Managing Your Own Home Project
It's not hard to get the drive to start a new project. Every time I have a new idea for my own home or a meet with a client about their vision for their spaces, the energy and desire to start as soon as possible is there. There's momentum and passion and a million ideas to jump into.
And no one is sad when a project is wrapping up, looking beautiful and that things are officially done.
But there's that too long, too hard, too cumbersome middle part of any redesign, remodel, renovation that feels endless. Especially for those of us that save money by hiring it out bit-by-bit or doing some/all of the work ourselves. Things get tedious, schedules get delayed, furniture arrives damaged, tile arrives from the wrong dye lot, contractors go MIA for too long.
Every single one of my projects has hurdles to jump. Multiple. Mainly things we couldn't have foreseen or prevented.
In a lot of ways, interior design can feel reduced to furniture shopping to people who have never worked with a designer—as if it's a hobby that people do for others and happen to charge a fee. The amount of problems and projects and people I manage daily can be stressful. But I know the only way out of a stressful project is to keep moving through it. Here's how to keep your projects rolling.
Pretend Your Budget Isn't Your Budget
Upfront, don't assign all of your money. If you have a $15,000 budget for a bathroom, design a bathroom that costs $9,000 to $12,000. Problems will occur. Labor will take more time. Issues will arise. Don't allow your project to be stalled because the tub you purchased ate up the chance for a contingency fund. And if you don't use it up, you already have a budget to style the bathroom with or roll into the next project.
Get Quotes Upfront
If you're looking to save money by acting as your own general contractor, get bids from several trades. Make sure their estimate lists EVERYTHING you discussed onsite because if it doesn't and they don't end up doing it even if you had verbal confirmation, everything falls back to the estimate and the agreement. Ask about project timelines and press further on what might prevent the timeline from staying on track.
If you're going to do all of the work yourself, estimate how much you will need in materials. Add 10 to 20% in additional materials in case you run into bent boards, wrong cuts, broken tiles, etc. If you don't end up using the extra, you can return it.
Order Items Promptly
Don't be the reason that the plumber can't install the new faucet. Have it on hand. Don't be the reason that the furniture vendor can't send the item you chose 2 months ago because it was discontinued 2 weeks ago. Do sourcing and ordering in the same timeframe to ensure that items will arrive when they need to and that you won't be doing the same work twice when everything you chose initially is out of stock or out of production. It has happened to me too often this year. Make sure to open everything as soon as it arrives so that you can check quality and size before the return window ends.
Keep the Work Zone Clean
Every professional trade should tidy up after themselves each day without input from you but from the beginning express the expectation that the space should be reasonably picked up and debris removed promptly as it is your home and it is the worksite for other trades you are hiring. Placing a trade agreement on the wall at the start of the project can act as a non-offensive reminder. This is standard for trades to see when working with a GC or designer. Feel free to include items like clean language, street parking (except for unloading), smoking off site, etc.
If you're the trade onsite (meaning you're DIYing the project yourself), for your own sanity's sake, stop 20 minutes early to clean up each day. This really boosts morale and helps the project feel more finished and doable.
Stay Professional
Keep things friendly and focused with your trades. If you plan to do the painting or any other DIY jobs, make sure you do it on the timeline you set up. When contractors don't feel like your timeline matters to you, it will stop mattering to them. Stick to a deadline and when unavoidable illness or conflicts arise, immediately address how the timeline can be reworked to accomplish the project. Best yet? Start the project with a contract.
If this is a one person show or a family DIY project, keep this same mentality. The only projects that will get done are the ones that are intentionally planned, laid out and executed. Decide from the beginning that the only reason to start a project is to finish it and make it happen as if you have a boss checking in on progress.
Answer All the Call
Subcontractors, freight companies, furniture vendors, etc. will all be calling from unknown numbers. Keep the project moving along by answering any strange numbers. If it's spam, feel free to hang up. You won't regret getting things like delivery dates and questions from trades answered on the spot.
Don't Accept Sub-Par Work
Even the most experienced contractor will make a mistake. Graciously accept that and then graciously ask how it will be made right. If it's truly an error on their part, they will need to redo/replace/reorder to make it better. However, if it is a miscommunication or misunderstanding between the two of you, things get harder to solve. Make sure to have all of your designs on paper or PDF for them ahead of time so that there isn't any confusion when it comes to determining how to fix the mistake.
Don't Forget the Finishing Touches
If a project is nearing the end and feels lack luster, don't forget the final step. Contractors get a "punch list" from their GC or designer before they're truly done. Even if they packed up and left the site weeks ago, there's the expectation that some overlooked items need to be addressed. Same for you. Touch up paint, fill nail holes, seal the grout, hang the art, pot the plant. The inspiration that drove you to this project in the first place had the beautiful materials and finishes, yes, but it really became noteworthy with the layered styling and the attention to detail in execution. Don't leave things 90% of the way there. Plan a day to knock it out completely and you'll be so glad you did.
When a project feels to last too long, when the budget doesn't afford you a remodeling team to come in and out, when the mess in the middle and deficiencies with orders and labor keep coming, remember to manage your project. Remember that each step forward counts towards the final goal -- the use of a new, beautiful space that will change how you live.
