Build Smart
We live in a hectic society. If you are like me, you always seem to be running from one deadline, meeting, job estimate or kid’s activity to another. In our world, deadlines seem to be everywhere.
When it comes to a home remodeling project, determining the end date of a project and identifying the steps needed to make sure you meet those targets is today’s subject. One of my favorite “construction” movies is The Money Pit starring Tom Hanks and Shelly Long. When the project manager from the Sherk brothers arrives on site and Tom Hanks’ character asks him how long he thinks the project will take, his answer is 2 weeks (which, if you have ever seen the movie, is a totally unrealistic timeline). This drives home the point that many times contractors are misleading about how long a project will take in order to secure the work. Throughout the rest of The Money Pit,” the “2 weeks” line is repeated many times in regard to how much longer until the work is complete.
The start of a project is always exciting: everyone seems to love demo. In fact, in my new role as director of construction for Habitat for Humanity Eastern CT, we are developing a “wrecking crew” just to help with demo on homes gifted to us. It’s after the demo that things can get tricky. I have seen projects get to the end of demo and stall until materials or special order items arrive.
I have heard many times that there are three main factors that impact the outcome of a project: speed, quality and price. As a homeowner, try to prioritize two of these factors. The rest will fall into place for a positive result.
Choose wisely. And remember, your project will definitely be completed in 2 weeks! (But probably not really.)
Whether you’re a homeowner looking for a professional to help with installation or a pro interested in purchasing Ply Gem brands and product lines, we’ve got you covered.