It’s really interesting for me, being in this business because my husband is also self-employed, as a renovation contractor. Both of us, despite being in completely different fields, share a lot in common (replace the word “renovation, renovator” for “online, project team”):
- Everyone thinks they can do his job…so why does it cost so much? e.g.”What? It’s just a bit of tile!” or “oh, come on, you can build a custom cabinet with legs/hinges/doors/shelves…because I WILL you to” Seriously. That was a home “designer”…with no credentials, just narcissism.
- Rarely do people want to take the time OR money to plan their renovation project scope out, and THEN figure out timing and cost. OR have a budget – and adjust expectations of gutting the whole place and getting *everything* done…for 30K.
- Oh, and “designers” like on HGTV? Please. stop. Honestly. You guys make it really difficult for good, honest renovators to do their job. Holmes on Homes is fantastic…a wonderful man, does everything right…but TV time isn’t real time. There is NO way in the world that a house that’s just been plastered will dry in 8 hours, in the GTA August humidity. Unless you hire 100 kids with blow-dryers (not advised).
- These are the obstacles that Euro Renovations deals with all the time. The best clients? IT project managers – scope, risk and mitigating it, timeline, unforeseen whatever….this is why that my husband and I work well together. We start a project with requirements. If it’s a re-design of the kitchen we bring in Graham, out designer. And then we make a budget….and here’s where the triangle expands. We have a scope, and budget….but we have no timeline.
I wish, wish and wish that everyone who buys a home and has watched a renovation show would re-set their expectations. And honestly, *work* with the renovator to get it. Man, we live together – and we have had to implement a really strong project mgmt system, just to keep us happy.