Trying to surprise your mom is a tough proposition–especially when you’re looking at a remodeling project. You know that she’ll be quickly frustrated by a half-done room that’s difficult or impossible to use, so surprising her while she’s away is one of the most effective ways to get that remodeling project taken care of. If you’re planning a one-day remodeling project, however, make sure that you’re appropriately prepared for the process.
Step One: Create a Plan
If you’re going to finish your remodeling project in a day, you need to know exactly what you want to do. Work closely with your contractor as you discuss details like color scheme, how much remodeling you really need to do, and other key attributes of the project. The better prepared you are, the more likely you’ll be able to complete your project effectively.
Step Two: Let Your Contractor Evaluate the Space
There’s nothing worse than diving in with a project that’s supposed to take a single day, only to find significant problems with your home that will lead to more difficulty. Bring your contractor in when Mom’s not home and let them take a look at the space. They may be able to predict issues like mold behind the walls, uneven surfaces, or tile problems before they start the project, allowing you to assess whether or not you can really complete that project in a day.
Step Three: Prioritize
When you’re working on a remodeling project, things often fail to go exactly according to plan. Those tiles you just had to have for the bathroom walls will fail to stick, or the vanity will come apart as you’re trying to take it out, or you’ll discover that an unexpectedly wet day makes it take twice as long as usual for the paint to dry. By creating a priority list, you’ll be able to decide what pieces of the project can wait until another day if you need to finish up fast.
Step Four: Prepare
In order to truly remodel a space in a single day, you need to be prepared. All of the items you need should be purchased ahead of time, from new mirrors to towel bars. The last thing you need to do is spend your day running back and forth to your local store. Make sure that you’ve chosen materials that work well together and that will effectively fit into your space in order to streamline the remodeling process.
Step Five: Stick With It
A one-day remodeling project is not the time to decide that you want to turn your original ideas upside down. Instead, make sure that you’re willing to live with your original plan–and more importantly, that Mom will be! Last-minute changes can extend the time necessary to complete the project, leaving you with a half-finished room when Mom gets home.
Choosing the right contractor is critical to ensuring a smooth remodeling project, especially if you want to do it in a single day. Carefully preparing and letting the contractor know what you’re doing, however, will ensure a smooth process that will result in a great surprise when Mom comes home.
