Completing Home Improvement Projects on Budget and on Time
By Ed Wong
Remodeling your home can be a gratifying experience. It can save you money but it can also be a nightmare. The more homework and leg work you do, the better your experience will be. Before you start any real work, think about using four strategies to manage your project:
1. Define clearly what you want to do and how
2. Establish a realistic and appropriate budget
3. Do a written project plan
4. Commit to staying within the budget
Finishing within budget is a well known challenge. The key is to stay within your objectives. If you were not going to install marble counters, don’t do it. If the tiles you like will cost three times what you budgeted, don’t use them. If your contractor thinks you should upgrade to a deluxe cabinet that costs twice what you budgeted, ask him to suggest something half the price. The only way you can stay in budget is by sticking to your objectives and executing your plan.
