Construction or remodel? Oh, the dilemma!

In life, sometimes we face the decision of choosing between working on what we already have and adapting it to our new needs… or starting from scratch. And there are other times when you choose one and then wonder why you didn’t go with the other option. But then, what would be the spice of life without a little plot twist, eh?

Not all decisions in life face the same treatment or present with a balanced variety of options; there are many factors that come into play an important part in the decision-making process, like time, resources, budget, lifestyle, and many others. So, when you have to decide between building it from scratch and starting over, and re-purposing what you have… It’s a big deal. But then… How hard can it be?

Let’s see some of the most common factors that we’ve worked with in the past few years and how we helped our clients make the best decision for them.

Always measure your space and furniture! It will make the process much easier.

Reality:

This is your starting point. What’s the state/condition of the property? How old is it? Do you like anything about it? Is it functional for you? Does it make you happy in any way? Do you need a formal inspection of the property? Is this my Forever Home? This is the part where you ask all the questions, and then some more, to really know what you’re working with. After diagnosing your starting point, you could see a clearer path when deciding on just a remodel or if it’s better to do a demo/construction combo, because sometimes you won’t make the decision, the property will.

Actual Goal:

Why do you want to change it? Pretty much any reason you’d have to want to start a new project is valid, so no judging over here. This is the fuel of the project, the reason why you are making all this effort.

Time:

Here is where you have to be really honest with yourself and those involved in the project, because watching 5-minute-long videos on YouTube on how to install a sink or a time-lapse on TikTok of someone painting an entire room is fun and entertaining, but unrealistic. Plus, DIY is not for everybody. You could also add a little (lots) of patience, sometimes furniture takes weeks, even months (worst case scenario) to arrive, and that is if you don’t want to return it or modify it for whatever reason…

Budget:

This is one of the most common, and yes, a bit obvious, decisive factors in choosing remodeling or demo/construction. But, depending on what your goal is and what you’re working with, the answer might be different than what you think. P.S.: Always have an emergency fund! 

Now, there are millions of other reasons to consider, and every case is different and valid, and after all these conversations, you might think you need an army, a fortune, and a perfect plan… But you don’t, you only need someone on your team that knows what they’re doing, like an Interior Designer ;)