistakes of not having everything calculated into a contract can cost a contractor dearly.

My original contractor, whom I love, did the first round and when the clients changed their minds, walked away.

It took me another 2 months to find another suitable General Contractor. In this project the whole house, except for 2 bathrooms, is going to be remodeled. We will, however, remove the paneling in the other bathrooms and replace the floors with the same flooring as in the rest of the house.

I often do the design and then work as the project manager which makes me the go-between between the contractor and homeowner. It really is my job to make sure the design is completed to my specs and also that everything is done that is quoted for, and to the highest standards.

What we started with…

Your fave?

Which part do you love the most? The kitchen?, The paneling in the master bedroom? or that fireplace that blocks the view to the beach?

Sorry the seventies called and they want their house back!

The plan

Here is what we are doing

1. Replacing the roof
2. Replacing all the windows and turn the front 3 windows into a beautiful 12′ sliding door unit
3. Adding an additional air conditioning unit and redoing all the duct work
4. Redoing the kitchen
5. Redoing the master bath
6. Removing the fireplace
7. Redoing all the floors
8. Removing all the paneling
9. Removing all the popcorn ceilings
10. Remove the ceiling in the front living room to expose the beams
11. Turn the attic into a functional room for kids and teenagers with a bathroom

Stay tuned! Next week is demo time!