Home Renovation Part 15: Lessons Learnt

The previous Blog entries list the obvious things you should do (pick a good architect and a capable general contractor, work with the recommended suppliers and subcontractors, avoid surprises, etc). I would like to mention the non-obvious lessons here.

• Treat the home renovation as your temporary part-time job if you want the project to end quickly. In my experience, you and your spouse may spend about two days a week for the entire duration of the project to ensure that it is done right and on time.
• If you and your spouse plan to keep working full time during the project, it is essential that your architect will supervise the work a few times a week. The architect should also verify that you got the correct items you ordered before they are installed (tiles, wallpaper, carpets, etc). You will pay more to avoid many problems down the road.
  
• Never template a cabinet that is not fully installed. Otherwise the countertop may not match the installed cabinet or the overhang will be incorrect.
• If a supplier promises that something will be done by a certain day of the week (like "next Monday"), ask him to confirm the calendar date ("So it is going to be ready by September 8th?"). In this way the supplier cannot claim that you did not understand him when it is not ready by Monday.
• You should verify that all of the items that you ordered for the house (tiles, carpets, wallpaper, borders, sinks, faucets, accessories, light fixtures, etc.) are correct as early as possible, and definitely before they are installed. If you find a discrepancy, you should replace the items promptly so they will not cause a delay.
  
• Read about my experience with forwarding mail before you consider it.
• If you order pre-assembled furniture, you must always ask for delivery to the room where it will stay. Some companies will deliver furniture across your threshold, but will not carry it across any steps. Some pre-assembled pieces of furniture are extremely heavy (200 lbs).
  
• Always support a heavy sink from below in addition to the clips that hold it to the countertop above.