Home Renovation Part 4: Tasks List

The magic word that you need to know is "lead time". It is the time from the placement of the order until it is delivered. The lead time may be a few months for custom kitchen cabinets, and a few days for off-the-shelf items. There are always unexpected surprises. The architect could tell you about the expected lead time of various items. You should assume that the typical lead time is about 1 month, even for so called "off the shelf" items.

I marked which item is typically included in the contract with the general contractor. You should ask ahead what is included in the contract and what is not. In general, all standard materials (lumber, Sheetrock, electrical wires, paint, electrical panel & switches) is included in the contract. Everything else is extra.

Here is a rough list of tasks before and during the project:

1. Pick an architect.
   
2. Pick a style for the renovation. Typical choices are contemporary, traditional, and country. Once you pick the style, all of the items should match it (faucets, light fixtures, kitchen cabinets, etc).
3. Decide about the scope of the project and prepare detailed plans.
4. Pick a general contractor, which includes a rough estimate of the entire project cost. The general contractor will prepare an estimate for all carpentry, masonry, plumbing, painting, and electrical work. The A/C system will typically have a separate estimate. Get a firm date for the beginning of the job.
5. Pick and order kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities. The cost of the cabinets and vanities is normally not included in the contract. The contract may include installation. I asked the cabinet maker to install the kitchen cabinets, because this is a major job and it should be done right.
6. Decide which appliances will stay in the kitchen and which appliance will be replaced. Pick the new appliances but do not order them yet. Supply the external dimensions of the appliances and the necessary clearance around them to the cabinet maker.
7. Arrange for moving your belonging to storage during the project (if you decide to stay in a rented place during the project).
8. Pick plumbing supplies: kitchen faucet, bathroom faucets, bathtub, medicine cabinets, toilets, sinks, bathroom accessories. The contract usually covers the installation of the above, but you have to pay for them.
9. Pick tiles (kitchen back splash, bathrooms walls & floors, other rooms). This takes a lot of time. The contract usually covers laying the tiles in a rectangular pattern, but you have to pay for them.
10. Ask a glass person about your ideas of the shower and bathtub doors. You may need to change the design of the tiles or shower basin to fit the glass door(s).
11. Pick the kitchen and vanities counter top material (granite, engineered stone, Corian, etc) and color. This is normally not included in the contract.
12. Relocate to a rented place, and move your belongings to storage.
13. Project starts. Meet with the contractor and architect weekly until project ends.
14. Examine your home at least weekly before meeting with the contractor and note all problems. Look out especially for hidden water damage that is exposed by the work. This is the right time to fix it!
    
15. Pick and order all bathroom accessories (grab bars, shower baskets, toilet paper holders, spare paper holders, towel bars, etc). They should match the style of the shower/batch plumbing. Decide where you want to mount each and every one of them. If you rebuild the bathrooms from the studs up, the contractor should place wood backing behind the drywall, so these accessories will remain attached to the wall for many years. This is especially important for grab bars. Remember to order towel bars and other accessories for sinks outside the shower/bathtub areas.
16. Pick and order lighting fixtures and ceiling fans. The contract usually includes installing light fixtures, but you have to pay for them.
17. Pick and order front door. You may get an allowance for the front door in the contract.
18. Pick paint colors and wallpaper. Painting and the cost of the paint is normally included in the contract. The wallpaper may not be covered in the contract, but the hanging the wallpaper may be included.
19. Call the windows person to fix existing windows or replace them. You may need to dismantle and re-assemble some windows. You need to fix the windows before painting starts.
    
20. Pick and order glass doors and mirrors. This is normally not included in the contract. The glass items are installed after tile work has been completed.
    
21. Design and order shelves for closets. Pick a shelving system that can accomodate future changes. For example, your kids will grow, so you will need a taller hanging space for their clothes. The shelves should be installed after painting is completed.
22. Pick carpets. You may get an allowance for the carpets. The carpets should be installed after painting is completed.
23. Arrange for the stone yard person to template the base kitchen cabinets after they are installed.
    
24. Order the new kitchen appliances and have them installed after the base kitchen cabinets and the counter top are installed.
25. Near the end of the project: perform walk-through with the contractor and architect and note all incomplete/incorrect tasks.
26. Near the end of the project: find if you can donate your old plumbing supplies and appliances. Otherwise, you need to throw them away. Call Habitat for Humanity.
27. Order new blinds and have them installed.
28. Optional: order new furniture, like night stands, living room furniture, etc.
    
29. Before moving back: ask Verizon or you local phone company to connect all new phone jacks and verify that the old phone jacks work. The electrician will run the new phone wires to the phone wiring block, but he/she will not connect your new phone jacks. It makes sense to have "inside wire maintenance" with Verizon a few months before you ask Verizon to connect the new phone jacks. They may charge 100+ dollars per new phone jacks.
    
30. Project ends.
31. Rekey your locks.
    
32. Move your belongings from storage back home.
    
33. Go over remaining tasks with your contractor after you moved home. Hopefully this list will be short.
34. Celebrate. You deserve it.