Lesson 2
You Can Get a Better Price
Though the Tanseys' initial budget wasn't as solid
as they would have liked, their diligence in pricing out subcontractors
and materials saved them thousands over the course of the project.
After she was quoted $8,000 to cut down a tree, Erika called seven
more services before getting a $4,000 bid. When it was time to
paint the interior trim, she got estimates from $5,000 to $15,000.
One landscaper said the job would take $35,000; she found someone
to do it for $11,000.
As Erika's experiences prove, it's worth the time
to get at least three bids on major aspects of the project. The
quotes can range wildly, in part because contractors are loath
to give solid estimates to people who aren't serious about hiring
them, says Heavens. They tend to be more realistic if you call
because of a word-of-mouth recommendation, however. So ask friends,
family, even the local paint or lumber supply store for names.
"They'll know who pays their bills on time, what their reputation
is," says Jim Lapides of the National Association of Home
Builders Remodelors Council. All that said, don't make money the
sole basis of your decision. You want to be confident—via
references and track record—that the person will get the
job done right in a reasonable amount of time.
Lesson 3
Don't Count on Hosting New Year's Eve Dinner
When the Tanseys' new windows didn't make it onto
the back of a delivery truck, that set off a chain reaction. Without
windows, the siding couldn't be put on. Without siding, there
could be no insulation, which meant no drywall and therefore no
trim, light fixtures or flooring. One snag resulted in a three-week
delay.
It was one of many holdups: Torrential rain flooded
the basement. The framer came down with a bad case of pneumonia
and couldn't work. The flooring guy shot a pipe with his nail
gun, triggering a leak.
The Tanseys didn't have much control over these
setbacks. But they did have control over their reaction to them.
Because they weren't married to deadlines, they found it easier
to cope with changes in plan. They'd hoped to be in the house
by April (ha!), but they'd also been skeptical enough to sign
a month-to-month lease on the no-frills apartment they were renting.
It was a smart backup plan, since their move-in estimate turned
out to be off by four months. Bottom line: There will be delays,
some of them completely out of your control. And if you're trying
to have the house finished before the birth of your triplets,
you're setting yourself up for a bad case of acid reflux.
Lesson 4
Even Bob Vila Has His Limits
While Erika dealt with subcontractors, kept track
of materials and cared for their then infant daughter Claire,
Greg spent weeknights and weekends at the house. "Sometimes
I feel like a single mom," Erika said mid-construction. "But
it's not like Greg's living it up. The poor guy works all day,
then goes to work again."
Assuming
you do the job right, you can save a lot of money rolling up your
sleeves and doing it yourself. But, as Erika and Greg learned,
this isn't free money. "The three key elements of a remodel
are cost, quality and time—and they all conflict,"
says Fahlman. "You are constantly having to pick which is
more important." Initially, the couple opted to save money
at the expense of their time together. After doing nearly all
of the demolition work, Greg helped with framing and then, with
a how-to book in hand, took on the electrical work. He'd planned
to tackle the tiling too, but after months of 16-hour days, he
thought better of it. As those in the midst of a renovation should
regularly do, he and his wife reassessed what they were willing
to sacrifice. This time, money won out. "We had three tile
guys here for six weeks," says Erika. "It was the best
$12,000 I've ever spent."
That unbudgeted cost, plus landscaping, brought
the Tanseys' total remodeling bill to $280,000, for a final tally
of $726,000 including the house itself. Happily, their efforts
and expense paid off. "On the one hand, we had a crazy year,"
says Erika. "But we love our house." And they've made
money on it, at least on paper: Based on comparable sales, local
real estate agent Trista Nelson values it at $980,000. "We
wouldn't have been able to afford nearly as nice a house if we
hadn't remodeled," says Greg. Proud of their accomplishments,
he and his wife are eager to start planning their next project:
a relaxing family vacation.
