House Confident

Hi Reader, Almost every homeowner wants the same three things: a renovation that's finished quickly, done right, and easy on the budget. But there's an old saying in the trades: Fast, good, or cheap. Pick two. Want it fast and done right? Then it won't be cheap. Good work at speed costs money. You're paying for more hands and priority in the schedule. Want it fast and cheap? Then it won't be done right. Stuff will get rushed, and you always end up paying to fix rushed work down the road. Want...

Hi Reader, We have a saying in our shop: slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. When you don’t slow down from the very beginning, you tend to make mistakes and you have to do it twice. And there’s no room in the budget for that. Measure twice, cut once…. Because once you cut it, you can’t uncut it. Your renovation works exactly the same way. You get excited to start swinging the hammer. Demo day feels like progress because finally, something's happening. But if you rush through the planning...

Hi Reader, When my wife and I were house shopping years ago, we walked away from a lot of homes that had been renovated. I could tell just by looking at them that the work hadn’t been done well. We’d have to undo it all and start over… and that was without knowing what kind of issues were hidden behind the walls. Most people think renovated homes should come at a premium, but if it wasn’t done right to start with, you're not actually buying an upgrade. You’re paying for the privilege to start...

Hi Reader, Join me for a live Q&A at 9AM PT (12PM ET) TOMORROW Saturday, June 20. I’ll be hanging out for an hour to answer your questions and help you make decisions about your home projects. It’s a totally free way to get some independent, expert advice on whatever house-related challenges you’re facing right now. You can register here. “How long does it take to build cabinets?” Not long is the truthful answer, but actually that’s a question you ask at the end of the process, once all of...

Hi Reader, Join me for a live Q&A at 9AM PT (12PM ET) Saturday, June 20 — that’s one week from tomorrow. I’ll be hanging out for an hour to answer your questions and help you make decisions about your home projects. It’s a totally free way to get some independent, expert advice on whatever house-related challenges you’re facing right now. You can register here. If you came to my shop to start a project, I’d start by asking you questions. And then more questions. Actually, after 40 years, I...

Hi Reader, A quick note before we begin... Summer’s on the way and it’s the season of home improvement projects. Whether you’re working on a simple project (like replacing your stove, our topic for today) or a full-on renovation, sometimes you just need a second opinion or an outside perspective. If that’s you, come join me for a free live Q&A at 9AM PT (12PM ET) Saturday, June 20 — that’s two weeks from tomorrow. I’ll be hanging out for an hour to answer your questions and help you make...

Hi Reader, Almost every client who comes to me wanting a new fridge actually wants a bigger fridge. The problem is that a bigger fridge means more room. More room means the cabinets beside it have to be modified, rebuilt, or replaced. And all of a sudden, you’re one step closer to a much, much bigger project than you bargained for. So before you start shopping, the first question you should be asking yourself isn’t "which fridge should I buy?" It's "am I willing to change my kitchen for it?"...