Diane Engel, Founder
" I founded i can do that for you! in 2000, when someone very wise told me that I should try to earning a living doing something I love to do. This business is a result of a true aha moment…I call it my millennium epiphany.
I worked as a corporate professional in a number of companies, always as a Production or Project Manager in the Creative Services arena. Why couldn’t I apply those project management skills to gardening, an avocation that had already yielded some “just for kicks” paying gigs?
The next natural step was right into Home Improvements. Armed with lots of on-the-job training, natural inquisitiveness and a Department of Consumer Affairs Home Improvement License, I was off and running.
In between gardening seasons, kitchen and bath renovations and apartment revamps, I have kept my Corporate Management skills sharp as an independent contractor for hire."
235 West 70th Street C
New York, NY 10023
212-362-8692
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RENOVATION CRIB SHEET
Top 10 tidbits from a Contractor/Project Manager
Recently, I had a frantic phone call from a homeowner who had decided to renovate her apartment and act as her own Project Manager.
She told me her story breathlessly – a story I had heard time and again. She had received quotes from two contractors – for $15,000 and for $45,000. Neither quote specified what was included – both contractors promised to “shop” with her.
She was confused, didn’t know how to proceed or who to trust. I don’t blame her. With so many steps and details comprising a renovation, attempting to do it yourself is a recipe for disaster. Unless you have experience, don’t try this alone. Doctors and lawyers don’t treat or represent themselves. That long weekend you spent watching DIY programs, does not a renovator make! And, if you live in an urban center, like NYC, there are major obstacles in place to prevent the DIY renovation from ever happening.
Back to the caller – she needed to slow down, back up and start at the beginning. I gave her some pointers and hope that she took my advice…or that she caves and calls me to manage the project for her! Here’s what I told her:
1) Don’t assume you need to hire an architect or engineer to handle your project. Most projects need only plumbing and electrical permits and a licensed contractor. If an architect needs to “bless” the plans, the building will have their architect perform a review (and charge you much less than hiring your own).
2) Get a copy of the building Alteration Agreement package. Read it! You will need to sign this document before you submit your package to the board so if you are unable to make sense of it, you should probably not be doing this yourself!
3) Make copies of the package for your contractors to review BEFORE they submit pricing back to you. Put the burden on the contractor to cover all the requirements in the quote.
4) If you are gutting a kitchen and/or bath, call in a specialist. A qualified kitchen and bath designer will usually cost less than trying to buy cabinets at a big box store and squeeze it into your kitchen. You will need to submit professional drawings of the kitchen, a list of appliances, etc. with your package. Again, cheaper than an architect.
5) Create a MUST DO and WISH LIST for your project. Give that SAME list to each contractor so that you can compare apples to apples. Later, you will need to submit that as the final Scope of Work with the alteration package.
6) Review the proposals – be wary of vagueness, lack of details and general sloppiness. Did the proposal include labor AND materials? If so, what are the materials? You don’t want a $600.00 toilet that costs $200.00 to install. You will need to submit a signed contract with the package and if it’s vague, that’s a red flag to your board.
7) Make sure the proposal covers all aspects of the work. If the proposal says “connect toilet” or “hook up sink”, does that mean they are just going to drop your new fixtures in the same spot – which means the same height, distance and depth? Or, are they “plumbing”, which means installing shut off valves and changing and moving pipes and fittings to work with that new 30” vanity or ADA compliant toilet. And, if you are adding appliances, will there be an adequate electrical load for them?
8) Liability Insurance, worker’s compensation, licensed contractors – 9 times out of 10, you will need all these papers in order to submit to your Co Op or Condo board before they will even look at the Alteration Agreement Package Plans.
9) Don’t believe everything your neighbors, friends or superintendent tell you about THEIR renovation before you start yours. Their experiences have nothing to do with the ride you are about to take. Building, electrical and plumbing codes change all the time. What was permitted last year may be forbidden this year. If your building was erected before 1978, your renovator has to be certified for lead paint removal – a law that is just now being enforced throughout the country with a hefty fine for non-compliance.
10) When it comes to establishing a project schedule, be realistic. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. No one knows the condition of the pipes behind the bathroom shower wall or the subfloor under the kitchen until demolition starts. Make sure your contractor is allowing for inspections, holiday closings, freight elevator hours. Without those considerations his 4 week timetable will quickly double or triple.
All that said, managing your own renovation is not for the faint of heart. If the above 10 Tidbits scare you, hire a Manager to orchestrate the project. You will thank yourself when the project comes in on budget and on time.
Want more Tidbits…diane@icandothatforyou.com
