Finally getting started - H
At nearly 4 months to the day of homeownership, we are now ready to start our remodel project with plans, permits, and designs in hand. We will actually be able to start living there soon. THANK GOODNESS!
So, I've learned a lot through this process, not nearly all that there is to learn, but the two things I will take away from this experience are to trust my own instincts and find 1 or 2 trustworthy people to listen to and discard the rest. With all the people you work with when doing something like this, everyone has an opinion on what you're doing and what's best, and everyone will come off as an expert, even those with no formal training (like people at HD). I found that I often felt crippled by it all b/c I didn't know whom to listen to. I also thought that maybe when it comes to designing a kitchen or bath (in terms of figuring out cabinet placement or finishes), that there's one right answer, but there isn't. I have a decent sense of design and practicality that I can trust too, so if there's a next time, I don't have to keep second guessing myself.
Other things I've learned.
RH is not that expensive when you compare it to getting custom bath cabinetry. It's not as well made (e.g. it's made with veneers rather than solid wood surfaces), but it's adequate and looks good plus it's a third of the cost of custom stuff.
The more you can do yourself, the less it will cost you. Of course if you're pretty handy, it'll save you to do any work yourself, but I'm referring to finding sub-contractors of your own. Having a contractor use all of his own subs would have cost us more. Using the vendors that our designers would have hired would have cost us more. It's more work for you though.
The stock market doesn't care that I'm remodeling. Neither does my baby.
That being said, a house is a thing just like cash, and it's not something to fret extra hard over. It just stresses you out more and deprives you of sleep...needlessly.
Nothing is set in stone, even once you've pulled your permits and have final plans.
So, I've learned a lot through this process, not nearly all that there is to learn, but the two things I will take away from this experience are to trust my own instincts and find 1 or 2 trustworthy people to listen to and discard the rest. With all the people you work with when doing something like this, everyone has an opinion on what you're doing and what's best, and everyone will come off as an expert, even those with no formal training (like people at HD). I found that I often felt crippled by it all b/c I didn't know whom to listen to. I also thought that maybe when it comes to designing a kitchen or bath (in terms of figuring out cabinet placement or finishes), that there's one right answer, but there isn't. I have a decent sense of design and practicality that I can trust too, so if there's a next time, I don't have to keep second guessing myself.
Other things I've learned.
RH is not that expensive when you compare it to getting custom bath cabinetry. It's not as well made (e.g. it's made with veneers rather than solid wood surfaces), but it's adequate and looks good plus it's a third of the cost of custom stuff.
The more you can do yourself, the less it will cost you. Of course if you're pretty handy, it'll save you to do any work yourself, but I'm referring to finding sub-contractors of your own. Having a contractor use all of his own subs would have cost us more. Using the vendors that our designers would have hired would have cost us more. It's more work for you though.
The stock market doesn't care that I'm remodeling. Neither does my baby.
That being said, a house is a thing just like cash, and it's not something to fret extra hard over. It just stresses you out more and deprives you of sleep...needlessly.
Nothing is set in stone, even once you've pulled your permits and have final plans.
posted by haed at 12:25 PM
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