Recently we were in London. At the Victoria & Albert Museum, we saw an exhibit titled “You Say You Want a Revolution? Records and Rebels, 1966-1970.” The exhibit focused on that era and all the change that was happening during those years.
Being baby boomers, it was fun to see lots of vinyl record sleeves, many of them in our own collection from back in the day. The music, film and fashion stars of that time got plenty of focus.
And there was a big focus on the political turmoil that was happening then. The Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement in the United States, and the disgrace of Vice President Spiro Agnew and President Richard Nixon–both forced out of office because of their unfit behavior–were reminders that all was not peaches and cream.
The Vietnam War ended, the Civil Rights Movement made progress, and our government made needed changes because many U.S. citizens protested. After all, that is the responsibility of citizens of any country, particularly a democracy.
As Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest presidents our country has been blessed with, put it in his Gettysburg Address, “that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
What does all this have to do with remodeling?
Stay in Touch
It takes a village to make a remodeling project happen. Make sure all stakeholders are invested in the process and the outcome. The key here is clear, consistent communication. Absent that, people typically assume the worst, leading to undue stress.
Systemize your communication efforts. Hold one another accountable for the needed follow-through.
Underpromise and Over-deliver
A complicated project comes with problems, ideally very few. Set the expectation that it all won’t go smoothly and do your best to ensure few, if any, surprises happen.
Regarding a completion date, always set the expectation that the project will take longer than you think it will. Add a grace period. Promise to be done by the end of the grace period. Why? Stuff happens. It always does. Be realistic.
Incorporate in your estimate some unallocated funds that can be used to “give” the client something they weren’t expecting and/or was not originally included in the scope. For one of our clients it was as simple as changing all the light bulbs in the house whenever she had us do yet another remodeling project.
Keep Your Eyes Open
This business and these times are exciting, sometimes a bit too much so. Be prepared for changing circumstances to affect the health of your business. The stock market has risen dramatically. What comes up typically comes down.
What is your plan for when it does? What overhead costs will you trim? How will your idea of the “right” projects need to change? Think about all this now so you won’t be blindsided.
Change and revolution is part of being alive. Find the middle ground between being consumed by it and being ignorant. That is where the best solutions will come from.