Few professionals will give you a remodeling reality check, which is why we admire Stephan Sardone of Sardone Construction so much. He will graciously lead you out of the dark forest of indecision, assumption, and unreasonable expectations into the bright clearing of a reality you can embrace and enjoy for years to come!
That can be a journey because we all have absurd expectations about timelines, priorities, and, of course, budget.
Face it — no one has a clue about their budget. Frankly, we just pluck a number out of the air, based on what we have saved or borrowed for a project, generally with zero research. If you don’t talk to an expert first, it rarely occurs to anyone that their preconceived budget may not fit their remodeling reality.
“Everyone considering a remodel needs a professional to come in and figure out what are the most important things and why,” Sardone said. “It’s critical to have guidance to focus on getting what you truly want and being content with it. I’ve seen a lot of projects where people are unwilling to do that. They get stuck in the mode of wanting a lot for an unrealistic price because they don’t understand costs, and it’s not achievable. They are in shock and cannot accept the reality of the price of their dream.”
Sardone is known for remodeling reality, getting to what is serious and why. He begins by asking every client what their top three must-haves are.
“We start with the why,” Sardone said. “Then we organize the priorities and get specific about the super important ones. It’s critical to know the essential goals and the maximum budget. People need help with that because it’s not just an organizational piece. It’s also an emotional piece. When you have your heart set on something, it’s important.“
Sardone sees his job as understanding the why, resetting expectations, and guiding clients to a successful project outcome.
“I can be the dream crusher or the dream resetter. If people are open to resetting expectations, once we talk through things, some items lose importance,” he added. “It’s OK to be wrong and learn as we talk because you are not the expert, we are.”
Budget can be the dirty word in remodeling reality, but it doesn’t have to be. Sardone helps clients figure out how to spend smart.
“Think about it this way,” Sardone said, “you don’t save money on a car for your kid with the bad brakes but a great sound system. Invest where it’s important and valuable to you.”
When potential clients want a new kitchen or bathroom and assume they need to have the room gutted for a complete makeover, that’s where remodeling reality comes into play.
“That gut-job will generally put people over budget. So, we sit down and figure out how to do the project within the allotted budget and make it look amazing. For example, in a kitchen, we can often reuse the cabinet boxes and keep appliances, which results in substantial savings. We did a remodel recently that included a living, dining, kitchen, office, and pantry,” Sardone said. “The homeowners needed an office, so we rethought that space and designed an 8.5 x 8.5 office so they could also get a pantry and extra storage!”
“You have to ask questions, answer questions and guide the process,” Sardone added. “Coming up with ideas is collaborative. We help clients weigh each piece and show them where to save and where it’s important to spend. For instance, maybe you spend a little more on the kitchen backsplash because it’s a highlight and gives you visual pleasure!”
“It’s also important not to fear buyers remorse but the remorse you’ll have for not doing something. I hear all the time that a client wishes they’d done a little more here or there. Remodeling reality ensures you make the right investment and trust who you are working with.”
Check out Sardone Construction for your remodeling reality check and make that dream project finally come true!
