Typically, every project needs a plan. Those need to be drafted, reviewed, and eventually approved.

Plan on 2-4 weeks on this unless you pinned the tail on the donkey the first go around.

Then there’s permits (add link to b/vlog) with local municipalities. These can add weeks and sometimes months when Architectural Review Boards (ARB)(insert link) and HOA’s have a say in your request. (Emphasis on request, they may change the whole course of your project depending on pre-determined requirement you may not be aware of, usually adding cost to your project)

Permit phase can take another 2-4 weeks depending on plan review and your architect (bonus if your GC has in house architecture and design as this eliminates usual inefficiencies of communication and vision casting)

Then there’s the scope of work.

A house could take as few as 4 months to build but a bathroom could be completely gutted and reconstructed in a couple of weeks.

So, we’re at 4-possibly 8 weeks now before work can commence. That’s from the time you made a commitment to work with your GC or Architect if they are all you have in your area.

In the end you’ll need the skills or 5 different skilled tradesman to accomplish the task! All branched over a time period you cant rush if you want a good result.

In an existing home this could range from $8-18,000 depending on size and finishes!

Here are a few factors that could affect the cost of your project in relation to the timeframe.

1. Weather. Often times there are rental fees and cost occurrence to necessary equipment on your project. If weather postpones production these cost could fall back on you (it is YOUR project)

2. Non-performance on contract related answering of work orders. Typically there’s a short time frame on answering crucial questions related to keeping schedule on track. If they aren’t answered in the agreed upon time think of all the re-scheduling that needs to happen to get everyone in sync, it isn’t easy.

3. Making changes. It really isn’t “just that easy” after all. Design usually has many factors of functionality and thinking its that simple will cost you possibly a lot for such an “easy” task.

4. Assuming things. Never assume anything. Is it per the plan or design? Did you get it in writing? These are change/work orders and will be on you to pay. Know what’s being built!

All these factors could greatly affect the timeframe of your project and COST you more than you initially thought. Best to use these as anchors of what to avoid and have in writing with clarity before signing contracts.

A couple ways they can tell new work was done when they look up closed permits on your home.

1. Wire has dates printed on the loom, a quick give away if the last home inspection was years before the date on the wire (no, a real estate home inspection doesn’t count as a municipality inspection.)

2. Water is a big cause of damage to a home. Newer PVC (also dated) and PEX with shark bite connectors (insert a picture of both) on a bathroom or kitchen is another dead give away.

The other reason you should pull a permit (and/or work with contractors who does), is because you want another set of professional unbiased eyes making sure work is being performed correctly.

Now that being said they aren’t checking the quality of the work performed, just that its being done per code and with the right materials like GFCI’s, correct schedule piping, proper joist, and many, many other aspects to building.

So ask yourself, do you feel lucky? (Insert Clint Eastwood picture) If so, go right ahead and take on that project, and hope nothing ever happens. But know this, its generally not to hard to get a permit and have them inspect that you did your project properly for your own sake and the health and safety of your friends and family.

In the end hindsight is 20/20 and what we’ve found is for more peace of mind and for a company to stand behind the products they supply It’s best to not go lone ranger in search of that “steal of a deal.”