Got a reno or a build coming up that you’ll be hiring professionals to do?
If so, and you want to be pleased as punch with the outcome, probably the most important question you can ask yourself at this stage is: "Do I want to be right, or do I want to be happy?"
How about BOTH?
That’s why you’re hiring qualified professionals to get the work done.
So, assuming you do your homework to assure yourself you’re actually hiring qualified licensed professionals who work to current codes, the next essential step on this critical path is to establish successful communication with those being paid by you to make your construction dreams come true.
No question, the devil is in the details.
Example: back in April of this year, my good friend Beverly Johnson purchased and moved into an older but charming Winnipeg home.
She immediately put her reno plan in gear and got down to business. She’s made tremendous progress — there’s even some garage envy happening with the friendly folks down her lane.
But she is feeling frustrated because of an ongoing problem. Johnson had an old 12x18-foot garage demolished and a new 22x22-foot insulated garage constructed. Wonderful work, except for the communication glitch that resulted in her having a smaller electrical panel installed than she had asked for. Shouldn’t have happened.
The landscaping company did a fine job with her yard, although just prior to installing the gorgeous stone slabs replacing all the grass, Johnson was asked "these are the stones and colours you picked, right?"
"No," she replied, "they aren’t." Adjustment made, disaster prevented. Looks great.
All went wonderfully with the new fence, it is very nice, but that communication thing fell apart again somewhat when the company hired to paint the house got a little premature.
"They suddenly arrived over a week ahead of what we’d scheduled," Johnson said, "and our agreed-upon colour samples had disappeared in the meantime, slowing things up a bit."
Frustrating. Regardless, she is happy with the quality of work completed to date, and is closely monitoring project areas still underway.
Her advice to those of us planning a build or reno? "Beyond face value, ask for references, contact information, and talk to previous customers regarding their satisfaction level with companies being considered. It just always pays to do the due diligence." Johnson says. "And as for details agreed upon for upcoming work, it is best for all concerned if they are written down with each party keeping a copy, and reviewed before work begins."
Sounds reasonable. We live in one very busy world, making communication, co-ordination and follow-through really important to avoid everything from inconvenience all the way up to significant errors that can be very costly to correct. Talk about a buzz-killer. All so preventable.
At the end of the day, Johnson is very happy with the way her reno is unfolding — she is thrilled her backyard no longer slopes somewhat radically toward the house, she loves her new garage, stone backyard, fence and front landscaping, and she knows the paint job will add the perfect finishing touch.
The new sidewalk out front is a bit of a showpiece as well.
Next it’s off to the local garden centres to get all the plants, flowers, bushes and so on she needs to fill up her new beds.
One landscaping creation she’s particularly excited about is the lovely, small stone area designed and designated as the backyard ensuite for the dog she will soon be seeking to add to her family.
Johnson is presently in talks with her cat Lucy as to how all of that is going to unfold.Lucy has lawyered up and is writing everything down, each and every detail, to be carefully reviewed before poochie comes home. Smart kitty.
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