Three Truths Home Improvement Shows Don't Want You to Know About Renovations
Home renovation shows are my guilty pleasure-because they are so out of touch with reality, and I get to laugh at how little they depict the ACTUAL design and construction process. A complete new build from the ground up in a month? Not gonna happen in real life! A brand new kitchen in a week? Not a chance! But they sure do make it seem like it’s possible, don't they? Let me share with you what really happens behind the scenes in order to bring a design to life:
TRUTH #1: The Design is Set Long Before Demo Day
On TV, demo day happens at the exact same time that the homeowner is picking out finishes. Walls are going up while the client is deciding whether or not they want a shower and a bathtub or just a shower. This absolutely does NOT happen in a real project. Here's a realistic progression of work:
· Programming Phase: information gathering (photos, measurements, interviews and questionnaires to client, inspiration images)
· Schematic Design: space planning, floor plan options, initial interior finish recommendations, deciding general design direction
· Design Development: refining solutions, gathering more precise information, further development of floorpan(s), specific material, fixture, appliance, and equipment selection recommendations, kitchen and bathroom layouts with elevations
· Construction Documentation: finalizing all details for floor plans, elevations, cabinet and finishes, door and window specifications, review and coordination of mechanical, electrical and plumbing details, finalized set of contract documents ready for bidding and permitting
TRUTH #2: The Timeline is Highly Calibrated and Much Longer than a Few Weeks
Beyond the actual drawings, on TV there are massive crews working around the clock to meet the unrealistic deadlines. Actual projects involve designers, contractors and specialists who work diligently for the client (during normal business hours) to produce an amazing final project. A thorough design process should be given at least 2-6 months, depending on the size and scope of the project. Here are average real-world timelines:
· Scope of Work and Contract Signing: 1-2 weeks
· Programming Phase: 2 weeks
· Schematic Design: 4-6 weeks
· Design Development: 4-6 weeks
· Construction Documentation: 2-4 weeks
It's only AFTER all this that construction actually starts, and depending on the size and scope of your project, the build time could take anywhere from 4 months to over a year. Not quite the HGTV month you envisioned, I know, but trust me, the time and attention to detail that is actually taken in a real-world project will result in a MUCH better outcome with fewer headaches and problems. You can't rush good design!
TRUTH #3: Your Monetary Investment is Inclusive of All Materials & Labor
While TV shows may depict fully designed spaces, they rarely present any actual budgets for materials and labor, and even when they do, the numbers are completely unrealistic. Another thing that these shows typically neglect to divulge, is that often labor and furnishings are not actually purchased by the homeowner, but donated or sponsored by companies in exchange for being featured on the program. Once again, this presents an unrealistic expectation, "luxury design for less" may sound like a great show title, but it does homeowners a real disservice by creating unrealistic budget expectations. Make sure you do your homework! Speak with contractors and ask them how much they actually charge. Go into kitchen and bathroom showrooms and find out the real-world cost for all the fixtures and fittings that you want. Browse furniture stores online and price out what a fully furnished room will actually cost. This will save you sticker shock in the long run. We’ve even put together a handy furniture pricing list for every room in your house to help you figure this out. Click here to get it.
So now that you have more realistic expectations for your renovation, the next step is to contact a designer early to understand the process, timeline & investment in greater detail based on your particular project.
If you're ready to chat with home pros that have your real-life best interest in mind, please reach out and schedule a Discovery Call. We can't wait to hear about your project!
