Setting Priorities for Your Next Renovation: The “Pick 3” Approach
When we discuss a potential project with a homeowner, they usually come to us very excited. Often, they’ve dreamed about this project for a long time. But they might be distracted by the many variables and “what-ifs”.
Will it be the French Door fridge in stainless or the Sub Zero? Are unpainted wooden cabinets even a thing anymore? Is Farmhouse style really already over?
It’s our job to help them push through these distractions and drill down to what’s truly important to them as they take on a complex expensive renovation project, which will require focus and energy over an extended period of time.
Erin Stetzer, founder and CEO of Houston-based Erin Stetzer Homes, explains this with a pretty clear approach.
Of the following 6 qualities of a home renovation or new build project, you can choose 3 as your top priorities because they start to become mutually exclusive after that point:
- Quality
- Function
- Aesthetics
- Cost
- Time
- Intrinsic value
What Does This Look Like in Practice?
- If time is your top priority, we won’t order the 16-week cabinets or windows. You need quicker solutions, keeping in mind that the aesthetics may not appeal to you as much as the longer lead-time options.
- If aesthetics and intrinsic value are most important, we know that cheaper alternatives won’t be a good fit. (We have the clients see, touch, and use both options in these cases just to be sure!)
- If you prioritize function, that may equate to a preference for something like hallways that are 4- to 8-feet wide. In this case, we move forward knowing that 3-foot wide hallways will feel too tight, but adding 8-foot-wide hallways to a space will change the aesthetics and cost of the whole project.
We think the “Pick 3” exercise is a very good tool for getting the conversation going. It helps define the parameters of a project quickly and helps the customer articulate what’s most important to them — then we start to build our team and plan around these choices.
Armed with clearer focus and specific project goals, we’re equipped to surprise and delight our customers.
Ready to discuss your next project? Reach out today.
