Renovate It!
by Kippi Odermott

You may simply want to update a bathroom, or you may want to completely renovate your kitchen.  You love the location of your home, the schools, and neighborhood, but the thought of living in your home while it’s torn apart isn’t appealing. So you’ve considered building or moving to a new home but it’s just not worth the trouble.  With escalating housing costs and rising interest rates, it can prove to be more sensible to remodel the home you’re already in than to sell it and buy another. 

Choosing to remodel your existing home: whether it’s to completely renovate and add square footage or just re-do within the space you have, there are many options. With a good plan and the right help, transforming your home can be a reality and it’s a much easier process than you might imagine. Working with someone that understands remodeling is a must.  Things to consider when remodeling:

The Big Picture:  You don’t know exactly what you want, but your kitchen or bath needs updating and you don’t know how to get there?  I can help.  From initial vision to pros and cons, I can help you look at your space through a new set of eyes. I can offer ideas or just confirm that the design you’ve dreamed up can become a reality.  “A designer can envision a room at completion.”

Design, expectations and the dreaded budget:  Communication is the most important element in any remodeling project.  At the very beginning it’s most important that I listen to what your ultimate goals are for the space that needs the update or re-do.  Then it’s important that I communicate back my understanding of how you see the project transforming your space.  I will provide you with a detailed plan, work with you in my showroom and at your home to choose all the elements that are needed for your project.  I will provide you with a proposal for costs on the project keeping you within your established budget, and will provide you with a schedule of what will be happening daily during the course of the remodel.  Because communication is so important, I believe that it’s key to stay in contact daily during the project to answer your questions, to keep everything running smoothly, or to talk about any possible plan changes you may decide to make mid-remodel which may affect your budget. “Knowing what to expect during each remodeling stage helps produce happy results.”

No turning back now:  Demolition day.  Your home gets the treatment of the wrecking crew.  Don’t worry, we are here to serve and protect!  I have a well trained staff that will take every precaution to make sure that your home and belongings are well protected. Sure, remodeling is exciting, but there can be frustrations that come from living in a construction zone. I’ll provide you information before a project begins about how the project will be handled during this phase. I also make sure that my crews clean up after themselves every day while we are working in your home.  “Pitch a temporary camp.  Living without a kitchen for weeks on end can become frustrating.  Set up a temporary one complete with a refrigerator and microwave, so you can continue to make light meals at home.”

We can rebuild it better, stronger, faster:  My goal is to always stay on schedule.  Before beginning your remodel I line up all of my subcontractors and get a schedule out to everyone. Each day I talk with my subcontractors and verify what work is to be completed on the jobs I have going.  Should there be any deviance from the schedule due to any unforeseen issues, we contact you and discuss our findings and brainstorm the best way to proceed.  From the electrical contractors to the drywall installers we take care of all aspects of scheduling so that your project finishes on time and as expected.  “Stay on task with the original plan if possible. Change orders during construction will prolong the process and the added costs can result in going outside of your budget.”

The project isn’t complete until you’re thoroughly satisfied:  The last of the paint touch ups are being made and the cleanup is in progress.  Now is the best time for the walk through to make sure your project is what you envisioned.  I like to finish my remodel projects by walking through your space to discuss how the project went.  If you have any questions or if any follow up is needed I want to make sure any issues are dealt with so that you can move into your new space and enjoy what has been created.  “I’ve been blessed with clients that are easy to get along with, honest and communicate openly with me if problems arise.  They have an appreciation for what we do here at Crown.”

With careful planning, it is possible to survive renovations. Even though your daily routines may be derailed for a short time, my team at Crown can help you minimize the inconvenience.  The information offered above can help you through a remodel project and any problems that may arise. Renovating your existing home can be an excellent investment and much less stressful than building and moving to a new home.

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