Your Remodel
Don’t Delay Planning Next Year’s Remodel By Chris Linden, executive editor ou’ve heard how the early bird al- the design, order the cabinets and the ways gets the worm? When it comes appliances, as they can take nearly three to to home remodeling these days, there’s six months to arrive, says Havlicek. That’s a serious advantage to planning ahead. much longer than the pre-pandemic six or Product shortages, price increases and eight-week turnaround. high demand are adding up to an unpreWith all that extra wait time, you can dictable time for kitchen and bath design- start shopping for additional fixtures such ers like Lynn Havlicek, owner of Geneva as countertops, doorknobs, tile, flooring Cabinet Gallery, in Geneva. and lighting. These items are also taking If a remodel is in your home’s near fu- longer than usual to arrive. ture, the sooner you can place your order “Make the decision and put the order the more predictable everything becomes. in, because that’s what puts you on a good “That’s what makes the process go schedule without disappointments,” Havquickly and smoothly, even during these lieck says. “You don’t want to order countimes,” Havlicek says. “You really can go tertops the week before they’re installed. smoothly and quickly but you have to do That’s not how things work right now.” the work ahead of time. It’s really doable.” Be patient and flexible throughout the First, locate a designer you can process, she adds. It’s possible you may trust, and start talking out ideas. Expect have to make an alternate selection or wait the designer to visit your home and take a little longer for an item to arrive. measurements so he or she can produce There’s one more critical advantage to a design. Once you’re satisfied with planning ahead, especially when working
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(Geneva Cabinet Gallery photo)
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with a full-service remodeling firm like Geneva Cabinet Gallery. Locking in your prices right now ensures fewer surprises down the road. Havlicek says it’s not uncommon for prices to fly up 10%, sometimes with additional surcharges snuck in. “Ten, 15 or 20 percent on a remodeling job is a lot of money,” she says. “So, lock in your prices as soon as you can. It’s to your benefit. It’s not like you can’t get something later; it’s just going to cost you more. And you might not get your first choice.” ❚ Geneva Cabinet Gallery is located at 321 Stevens St., Geneva, (630) 232-9500.
Smart Living West
Nov/Dec 2021
19
