Red Flags When Building/Remodeling
There has never been a more difficult time to build a new home than in 2022! However, there are things you can do to help your build process go as smoothly as possible. Not only are we a team of designers, but we have also built and remodeled our own personal homes. We have been in your same shoes! Although we may have broken our own rules below in the past, we do feel that the tips below can aid in your new build experience being a positive one.
DAILY SITE VISITS
We know it’s exciting! We want you to be excited! We are excited, too! However there has to be a balance to the ebb and flow of building. Going on site every day may lead you to having new design ideas that can over complicate the process, cost you a lot of money, and cause builder frustration. We definitely understand that there are some weeks that the trades will be on site non-stop and the progress is thrilling! Then, there are weeks that no change has happened. Trust that your builder has your back and only visit the site when necessary.
DAILY CALLS + TEXTS TO YOUR BUILDER
It’s important to remember that your builder, along with all the tradespeople, have several clients to assist every day. If they didn’t, you would be paying a lot more for their services! Pace yourself while communicating with your builder. Ask your builder about their preferred method of communication. Everyone has a preference, and if you’re all on the same page with the communication process, your build will go much smoother. We highly recommend emails, so if there is a design change, the builder can go back to the written communication, rather than trying to remember how the conversation went over the phone.
TALKING TO SUBS
If you request a build change to a sub without going through your builder, you may be setting yourself up for disaster. We know it seems harmless, but every piece of the house works together! It’s the builder who is keeping an eye on all of those details, not the individual tradespeople. What you consider a small change may actually create a disastrous domino effect, potentially costing you more money and delaying the build.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
You are friends with a designer, surely they won’t mind answering your design questions for free? Wrong! Yes, there are some creatives out there that do this for a hobby (and are brilliant at it!). But, please keep in mind that professional designers are doing this to feed their families. If you’re already working with a designer, try to stick with that one designer! Getting suggestions from other creatives who aren’t part of the build process already can lead to another bad domino effect. Their ideas may be amazing, but if they don’t know the entire scope of the project, they don’t know how that idea can affect the overall design.
INDECISION & CHANGES
Once you have officially given your stamp of approval on your design board, you need to accept that there will be no more changes to the overall design. You are in love with it! Just remind yourself of that love when a new idea comes along! The truth is, there are always going to be things you could have done differently. During the design process, it is so important to go with your gut! If the design cracks a smile on your face, that is how you know you have nailed it! The design world is always coming up with new beautiful ideas, and one home simply cannot keep up with it all. So, embrace the design decisions that bring you joy and stick with them!
EXCITEMENT VS. OBSESSION
There is a big difference between being excited about your new build and being obsessed with it! Please remember to keep living your life as your new home is being built. The build process is long, we understand! Don’t forget to enjoy life’s blessings as they come your way.
QUOTES AND QUOTES AND QUOTES
Your builder is already recommending their first choice in regards to vendors. Remember why you hired a builder - their expertise! They have experiences with many tradespeople over time. So, remember that when you are comparing different vendors’ quotes, you will not always be comparing apples to apples. If you do want to get some outside numbers, limit it to three vendors only and do it all of the quoting within the same week. Getting quotes back is taking longer than ever before. You can spend months waiting for quotes to come back, and that is not beneficial to your build process. The same rules apply when shopping for flooring, lighting, hardware, and plumbing selections. These selections need to be ordered well in advance of your install date. If you wait too long trying to find the best price, you may actually slow your build down and end up costing yourself a lot more in the end.
THERE WILL BE MISTAKES, AND THAT IS OKAY!
There will be mistakes during your build, no matter what. Sometimes those “mistakes” turn out to be the best design moments! Typically, your builder will catch it and address it quickly and at the appropriate time. There is a process to fix mistakes that doesn’t cost you more with most builders. So, be patient, and don't feel like you have to personally watch out for every detail to be right through the whole build process.
We want you to know that this blog was written as a helpful tool to encourage you during your new build process. Like we mentioned, we have been in your shoes! We understand that building a home is a roller coaster ride, and we are thrilled that you have chosen to take this ride with us. All of the red flags mentioned above can be combated with a heart and mind filled with respect and gratitude. We are happy to assist you, along with your builder and their team, along the path to your dream home.