Handling an unwelcome surprise that threatens your project

The other day I took my company truck into the shop to get its regular maintenance and servicing done. We have a comprehensive company vehicle servicing procedure, follow recommended guidelines by the book, so I was expecting to roll in and out without blinking.

You can imagine my surprise when the service agent advised my truck required a costly front-end suspension repair. The polite and respectful agent walked me through my disbelief and by the time he was done, I was starting to see the value of what he was saying and the need for the repair. When the mechanic showed me the problem while my truck was on the hoist, I got it. Despite my wishes to the contrary, keeping my truck on the road required parting with some hard earned dollars.  

This was a good reminder to me as I’m often the bearer of bad news. 

Too often, our team will be busy making great headway with a large-scale renovation for a family we really want to please and – boom – we hit a roadblock that we hadn’t anticipated or could have planned for.

A faulty bit of foundation or structure is discovered behind a finished wall. Century-old knob and tube wiring is found held together with aging electrical tape. Years of mold are found in an exterior wall that was never well constructed and enveloped.

Sharing surprises like these with our clients is always difficult for me. There’s never a right time or easy way to say ‘we’ll need more time and more money to get this done right’. But we must be honest, it must be said and the fix must be done to ensure a quality project outcome and the safety of the family we’re working for.

Many of the renovation projects we’ve completed over the years have offered surprises so we’ve learned how to work with our clients and help them through problem spots. 

If you’re thinking of renovating, here’s my best advice:

• Recognize that renovations are risky business and this is why you simply must engage an honest and highly competent contractor.
• Put aside a contingency fund that can be drawn on should something occur that requires additional budget. Don’t spend the entire amount of capital you’ve got on-hand on the scope of renovation that’s planned. 
• Know what you simply must have and what’s on your wish list should you encounter budget-threatening roadblocks.
• Don’t let your contractor hand wave issues that arise. Discuss the matter until you completely understand the problem. Put on a hard hat and boots and observe the problem while your contractor walks you through it. Once you’ve nailed the problem, brainstorm the universe of possible solutions and land on the one that works with your budget and schedule.
• Make sure all budget issues are talked about and signed off in advance. This way you won’t be hit with surprise costs at the end of the project.

Open and direct communication about budgets and timelines are essential in any project, but especially during a stressful renovation. Make sure you ask for contractor references and remember to ask past clients pointed questions about the money side of the project. 

Feel free to reach out at any time with your questions or concerns. We’re here to help you create the space of your dreams. Give me a call at 403-390-7708 or shoot me an email alec@alecwilliamsconstruction.ca. In the meantime, have a look at some of our work over on the website.