Do you feel like you have been through the wringer? Have you been more involved in Donald’s and Hillary’s business than your own? Are you still stressed and don’t know what to focus on now that the election is over?
I know a lot of you have put your lives and plans on hold. And for those of you who have put your home projects on hold, I would like to provide a little guidance and a break. Because everybody needs a break right now. Isn’t it about time we left the election behind, moved forward and put the positive back in our lives?
I’m offering 15% off your scheduled November-December in-home design consultation to help you prepare and move forward in a positive way for the coming New Year! Let’s make your house Home Sweet Home.
Schedule quickly, availability is limited.
We all know what happens. We have such high hopes for what we will accomplish in the new year only to be disappointed with what we have to show for the past 365 days. As Scarlet said “… tomorrow is another day!” and the new year is a way to shake off the old disappointments. So let’s start fresh with the proper preparation for your next design project.
Survey your situation now so that you can have a running start in January. Schedule your November-December in-home design consultation and get the 15% off special. Maybe you need a bathroom remodel because your house was built when everything including the toilet and tub is pink, or you started to work from home but you still need a proper home office.
You may not know how much things cost at the moment, but you can figure out how much you can invest in some type of project without overextending yourself. Put that money aside in a separate account.
One way to prioritize your projects is to write down all of the benefits of getting each design project completed and then compare. What project will have the greatest positive impact on your life? What needs to be done sooner rather than later because of something that does not work or is in need of repair and you can’t function the way you want to without it?
After you have chosen which project is your #1 priority, figure out what it will take to complete the project. If you chose the home office, you will need a desk, a desk chair, file storage, appropriate lighting and so on. Will you need an electrician, a painter, or even an Interior Designer? Are you willing and able to pay for everything to be done for you? Or are you willing and need to do some of the work yourself to help stay in the budget?
If you are not going to do everything yourself, keep a list of people you would need to interview to get the work done.
This will be eye-opening. Your taste and desire for a certain quality level versus your budget. This information will show you where you may need to compromise. Choose a higher end desk that will last many, many years because it is a higher quality product, and choose a chair side table for under $100 that will serve its purpose.
Write down when you would like or need to have the design project completed and count back 3 – 6 months. Depending on the project you chose, the size of it, and the scope involved, give yourself a realistic and forgiving time frame. If there is major construction, definitely give yourself 6 months to a year.
During your interviews, be honest about your needs, expectations, and budget constraints. Ask for proof of insurance and referrals. Also, share your calendar to make sure they will be available when you need them to be. Doing this before you have to start will give everyone flexibility, rather than asking if someone can start as soon as next week.
Get ready for any inconveniences the project may cause. Find alternative ways or areas to do what you need to do. Get things out of the way. And take deep breaths.
Take the time and give yourself a pat on the back for accomplishing what you set out to do. You can look back at 2016 with pride and start planning your next projects for 2017!
