NEIGHBOURS OF OLDE THORNHILL VILLAGE | MARCH 2016

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12 week trial membership in our new state-of-the-art

fitness facility

$399

Contact Peter at 905-881-3000 x 228 or parmstrong@thornhillgcc.com to arrange a free tour today!

12 weeks to a new you!FitnessPostcard0804_Layout 1 2015-08-25 11:39 AM Page 1

The most successful renovations are SMART. For those of you not familiar, this is an acronym commonly used to represent the five criteria for setting goals, or in this case, a successful renovation.

Specific: Your goals for the renovation must clearly state what you want to accomplish. You need to let your Contractor know EXACTLY what you want to achieve at the end of the project. By clearly laying out all the expectations beforehand, you have eliminated any misunderstandings that may occur during the process.

Manageable: This is a good criteria to help you determine who will do the job. Can the person, or company manage the job? Is the person or company you are considering to do the work capable of performing. How does the contractor plan to manage the project? Are specialized trades, such as plumbers and electricians, required?

Attainable: Each municipality has its own by-laws, which specifically identify what you can and cannot do to your home. Your Contractor, or Architect, should be able to let you know if there are any restrictions to your objectives.

Realistic: If you’ve not gone through the expense of specifically outlining every last detail, from paint brand to electrical layout, your Contractor has no choice but to put some allowances for these items in the estimate. One Contractor can give you a budget of $100 for a toilet, another might give you a budget of $400. Both are correct – you can get a toilet for both these prices, but if you want a dual flush TOTO

toilet, the $100 allowance is not a realistic amount to get you want you want. Time-Bound: Is there a date you have in mind by which the renovation

must be completed? Perhaps there’s a specific event you’re hosting, or a date a child is expected to be born. Your Contractor should be able to determine with you if the renovation can be completed by the required date.

Don’t think you have to do this all on your own. Find a Contractor you can trust to work through all these elements with you. Consider a Design/Build Contractor. Together you should be able to establish the goals, how it will be managed, how much to invest and when it will be done. Afterwards, your Contract should reflect all this criteria…which is just one more tip on successful goals…committing them to writing.

Submitted by: Dwayne Butler, Master Edge Homes

Are Your RenovationsSMART?

2BUSINESS CONTRIBUTOR