Why You Should Hire Professionals to Save You Time & Money

In all the years I have been in the design and building field, I have had occassion in which I have had to "save" a project. I think all designers, architects, and builders have all had to do this at one time or another. I've had to take over design direction from other designers, I've had to flesh out bare-bone building documents created by architects and I have had to take over construction projects when the contractor has been fired or abadoned the job, always taking the owner's money in the process. I am in the special situation of being both a Professional designer and a licensed General Contractor. More and more professionals are obtaining both specialities, but as a woman, I am still a minority in this instance.

I cannot stress enough the importance of hiring a professional interior design and/or architect and a licensed General Contractor with licensed subs for your construction project. What may seem like a large up front expense to begin your project will end up tripling and getting you in the shorts by the end of you project if you fail to do so. I will have to look it up, but there is a telling quote that runs something like this:
"Pay for quality, cry only once
Pay for crap and cry everytime you see it."
Once I find it again, I will post it.

Your home is your investment, both financially and emotionally. Respect that.
You project does not have to cost a million dollars, but all successful projects start with good planning. That costs money. Its an investment. You are hiring people that will save you money in the end and are looking out for your best interests because their reputation is extremely important to them and you are their most valuable asset in referrals.

Professionals will thoroughly design your project, assess pitfalls and barriers, and take care of all issues before any construction starts. With professionals, you can esitmate the cost of your project from the beginning and have tools in which to asses the bids that you receive from general contractors or subcontractors. Designers and architects do offer services to assist homeowners with bid reviews to make sure all of the numbers are relative and within current cost estimates regionally and nationally.

Whatever you think your project will cost, multiply that by three to be fiscally safe. Planning a remodel is like planning a wedding. Unforseen conditions will add costs and something, at least one thing, will go wrong. Its how you, your designer and your contractor handle what goes wrong that will make the solutions successful. There is also a phrase that my father likes to use called "creeping elegance". You will want to keep redesigning your project as you go along. You will want to add, change, subtract, buy more, etc. If you are on a budget, stay within that budget as best you can. Designers and Architects can help you plan your remodel in phases if necessary to fit your budget. Ask the questions, pose the possibilities. This is your boat with your consultants on board helping you move it forward.

But always remember its your boat and you are in charge. Dont hesitate to ask questions, call in numbers, or stop your project if you think necessary. Everyone who works on your project is just a person, a human being. They are not God, they dont have more authority than you over your project. They may have more experience and expertise, but they work for you and this is your boat.

I say this pointedly to a lot of women as well. Even my most professional CEO women clients get shaking hands and flushed faces when talking to a designer or contractor. WE are the mystery behind the curtain, but you all know what happened when the curtain was drawn back. Just a human being who knows how to operate the controls. The construction industry is still mostly men, granted. That doesnt mean they know everything, its just the evolution of the profession. As more women become contractors, the great mystery becomes de-mystified and women find that they can do all that men can do in this field. Do we want to? Hell no!! We work smarter, not harder. Did you know that a woman invented the first continous cutting saw? Fashioned similar to a spinning wheel. Working smarter, not harder.

Alot of my blogging will focus on women as the clients. A lot of my clients are women. I am a woman. Please take my comments in that vein.

Please look for future blogs about hiring Professional for design and construction.

TTFN!