Making Selections: How We Help You
When you embark on a remodeling or new construction project, the sheer number of decisions you need to make can be overwhelming. Decision fatigue is a real thing, and it can hit hard when you’re trying to consider everything from flooring to cabinet hardware to the color of the walls. It’s hard to even know what needs to be decided and when. But don’t worry: we’re here to help.
Where Do I Start?
The term “selections” refers to all the things you will need to choose in order to bring your dream into reality: tile for the backsplash, faucets in the bathroom, window styles, etc. There are a lot of selections you’ll need to make, and we will help you ensure you don’t overlook or forget anything.
We discuss selections with you throughout the building process. We have three options to help you make selections that you’ll be happy with, that look good together, and that fit the functional and aesthetic needs of your home.
Option One: You Hire a Third-Party Designer
If you want someone to do all the selecting for you, this is the option for you. We can give you recommendations for designers you may want to work with. You talk to them about your vision for your home, and then turn over the reins to them. They make all the selections and you enjoy the end result.
Option Two: You Hire Us to Provide Selections
You give BOLT Builders your inspiration photos, Pinterest boards, and specifications. For a fee, we do all the legwork for you. We gather all the information and options, organize it into a selection schedule, and then meet with you to review lots of options. For example, you’re not sure what pendant lights you want to hang over your new kitchen island. Instead of you having to sift through hundreds of options, we will research and select several that fit perfectly into your aesthetics and will function beautifully in your specific kitchen. You can’t go wrong with whichever pendant light you choose from our curated list, so you select with confidence. This makes the process fun!
Option Three: You Run the Show Yourself
If you want to make all the selections yourself, we will provide you with an outline showing you what selections will be necessary for your project. You take that list and make all the selections yourself, giving them to us when you’re finished. We are here to help along the way if this is the option you choose, because it can definitely be overwhelming.
What We Recommend
We recommend choosing options one or two, and here’s why. Working with a designer–whether a third party or BOLT–will give you a cohesive interior design plan. Designers know what they’re doing. They know what looks good together and what “rules” can be broken. They can help you feel confident in your decisions and give you the assurance that the final product will look as great as you imagine it will.
Easier for You
More importantly, working with a designer takes a lot of the pressure off you. Embarking on a remodeling or construction project is a lot of work. You’re going to be coordinating moving out of some or all of your house, dealing with the disruption of construction in your space, managing finances, and more. Having guidance with selections lifts a burden off you. It enables you to focus on the project itself and not have to worry about whether you’ve given us the right information at the right time, and whether you’ve missed anything.
Fewer Delays
One of the most stressful parts of a construction project is dealing with delays. While some delays are out of your control, most of the biggest delays we see in our projects have to do with us not receiving client selections on time. This can be hard and stressful for you, making you feel rushed to make important decisions. Having someone help you manage the timeline results in you being guided to make choices you love without the pressure.
Know The Possibilities
Whichever of our three Selection Options you pick, we will provide you with a preferred vendor list that will allow you to visit showrooms to make your selections. But if you’re new to the remodel/construction world, you may not know all the selection options that are available to you. You may need to spend a significant amount of time just figuring out what your choices are, and end up feeling uncertain about your decisions. A designer can help you by making sure you know all your options.
Getting Ready to Build
The preconstruction phase of your project can last three months or so, and it’s a vital part of the process. During this phase, you’re making selections and getting ready for construction in your home. We’re putting a lot of details together, including
Lining up subcontractors
Finalizing plans and scope of work
Getting a building schedule together
Checking the budget and making tweaks as necessary
We need all your selections to be done during this part of the process. Why? The contractors can’t rough in their parts of the project until they know what fixtures will be used. Details you choose that won’t be installed until later will impact the work that is done early on.
The Build-Ready Binder
One of our most useful tools for keeping your project and selections organized is our Build-Ready Binder. This is a construction binder that contains all the information all parties need to make your project perfect. After we go through the proposal process with you and agree on the scope of the work, we start organizing all the details of your project in one place. We talk a lot with you about the contents of the Build-Ready Binder. It’s a very important resource! The Build-Ready Binder contains information like
the selections you make
plans and red-line drawings
materials lists
permits
detailed scope of work
information on you and your family, your schedule and needs, etc
nitty-gritty details of construction
and more
This binder, when complete, will be handed off to the construction team for them to reference as the project hums along.
Enjoy It
Making selections can be a daunting task. But it can also be fun. You’re getting to turn your dreams into reality by choosing tangible fixtures, colors, and designs that you’ve only been able to imagine before. You’re able to turn your abstract ideas into concrete materials. While you may feel some pressure because of the number of selections you need to make and the tight timeline, a lot of that stress can be alleviated with some help and guidance. We want your construction experience to be the best it can be. Contact us today to get started with a Virginia, DC, or Maryland remodel, new construction home, addition, or more. We’d love to talk to you!