Who will forget the week of messages we just experienced! First the (phony) message that set off innocent Hawaiians about ballistic missiles causing panic when instructed to to seek immediate shelter! Then football watchers at this Sunday’s Minnesota Viking game wearing Apple Watches being sent messages by their Apple Watch that they might have a heart issue which was actually caused by the excitement (and resulting increase of blood pressure) from the miracle play that resulted in the Vikings victory over the opposing Saints. Messages people!!! These events were one more reminder to me that STICKING TO THE PLAN is the only thing we can ever depend on. This summer I was managing a single family remodeling project that was in its early stages. An agent and a painter came over to look over the house and told me that I would be lucky to get around $525,000 when the house was finished. I disagreed. I told them that the house would be undergoing several floor plan changes that would re-create how the house could be used, thus giving it greater value. Eyes would roll as you can imagine. This didn’t deter me. I was the one with plans in hand and after s
eeing how several similar remodeling projects had performed in the marketplace my plan was grounded reasonable expectations. The target future value I held onto was $575k. At times the project didn’t go well. Work was slow because of the crushing summer heat and the workers just weren’t as productive as when temperatures were cooler. Labor costs began to exceed budget. It severely tried my patience. But by the time the ‘heavy lifting’ was finished, opinions changed. Agents and vendors alike remarked that $575k would be a good asking price. Then, a nice break from the heat helped further advance progress so that hardwood flooring and kitchen cabinets could be installed. The tide had turned. In the end we finished over budget, with the house taking three months to sell and earning a $595k sales price at closing. Sometimes you’ll work a project and you’ll field options that will differ from your plan. If you’ve done your homework, those options are unqualified and should be disregarded as nothing more than a mixed message. Mixed messages can cause chaos and confusion because they often lack clarity and grounding in facts! My job was to maximize the value of the house so that when I finished the house it would have a value of at least $575k, potentially more. When we sold the house above my target value it was one more reminder that STICKING TO THE PLAN is the only thing you can ever depend on.
PS. I thought you would appreciate the before and after pictures this house project!
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