While We’re at It
FULL DISCLOSURE: I am the antithesis of the DIY guy. I was completely banned from home repairs many years ago after I set out to replace an electrical outlet���but switched off the wrong circuit breaker before doing so.
We���ve undertaken two major renovations in the past 12 years. The first was an addition to our vacation home. The second is ongoing���a new kitchen at the same house.
We spent months on the plans. In the case of the addition, we reviewed the architect���s drawings and, with the current kitchen project, the 3D computer-aided design models. We set a budget and got estimates for each step of these two projects, or so we thought.
In the case of the addition, we ended up about 50% over budget. To date with the kitchen, it���s close to the same, with more work still to come. Did we get ripped off by the builders? Not at all. We were undone by the ���while we���re at it��� syndrome. That and our own failure to ask more questions and pay closer attention to details. Notice I use ���our.��� I���m married to a lovely lady addicted to HGTV. Every new show she watches presents new ideas���even after the plans are approved and the budget set.
In the case of the addition, wainscoting, crown molding and a last-minute idea for French doors boosted the final tab. Oh, yes, do you want a full basement or crawl space? I���m not crawling anywhere.
Now for the current project. The pantry didn���t turn out the way my wife ���thought��� it would, despite approving the design. Add $3,000 to redo it. As naive as I am, it never occurred to me a new kitchen also meant all new appliances. Who knew a microwave can go into a drawer?
When setting our budget, we forgot to add in the plumber and electrician, because we were so focused on the big-ticket expense���the cabinets. What could it cost to hook up the new sink, dishwasher and fridge when nothing was being moved? More than $2,000, that���s what. Of course, cabinets need pulls and handles. They have to be just right, including those seahorse pulls. Those cost what? My wife hasn���t yet made the big reveal.
And then there���s the door from the kitchen to the laundry room. That old door just doesn���t look right. It���s a metal door because the laundry room used to be part of the garage, which is now a grandkid���s bedroom. Did I forget to mention that project? That one wasn���t too bad. We only decided after the fact to put in a sliding door between the new room and the laundry. Too bad we decided after it was done, which meant the contractor had to open up a wall.
As far as the new door goes, I bet you���re thinking, ���Just buy one.��� Is it ever that simple? It appears the door my wife envisions doesn���t exist. Can you say, ���Have one made to order���? My wife can. So far, we haven���t found anyone to give us a price. They seem reluctant to do so. That doesn't sound good, but at this point I���m conditioned to surprises. Last summer, we were looking for a new screen door and we found some lovely ones. That is until we learned they cost $3,000. That���s not going to happen. I can just imagine one of the grandkids poking a toy through the screen. Where���s the nearest Home Depot?
After reading this, I bet you think I���m upset about going over budget. Nope, it was expected. When we started the kitchen project, my wife and I agreed on a number. We naively were thinking about $35,000. As soon as we talked with the cabinet people, I knew that number was toast. When we picked the granite countertops, I knew the numbers were heading even further north.
The real shocker was the $700 fixture for the sink. All it does is turn the water on and off, hot or cold. Even at that price, I still have to touch it.
Once you have a new kitchen, other rooms look a bit shabby. According to my wife and HGTV, that is. Soooo, we���re on to painting the house inside and out, including the wood-stained trim from the 1980s to make it white, like the trim on the addition. See how this works? But I suspect that, if your wife is an HGTV addict, you already know that.
I find the secret to coping with special project spending is having the right mindset. I���m frugal by nature, which is why it took 30 years to get the kitchen project started. But once committed and once I know where the money is coming from, I���m all in. As with buying my dream car several years ago, the money is isolated in a bank account. Once it���s there, I don���t stress over spending it. My little secret: I put more into the account than the budget indicated.
Richard Quinn blogs at QuinnsCommentary.com. This is his 100th article for HumbleDollar. Before retiring in 2010, Dick was a compensation and benefits executive.��Follow him on Twitter��@QuinnsComments��and check out his earlier��articles.
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