If you are moving to a new city, or you own a recreational property somewhere, how do you manage a renovation when you are nowhere near the site? Here are some tips that will make the experience go more smoothly.
Tip #1: Plan, plan, plan!
- Over show and also tell
- Have elevations of almost every wall
- Notate the daylights out of the drawings
- Have all fixtures and finishes chosen…..and ordered!
Tip #2: Choose a long-distance friendly contractor
- Not just some guy with tools in his truck!
- Make sure they are highly professional and seasoned with a stellar track record
- Tech savvy, great communicator etc. …no flip phones or aversion to video chat etc. so that you can get regular updates and video tours of the site.
Tip #3: Solid communication system
- There are many great cloud-based project management software systems out there with client and builder portals to keep track of all communication
- Regular site status updates.
Tip #4: Schedule site visits with milestones in the schedule
- Ideally before the next big phases of work, or before the point of no return (or painful return) – i.e., before drywall goes up, make sure all the plumbing and electrical are in the right place.
- Have an agenda to keep meetings on track with your contractor.
Tip #5: Have a boots-on-the-ground person to do regular check-ins
- Could be a friend or a new neighbour
- If it’s a large project, a local consultant/construction management firm might be a great idea
and the last tip applies to ALL renovations…
Tip #6: Expect to pay what the project is worth and don’t change your mind partway through on decisions that you’ve already made and planned around.
This topic was covered in Season 3, Episode 26 of our podcast, All Things Renovation. To listen to the full episode and read the show notes (including the plant list with photos), visit www.AllThingsRenovation.com or click on the Podcast tab at the top of our homepage at www.woodbeart.com.
