WHEN SHOULD YOU START PLANNING YOUR REMODEL?
Planning a home renovation can be stressful, especially if you don’t plan far enough in advance. Most homeowners think about what they want to do with their home the moment they move in, but they don’t act until a few months before they want the project to be completed. Unfortunately, this does not leave enough time to organize and execute everything that goes into the project.
Condensing the process into a few months often means sacrificing products with long lead times for less desirable products and adding undue stress to the contractor and trade partners. Ideally, you would want all products selected, ordered, and received before the start date of your renovation. Those selections would then need to be incorporated into detailed plans, so everyone involved in the execution of the remodel knows exactly what to do, therefore minimizing miscommunication and errors.
Executing a flawless renovation involves three key phases, Design/Selection, Order Fulfillment, and Production.
The Design/Selection phase begins with the first in-home consultation and ends at contract signing. During this phase, you would work with your Design-Build team to draft the ideal layout for your space and select every product, including colors, styles, and finishes, for the entire project. Selecting everything from cabinetry to what edging you would like for your tile may seem tedious before any construction starts, but planning all the renovation specifics at this stage allows the next two project phases to advance smoothly. Once this phase is complete your project progresses to the next phase, Order Fulfillment.
During the Order Fulfillment phase, it may seem as if nothing is happening, however, this is arguably one of the most important phases. This is where the materials are ordered, received, and inventoried so all items are ready for day one of your renovation. This is also the step when the design team transfers all of the project’s details to the production team. This ensures a smooth hand-off and a flawless start to the job. This time is also used to obtain all the necessary permits needed. Towards the end of this phase you should expect a pre-construction meeting at your home for an introduction to the lead carpenter assigned to your project and to go over some details of what to expect during construction, logistics on storage, and location of other equipment needed to complete your renovation.
The Production or construction phase of the project is the most exciting phase. Here, all your planning is translated to create a space you can enjoy and be proud of. This is also the phase when things can go wrong and delays can occur if the first two phases were rushed or skipped. There’s nothing worse than living in a home during a renovation that takes 2-3 times as long as anticipated! If the first two phases were followed you can expect a remodel to go as stress-free as possible, except maybe for some dust!
How far ahead should you start planning your renovation? Let’s take a look at the typical timeline for all three phases. If you’re working with a reputable Design-Build firm you should expect to have approximately 6 meetings during the Design/Selection phase, including the initial consultation at your home. The overall time needed to complete this process is approximately 10 weeks. The time between meetings is used to revise plans and update selections and pricing. Once a plan is finalized, Order Fulfillment can begin. the length of this stage varies depending on the product selections and their lead times. The typical timeline for product acquisition is 8-12 weeks. Once all products are received your project will move to the Production Phase. The duration of this phase varies by the scope of the work being done. A more extensive scope of work will take many more weeks than a remodel with minor updates. On average this phase lasts between 6-10 weeks.
Based on these timelines, it’s a good idea to engage with a Design-Build firm approximately 24 to 32 weeks before the date you want your project finished. Add some additional time for padding if you have a hard date you want your project completed by. While it’s understandable to want your renovation to be completed as quickly as possible, be prepared to allow ample time for proper planning and attention to detail which are crucial for the project to go smoothly.