The process of renovating a home, depending on the size of
the project, can be an intimidating project.
Even small repairs sometimes can lead to big stress if we're not
comfortable having strangers in our home.
It's important to ensure a comfort level with your builder that reduces
the worry and stress during your renovations so that not only is the completed
project beautiful, but the actual process of construction is a pleasure as
well.
Likewise,
for the small business owner taking on increasingly larger budget projects,
there are easily as many areas of stress and pitfalls that can overwhelm and damage
projects. The homeowner can relax once
the dust has settled, but the owner of a construction business can face a few
more projects knowing the profits will go to repair the mistakes of that last
disaster.
The result
of this cocktail mix of potentialities is that renovations are often approached
with dread and uncertainty on the one side and bravado and a thin veil of
strength on the other. Having heard all
the stories of great projects gone terribly wrong, the fear that things can go bad
will invite the reality that they just might again.
The solution is communication
Talking to
each other is absolutely the best way to avoid problems in any situation. A renovation is no different. In some ways it resembles a marriage (albeit
short) and a blending of families and requires all the skills, patience,
finesse and forgiveness.
For a
renovation project to be successful, all tools must be laid on the table. The
builder presents a portfolio and the homeowners must open the doors to their
intimate closets. Fears and insecurities
must be made as evident as the dreams and desires. Beyond
the fancy pick-up and the big front door, the people should meet as partners,
joined together to create something wonderful.
Being open
and honest from the beginning, having a realistic conception of amount of dust
that is generated goes a long way to easing through difficulties when the roof
is torn off or the owner runs late on a decision. In any good relationship, talking through the
problems, ensures that problems can be removed and not grown to inoperable
tumors.
Money is the root of all good
People are often uncomfortable
talking about money, but in a large renovation, a lot of the green stuff must
change hands and it is not always easy.
The grease to get the project complete must be applied efficiently or
the engine comes to a grinding stop.
Ego and
power must be left at the door as much as it is possible to leave the muddy
boots. Certainly if "X" is not
accomplished, "Y" dollars should not be paid, but often in the
shadows lurks an insidious creature exerting control or undermining a sense of
worthiness that can easily foul things up.
Money
should be treated with the same care, respect and ultimate neutrality as the
lumber for which it is exchanged. It is
the commodity that builds the structure, no more or less than the nails that
hold it together. One cannot be done
without the other and so it is best considered with emotional neutrality as any
other item negotiated and executed in the contract.
Playing in the Sandbox
Staying
relaxed and focused on the end result keeps homeowners and builders on the same
team. The project is the uniting factor
and it should always be remembered that it is in the best interests of each
party to get it done in the best way possible.
No one
really wants a problem, but some are inclined by nature or experience to look
for them and in projects of this size and complication, there is no shortage of
possibility. A better understanding of
what it takes from both sides will more often create a meeting in the middle
that results in an addition or renovation in which all can take pride.
This is a
blog about finding and nurturing that sweet spot for both the homeowner and the
small business owner. Like marriage
counseling, it shines a light on various aspects of each individual, sometimes
in celebration and sometimes with discomfort.
The purpose is to make the union stronger.
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