Being my own client

We are almost halfway through the initial renovations on my house.  I have often thought I understood how my clients felt about the process of renovating their home, working with a budget, dealing with a mess, worrying about it getting done and done well.  I didn’t, until now.  Typically I am the voice of positivity and encouraging them to be patient and that somehow we’ll work it all out.  People may think I am crazy, but as my client, I have been talking to myself a lot lately.  I have been giving myself pep-talks and cheering the process onward.

This may be the simplest, easiest, best thing I have ever done for myself (and Tess).  It is moving along without much worry on my side.  That is likely due to the fantastic team that Kimberly Lawrence has put in place, and that she is doing the big worrying for me.  Don’t get me wrong, my subconcious has been meeting regularly about this and is equally optimistic in the middle of the night.  Having a quick set of “plans” wasn’t difficult for me.  I was very definitive in my choices, most of the time.  As is often the case, the budget was pre-determined.  So we ended up worked backwards from my vision to what I could actually have at this point.  For example and for the time being, there will be an interim Kitchen.  When the old range kicks the bucket, then I will build the real plan.  In the meantime, we have relocated some cabinetry, will supplement with some open shelving, and I’ll have new plumbing including a new dishwasher.  So I must say that even though the picture is not complete, the first draft is going to be terrific.

Thankfully Kimberly has been patient and still answers the phone enthusiastically when I call and say “Can we still do …?”  And though I will have to do a lot of interior painting myself, no one is asking me to do ceilings or trim!  This is a very good thing, since I can’t reach the picture mould or the ceiling.  Now, I have had to make a concerted effort to refrain from hovering, particularly during demolition.  I am a fright when it comes to protecting things that are to remain, and demolition is typically when that stuff gets destroyed.  So I think by now the team knows I am going to stay out of the way, and that they should not make any assumptions.  Obviously I do have very strong opinions about the details.

All told, the house is coming along quite well.  I am still tickled to think that I’ll be moving in in just a few weeks.  And the lessons I have confirmed by being my own client are:  1. Pick the right team members. Negotiating with a contractor you can work with is better than making sure you find the cheapest price.  2. Remember that everyone on the team has a difficult job.  They want to do it well.  So let them.  And tell them when they have succeeded.  3. Be open to suggestions. They might be better than the original plan.  4. As long as the plan and team are communicating well throughout the process it will work out in the end.