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Reality Check: You Can’t Have It All

In remodeling and any other large projects that require project management, you often have to choose between the quality of the work, how soon you want it done and how much you can afford.  

Think of quality, time and money as corners of a triangle.  If you change any one of them, it affects the others.

A huge part of project management is figuring out how to balance this triangle wisely to get the best result. This means that you have to choose if you want things done quickly, cheaply, or well. The good news is that you get to pick which of these two qualities matter most to you. The bad news is that you don’t get to have all three of them. While you can’t have it all, you can decide what you get.

Cheap and quick remodels may seem appealing. It’s cheap! It’s quick! It’s a new kitchen! Unfortunately, when you really think about it, this most likely means your kitchen is going to be shoddily constructed, poorly finished, and will probably require you to re-do some of the work later. At that point, you have to ask yourself why you paid someone else to do the work in the first place.

Cheap and good remodels can feel like a good way to go as long as you aren’t working to a deadline. I cannot imagine a scenario where a homeowner does not want their home completed by a specific date. Can you?

If you’re living in the home, you want the work done quickly. Living in a construction zone with limited space is difficult, especially if you have children. If you’re only improving the home to sell it, you especially want the work done quickly because it is in your best interest to flip the house and get it on the market as soon as possible. After all, flipping is all about making the most money in the shortest period of time.

Quick and good remodels are probably the best of these three scenarios, but they will be the most expensive. To keep things in perspective, realize that contractors run businesses with the goal of generating money by making your dreams come true, not the other way around. They are motivated by money, just like any other business.

If you can pay the big bucks, you’ll be able to secure a contractor who can do the work quickly and well. If you can’t pay the big bucks–and another homeowner can–it only makes sense that the contractor may choose to work with another client before they can start your project.

Of course, nothing is entirely black-or-white. Remember those questions I asked you to consider as you start your remodel? Well, answering those questions may reveal that you can be more flexible with one of these areas than the other two.