Walking the Rightsizing Walk – PART 5: If You Want a Remodel to Go Fast, Know What You Want

Since selling The Happier Yellow House and moving out, my husband, DC, and I had one goal —move into our new house, The Happiest Yellow House, as soon as possible. But first we wanted to renovate. Our mantra became: Fix it fast.  

As anyone who has bought a house and remodeled before moving in understands, managing multiple home improvement projects at once takes the strategic genius of George Washington, the diplomacy of Nelson Mandela and a pot of Irish luck.

I did everything in my power, which frankly wasn’t much. Though many variables were out of my control, what I could control was making decisions. I’ve learned that if you don’t make up your mind fast, you will be waiting at Decision-Making Station a long time before the next contractor comes along. Your painter has better things to do than wait for you to decide between Alpine White and Celery Mist.

Still, I get why homeowners freeze. Money is flying out of your bank account faster than planes from O’Hare while you’re juggling dozens of decisions — flooring, tile, paint, built-ins, window coverings, light fixtures, appliances, I am hyperventilating just listing this — and you want to get it right. Each choice is expensive, and one decision impacts the next. They need to work together.

We began making remodeling decisions even before we made an offer on The Happiest Yellow House. Because just choosing a bathroom tile can take me weeks, I told DC: “I’m going to need professional help.”

“Sally?” was his one-word response.

“Sally,” I echoed.

Sally Ward is a talented interior designer I’ve worked with before. She and I walked the HYH assessing what we’d need to do: Replace the flooring, which was a dated and choppy mix of three types of floor tile, worn carpet, and vinyl wood plank; gut and remodel two bathrooms, which had not been updated since the house was built 22 years ago, and even then were only builder grade; repaint most of the interior; add built-in bookcases and cabinets for my office and a small reading nook, and replace light fixtures.

We got estimates to rip out and replace flooring with all wood, to paint, and to demo the baths and install new tile, flooring and vanities. Then DC and I crunched the numbers, braced ourselves for what would lie ahead, and made an offer adjusted partly for the improvements.

In the four weeks between offer accepted and deal done, I worked with Sally to choose flooring and a flooring company, bathroom tiles, fixtures and finishes, wall colors and built-in designs. Together, we made a plan and a palette, so the day DC and I got the keys to our new house, we were ready to remodel.

If you, too, want to make renovations on a new home go quickly, here’s how to make the process move along.

·      Make up your mind. Homeowners often complain about contractors not getting the job done on time, but the homeowner is often to blame. Slow decision making stalls home improvements more than just about anything else. If you want your project done quickly, make decisions early. That great cabinet builder will move you to the back of the line if you can’t pick a cabinet door. Because I didn’t want indecision to slow me down, Sally helped me make fast and good choices.

·      Create your vision. What you choose to put on your floors, walls and windows form the backdrop for everything else in your home. They are what designers call “the shell,” and if they don’t come together harmoniously, the rest won’t either. Don’t wing it. Consider hiring a professional who can visualize your furnishings in the new space and pull together a background that works. You need a big-picture plan from the get-go.

·      Get an expert opinion. While each subcontractor can (and will) offer an opinion about his area, such as paint color or flooring material, ideally having someone who has the big picture in mind is the best way to create a cohesive look.

·      Line up your crews. In the weeks between offer accepted and deal done, talk to contractors, get competitive bids, choose and order materials and schedule workers, so they can start work the minute the house is yours. We closed on a Friday. Floor and bathroom demo started Monday morning.

·      Fix before you furnish. If you can swing it, when moving into a new home that you want to remodel, make as many improvements as possible before you move in. That keeps you out of the workers’ way, saves your eardrums, and lets you avoid breathing dust and fumes. Ripping out tile, installing new floors and repainting are messy jobs best accomplished when the house is empty.

·      Be flexible. If you pick a tile for, say, the shower floor then learn it won’t be in for three weeks, pick something else in stock. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of finished.

CAPTION: Pull It Together. Before gutting this bathroom (see before photo above right), we gathered samples of the finishes we wanted to use (see photo), ordered the materials, and lined up workers so the project could move forward. From demo to done took 40 days. Photos courtesy of Marni Jameson.

Marni Jameson is the award-winning author of seven home and lifestyle books, including “Downsizing the Family Home” and “Rightsize Today for Your Best Life Tomorrow.” Her books are available through all major book retailers and on her website: www.marnijameson.com.