It's been nine weeks since I closed on my Park City Canyons Condo. I had originally hoped to be finished with the renovation project and moving in this week. Instead I’m grateful to have a contractor and county permit!
I feel like Chip Gaines on Fixer-Upper-- full of excitement for Demo Day! Duli, my contractor, called last week with the good news on country approval just when my new-found patience was starting to wear thin.
My Life Renovation is off to the races. The kitchen was disassembled quickly, and major plumbing work began in a flash. Now we have a parade of subcontractors coming in at odd hours.
Weeks of comparison shopping are coming in handy. Want to know the price and availability of any tile on the market? I’m your girl. Now I’m rolling into order/delivery/tracking mode. It’s a fine balance to have supplies ready when needed, but not before because anything left onsite could be destroyed.
Duli called after 7pm one evening and said that I needed a tub by 8am prior to inspection. This is my life for the foreseeable future.
I am leveraging my coaching skills on the jobsite every day. When Duli says, “it can’t be done” he is getting used to hearing, “if those obstacles weren’t a problem how would you make it work?” The answer typically involves more budget, but we have come up with some very creative solutions.
3 Life Lessons from the Rough In Phase
1. Persistence Pays.
The first air conditioner in my entire condo complex is being installed as I type. I am the “test” unit to see if the Board will allow them for everyone. This is the result of countless emails and meetings with board members and facilities managers.
2. Recognize when you need help and get it quickly.
My plan for choosing a paint color was very strategic: Read articles to find designer “go to” favorites, view those color samples in the condo, test a few and voilà. Wrong. My choices were so horrible that I immediately found a local designer, who made beautiful selections in an instant.
3. Be Curious.
This is my fifth major renovation project. I’m definitely getting better at it, but there is always something to learn. Asking the right questions can save time and money in renovation. For example, I wish I had known that you need more room for a walk-in shower than for a tub. Those few extra inches mean relocating plumbing and changing vanity and mirror sizes. $$$. I’ll remember that one next time!