A practical guide for residential renovations, additions, and custom homes.
A useful first step for a renovation, addition, or custom home is to organize the decisions the project will require. A clear brief gives the design and construction team a common starting point and makes proposals easier to compare.
1. Write down the outcome you want
Describe the problems you want the project to solve: a kitchen that does not work for daily use, more living space, a different floor plan, or a new residence. Separate essential requirements from preferences that could change. Include how you expect to use the home during and after the work.
2. Gather the available property information
Collect existing drawings, surveys, prior project records, and photographs if you have them. Identify which documents are current and which are incomplete. A project team can then establish what additional investigation or documentation is needed for the particular property.
3. Define what each proposal includes
Before comparing prices, compare scope. Ask each team to identify the design work, consultant coordination, construction work, allowances, exclusions, and owner-supplied items included in its proposal. Record assumptions about access, occupied areas, and existing conditions.
A short comparison table can help: list each work item, who is responsible, whether it is included, and what remains undecided. This makes differences between proposals visible before a contract is signed.
4. Connect design decisions with the budget
Keep a decision list for layout changes, windows and doors, cabinets, appliances, finishes, and other major selections. Ask the team when each decision is needed and what information is required to price it. Track estimates, allowances, and confirmed selections separately so that they are not mistaken for the same thing.
5. Establish a communication routine
Agree on who can approve changes, where decisions will be recorded, and how questions will be answered. For a proposed change, request a written description of the work and any associated cost or schedule effect. Keep that record with the current drawings and project correspondence.
6. Plan for completion from the beginning
Discuss how remaining work, product information, warranties, operating instructions, and project documents will be organized at handover. Identify the person responsible for collecting each item and keep a shared list as the project develops.
Questions to bring to a first project meeting
- What information do you need to assess the scope?
- Which decisions should I make first?
- Who will coordinate the design team and construction team?
- What is included in the proposal, and what remains an allowance or exclusion?
- How will you document questions, changes, and approvals?
- Which property-specific issues need further investigation?
This guide is intended to help organize a project conversation. The scope, professional services, and approvals for any particular property need to be established with the project team.
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