How to Survive Your Home Renovation Project
Orientation A work in progress
Forbes reported a survey that asked homeowners about their renovation experience. Thirty percent said they would never do another project. Of that group, one in four said they would rather get a tooth pulled.
I’ve managed all kinds of design and construction projects my whole 40-year career, done a few of my own renovations and watched others. My intention in creating Project Therapy is to adapt the strategies that made my commercial projects successful to home renovation.
But first — you want to know what your project is going to cost.
Of course you do. It’s the first question everyone asks and the last one anyone answers clearly. Before you read another word you might want to try the Budget Game. Go to Session #1 – How Much Will It Cost – The Budget Game. Describe your project — any project — and quickly get a real ballpark number. But remember to come back
Welcome back
So how was that. Some will love it others, not so much, but you are all a lot smarter.
The following are three initial Sessions. They tell you how much, how long and how to survive. Go through them all and you have about as much information as a professional when they begin without spending much time or any money.
Primary Sessions
- Session #1 – How Much Will It Cost – The Budget Game
This is the most asked question
- Session #2 – How Long Will It Take – The Schedule Game
This is a companion to the Budget Game and the second most asked question.
- Session #3 – How Do We Decide and How Do We Survive
This is the therapy part, how your family might negotiate the process. Not always directly asked but always wondered.
After that there are a series of short stories, essays and examples that highlight various issues that come up again and again. There is a table of contents so that topics are accessible.
Link table of contents
As an example:
A friend’s extensive kitchen and bathroom went 50% over “budget” and took 50% longer which was especially challenging since she, her husband and three children under 5 had moved out during the project.
They picked the lower of three prices and settled for a contractor with marginal experience. They discovered termite damage and made a bunch of design changes and additions during construction. They had an architect, but they decided not to spend the money to have them monitor the project.
I really don’t need to write any more. These four sentences contain all the challenges of a home renovation.
I’ve built The Budget Game and The Schedule Game to give you an easy entry into managing cost and schedule and I’ve written Your Family to help you navigate the stresses of renovation projects. I’ve even created a Why Not Just Move calculator as a potential exit path.