I had a lot of "ah ha" moments during the course of or various renovation projects. I learned something new each time we remodeled, but as we moved back into our home. I learned things out along the way that would have made the journey easier.
Yes, there would have been surprises and adjustments to the plans along the way, but if I had only known what I know now, many issues could have been avoided. I would have spent our money differently.
I keep having conversations with other homeowners about their experiences and keep hear similar stories. They told me frustrating surprises that cost them time and hard-earned money. Often I hear different versions of the same tales over and over again. Their plans have gaps, misaligned assumptions and inadequate or unclear communication with contractors. I can see them now.
In my home project, knowing what I know now, I could have prevented:
Rework
Delays
Cost escalation
Your renovation story doesn't have to be a nightmare. That's why I'm here. That's my why. To make your renovation easier and prepare you to prevent avoidable rework, delays and project cost increases.
Your project can be a success. But you need to know where to put your time and energy and when to make decisions. Everything you read here is for you, the homeowner.
About the author
Hey there neighbor, I'm Julie Bennett.
I'm a homeowner turned renovator and a Seattle real estate agent. I'm a woman on a mission to make renovation easier. I had some "if I had only known" moments when renovating my homes. I started Renovator's Toolkit to help homeowners like you "know what you don't know."