Sunday, May 6, 2012
Plan to succeed in your next project
I have come to the realization that viewers of HGTV and DIY networks give themselves a confidence that they can tackle a home renovation project on their own. When in fact the projects that are being completed in a 30 minute show are undertaken by a full crew of professionals and skilled craftsman who are specialist in their individual trade.
Do It yourself or hire a pro?
Money is tight these days but the reality is that sometimes , unless you are highly skilled yourself, hiring a pro can save you money. The benefits of hiring a pro are that the job will be done correctly, the results will last longer and save you time and additional money on maintenance and finally the extended period of wasted time you would take to do a project that a professional could do in a portion of that same time.
Whether you do it yourself or hire a pro the best thing you can do is start with a great set of plans.
I frequently get called into look at renovation projects, some of them are beautiful, some have minor space plans that i can easily direct the contractor to fix, and some are an absolute travesty! The travesty is the result of having a poor plan or not having a plan at all before construction starts. I have seen walls taken down that shouldn't have been, and walls left that should have been removed! Bad planning, or lack of it can cost you the sale of your house or the pleasure of enjoying a sanctuary built for yourself.
If you choose to do it yourself, at least make the investment to get a set of plans ( even rudimentary sketches) drawn by a space planner or interior designer. The benefits include:
Do It yourself or hire a pro?
Money is tight these days but the reality is that sometimes , unless you are highly skilled yourself, hiring a pro can save you money. The benefits of hiring a pro are that the job will be done correctly, the results will last longer and save you time and additional money on maintenance and finally the extended period of wasted time you would take to do a project that a professional could do in a portion of that same time.
Whether you do it yourself or hire a pro the best thing you can do is start with a great set of plans.
I frequently get called into look at renovation projects, some of them are beautiful, some have minor space plans that i can easily direct the contractor to fix, and some are an absolute travesty! The travesty is the result of having a poor plan or not having a plan at all before construction starts. I have seen walls taken down that shouldn't have been, and walls left that should have been removed! Bad planning, or lack of it can cost you the sale of your house or the pleasure of enjoying a sanctuary built for yourself.
If you choose to do it yourself, at least make the investment to get a set of plans ( even rudimentary sketches) drawn by a space planner or interior designer. The benefits include:
- having an easy way to communicate your ideas to a contractor
- a measurable valuation of whether the contractor has done a good job ( by seeing how well his work matches the plans
- manage cost overruns created when there is no guideline plan to work
- manage the mistakes made by having to make decisions on the fly
Failing to plan is the same as planning to fail! So whether you DIY or hire a pro, invest in a plan!
@lwdesignllc
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