“Honey, I trust your judgment. I don't know anything about kitchen cabinets or countertops. I’d just get in the way.” Sound familiar? That’s the first volley in what could easily become a war between the sexes. Don’t get suckered. When you’re doing a kitchen remodel, there’s a lot of time, money, and inconvenience at stake. You both need to be on the same page all the way.
You’ve probably already set the budget, researched materials, and most likely drawn up your dream plan. The remodel contractor’s first order of business is to provide the sticker shock.
The Budget
Most homeowners plan for the finished product without anticipating the final cost. A good remodel contractor will sober you up on that topic pretty early in the game. When your spouse receives this information first hand, he or she will have a better grasp of the necessity and logic.
The Plan
Moving the sink to the new bar means running supply and return lines plus vents. Do you want a gas stove, possibly in the new center island? More supply lines, plus an escape route for the exhaust fan. As the remodel contractor spews out numbers, hubby will be diligently re-evaluating the plan, seeking to optimize your investment. If he were to receive all this information from you later, he might be tempted to ditch the whole project.
The Language of Contractors
Why can’t they just say ‘the pipes,’ or ‘a support beam,’ or ‘a thing-a-ma-jig?’ Then it hits you…Aha…this is where male bonding comes in. You don’t know what an LVL is, don’t care, and won’t ask. “Bringing it up to code.” Huh? This is guy thing territory. He’ll be looking and nodding and possibly even understand the issue.
The Payout
Your kitchen remodel will be completed in stages, and the draw is provided as each is completed. Will you know what a realistic draw for specified material and labor is? Seriously, will you even know if such things as electrical and plumbing rough-ins have been done? Hello hubby!
The Inspections
A new trade language is born. You know the inspections are important and the exceptions need to be addressed, but what does it all mean? You’re just not comfortable constantly asking the contractor to explain it all, but your husband is a different matter. It’s his job!
The Craftsmen
Are these direct employees, or might they be subcontractors? What is the contractor’s level of supervision, degree of responsibility, and credentials? Work as a team to discover the answers.
The Vendors
The guys with all the goodies. You can easily get over stimulated and select form over function. Appliances. Kitchen cabinets. Kitchen countertops. Your better half can pull you down off your ‘camp high,’ and steer you towards products suitable to your project.
The Color Scheme
Don’t ask your husband’s opinion on this. Men only know two colors…black and black. Ask the contractor for suggestions…he knows the market and current trends. Then, sit back and let your remodel specialist rewire your husband’s brain.
The Schedule
Let’s just say its ‘flexible,’ and may require each of you to do a little flexing of your own. Share this reality with the one you love right from the start.
The Construction Zone
Didn’t they mean, “War Zone?” Good contractors may contain the mess, but they have little control over the inconvenience. Your spouse might erroneously think you are going to be cooking on a hibachi sitting atop a saw stand. Wrong. The contractor can clarify what you can expect at what stage, and hubby needs to hear it from the horse's mouth.
