Having an accurate plan before going into a remodel can be a make-or-break decision for homeowners looking to improve their home. A good plan can ease the fear of the unknown, as well as the feelings of stress and chaos that occur both before and during a home remodel. Practically, we believe there should be a complete and accurate design, scope of work, calendar, and budget in place before a remodel begins. Finding a contractor who can provide these elements can allow the homeowner to have confidence in agreeing to and proceeding with their remodel, knowing everyone is on the same page. 

The Problem with Poor Planning

Too often, we hear stories from homeowners who have just had the worst experience with contractors who come into their homes to give a single page quote that says, “remodel kitchen” with a listed price that is ambiguous to what all is included. Then, after the homeowners agree because they like the dollar amount, the contractor has his demo day the next week. The contractor is excited to get a new project on the books, and the homeowner is likewise excited because their home is getting improved. However, it is not long before the contractor starts to ask questions in the middle of the day (while you are at work no less). “Where is the tile?”, “Where do you want the sink located?”, “What do you want your cabinets to look like?”. Now, you are stuck trying to answer the questions as fast as possible and the project gets delayed because the sub-contractors have other jobs to attend to while they wait for your decision. In addition, this leads to the unfortunate and all-too common phrase by these types of contractors— “that was not included in the bid”. Before you know it, the timeline is extended, the budget is blown, and everyone is frustrated.

Start with a Strong Design

When looking for a contractor who will create a plan, we recommend starting with the design offerings. This design process is often what gets the ball rolling because it is the fundamental part of vision casting from the beginning. There should be a clear understanding of the homeowner’s goals and desires for their space. This can be done with the contractor, an architect, or interior designer (and sometimes all three) by creating working drawings for the project. Regardless of who makes the design, having a contractor who embraces the need for one before demolition is a must! These ideally include:

• As-is plans
• Demolition and construction plans
• Proposed layouts
• Mechanical layouts
• Elevations and 3D renderings.

Combined, these drawings translate into something that is clear and understandable to all parties, including the benefit of having them permit-ready if the municipalities are involved.

Defining the Scope of Work

Once the design is done, the contractor should be looking at the materials and labor needed to create the scope of work. The scope of work is traditionally the written account of all work that is to be completed, along with all materials to be used. Sadly, this is often where we see other contractors skimp. The danger here is in the oversimplification and assumptions about the project that leaves the plan undefined, and therefore uncertain and unable to be followed accurately. A competent contractor should aim to have such great detail in their scope of work that it allows everyone involved to have a clear path and clear expectations. This includes having product model numbers, building material specifications and acceptable labor standards. With greater detail, comes greater confidence for all parties involved. Now, the project can be executed in a way that lives up to the standards desired by the homeowner and therefore, set by the contractor.

Creating a Realistic Project Timeline

Another important part of the plan is the project calendar. In addition to the budget, the calendar is often too generalized and unclear, especially from contractors who do a poor job planning. A schedule should not be an arbitrary estimate of time, because as we said earlier, working without a plan causes delays and frustration. Without a complete project calendar, many contractors will push their trades and try to crunch the calendar in an unrealistic manner. This causes an anxiety ridden construction site, and, in the rushing, their quality of work is reduced. On the other side though, not having a schedule at all can cause days, if not weeks of work not being done and will delay the project far longer than it should take. Homeowners should look for a contractor who creates a happy medium of realistic and fair scheduling to ensure their project is completed on time.

Building a Transparent Budget

When it comes to budgeting, many contractors use different methods. They may be cost-plus, time + materials, lump-sum pricing, or a mixture of each. Being able to fully understand how a contractor creates their pricing is important to have confidence in the plan. No one wants to receive the dreaded phone call saying, “I need more money to finish”, when the costs were already defined and agreed to. In fact, to combat this, some contractors will price in contingencies to help cover the costs of the unforeseen. This helps the homeowner know that they are covered in case an unexpected challenge is presented during the project. The goal of a good contractor should always be to stay within the pricing set, so the project does not go over budget.  Regardless of how the pricing is created and presented, the homeowner should have a clear understanding and expectation of the budget before committing to the project.

Bringing It All Together

With the design, scope of work, calendar, and budget in place, homeowners can move into their remodel with ease. Having these four components of a good plan can help the homeowner feel at peace with committing to their remodel and contractor. So, when searching for someone to work on their homes, homeowners should be looking for ones who create and embrace the need for a complete plan and follow it throughout the duration of the project.

Our Approach at Kitchen, Bath & Home

As complex as the project planning can be, Kitchen, Bath & Home is committed to making the process Simple. Truthful. Peaceful. To deliver the finest remodel available in a practical and peaceful manner, we have set a standard for a clear and accurate plan on every job we work on. It has proven to be fundamental in creating smooth projects with satisfied clients. With Kitchen, Bath & Home, homeowners can move into their project with confidence that their vision will be realized, the standard of the scope will be followed, their timeline can be met, and their budget can be maintained.