The beginning of a renovation is an exciting time, but if you have never undertaken one before you may be apprehensive and worried about unknowns-you don’t know what you don’t know, right? Having supervised many renovations over the years, I know what to expect (most of the time!) and try my best to put my clients’ minds at ease. While size and scope varies by project, there are some common questions that I typically get asked at the beginning of construction. I thought I would share them with you this month (along with the answers I give to my own clients)  to help alleviate your worries.  The answers will also clarify some terms that you might come across in your own contract with an interior designer: 

Question #1: What is a change order?

A change order is work that is undertaken that is outside the original scope. For example: You paint your rooms and later decide to add crown molding. This results in the painter needing to go back a second time to paint and touch up walls. The materials, supply, and labor for all of this is outside the original scope of work, and therefore will be an additional fee.

Question #2: What is an unforeseen project expense?

An unforeseen expense is an issue/cost that could not have been anticipated before the project was underway. For example: We remove your existing floor to find mold growing from an old water pipe leak underneath. This needs to be treated before the new flooring can be installed. The issue was unknown until the old flooring was removed; therefore, it is an unforeseen expense.

Question #3: Why does it take more than a day or two to get the small revisions I have requested? 

While we do build in time for revisions to each design, the timing of each request is unpredictable. We do our best to be expedient in our response time, but often one small design change will domino into another within the portions of the project that have already been approved. We work diligently to search for the best solution without the need to re-work the overall design selections. This takes time. Additionally, we are often waiting on our vendors to get back to us with the answers to the questions we have posed regarding the replacement requested, as sometimes the details required are part of the specifications that we do not have readily at our disposal.

Question #4: I love my design, but the (insert item here) seemed a little expensive so I searched for it online. I found the same one on the Internet for less. Why didn’t you give me that price?

We source the majority of items in our projects from vendors with whom we have developed a relationship. This is important because any problems that may arise are handled immediately with the expediency that our well-developed relationships provide. If an item is damaged it is handled and replaced without us spending hours on hold with an obscure vendor or website. 

You may find a website that sells (insert item here) cheaper, and it is usually due to the volume at which this source purchases the item. We don’t always get the deepest trade pricing, but we do pass on the savings to you for all of your purchases through us. Thus the overall total will still be less than if you were to shop “retail”.

Question #5: My remodeling project is under construction and on a timeline. Why don’t I have workers in my house every day?

General Contractors are masters at logistics. There is an order for every different type of job and inspections are needed at different stages of construction to assure work has been done to code and/or that the next steps in the process can get started. There will be days when no one shows up to your project. The contractor may be waiting for a delivery to arrive and is using his team elsewhere, or perhaps he has asked them to pick up tools or materials. Trust that he has everything in hand; we are also liaising with him to make sure that the job is on schedule. 

Now that you have answers to these FAQ’s, hopefully now when you begin your renovation journey the jitters are gone and the path is as smooth as possible. If you’re ready to start, or would like to ask me some more questions, schedule a discovery call and I am happy to answer as many as you have!