Analysis

I put a lot of thought into a remodel. Yes I drool over tile, cabinet choices, floor options and light fixtures. But before diving in too deep and emotionally (or financially) investing in an outcome, I go through an analysis that can be quite painful. 

The pain typically hits our bank account first. Paying a mortgage as our house sits empty, paying an architect and in this case, a structural engineer to draw up plans and finally paying the building department for design review of our plans.

Once I have my wish list compiled and design approved by the city, I reach out to contractors for pricing. Based on the quotes from contractors and the time I’m told it will take to complete the project, I decide on whether or not to proceed per plan. 

In the case of our Corte Madera house, we changed course. 

The original plan was to tear off the back of the house and pour a new foundation that would support a 2nd story primary bedroom and en-suite bath. Not too painful a project. Unfortunately, I discovered the foundation of the house was questionable, the neighbor lady was a stick in the mud (throwing NIMBY shade at us), Corte Madera building department was painfully understaffed so our permit would take a year to process and the list goes on and on. 

After careful consideration, we decided that our ultimate goal was to move to where the sun shines as quickly as possible which meant doing as little as possible to the house. No bathroom upgrades, no skylights and painfully, no luxurious en-suite bathroom off a new bedroom. 

Sigh….