Know why this guy's smiling? He's so glad to see you AGAIN at the home improvement store. In fact, he knows your name now! In the exhilarating journey of home remodeling, the temptation to cut corners can be alluring. From saving a few dollars to streamlining the process, it seems like a smart move…on paper. What may appear as a cost-effective decision at first can quickly unravel into a frustrating saga of unexpected expenses, multiple trips to the store, and precious time lost. Case in point: ordering just enough tile or building supplies without a buffer.
Imagine you're knee-deep in a kitchen renovation, thrilled about the prospect of being showcased in Better Homes & Gardens. With a meticulous plan in place, you order precisely the amount of that hexagon tile needed make a great looking space and a super cool transition to your existing wood floors - you've nailed the budgeting game.
Newsflash - reality has a way of throwing curveballs, and in the world of remodeling those curveballs often take the form of supply shortages. That hexagon tile can be tricky, the cuts to transition are many, and those drops may create mismatches in the pattern rendering some of it useless. It's not uncommon for stores to carry just enough of a particular style, especially during peak remodeling seasons. Suddenly, your project comes to a screeching halt as you have to scramble to find inventory that may be hours away.
Making multiple trips to the store is a time-consuming and wallet-draining endeavor. What initially seemed like a money-saving strategy quickly turns into a game of catch-up, with fuel costs, impulse purchases, and precious hours spent navigating the aisles adding up faster than you anticipated. Never mind the added headache of traffic when you're on a mission! But it doesn't end there. Supply shortages can also lead to wait times, as stores may take days or even weeks to restock a particular item. Your once-efficient remodeling timeline is now at the mercy of external factors, leaving you twiddling your thumbs and kicking yourself for saving $35 by passing on that extra box of tile.
In the end, cutting corners by ordering the bare minimum of building supplies inflates your budget. The financial and emotional toll isn’t worth it. So, what's the takeaway? When you’re in sticker shock mode over an estimate and thinking you can manage the budget by being precise, it pays in spades to consider the unforeseen challenges that may arise if you go into panic mode. Building in buffer for extra supplies might seem like an unnecessary expense at the outset, but it's an investment in the smooth and efficient progress of your project. A little extra upfront can save you a lot of headaches down the line and as far as we know – most stores still process returns.
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