Designing and Building Mid-Illinois through The Big Dog Game Plan Part 1

Summary

In this episode of Designing and Building Mid-Illinois, Chris and Kaitlin discuss the essential steps for planning a successful home remodel. They emphasize the importance of clarity before cost, building a realistic budget, defining the scope of work, and choosing the right partner for the project. The conversation also touches on the differences between DIY projects and hiring professionals, as well as the realities of project timelines and potential delays. The hosts aim to equip homeowners with the knowledge to save money and reduce stress during their remodeling journey.

Takeaways

• Most remodeling projects fail due to bad planning, not bad contractors.
• Clarity before cost is essential for successful remodeling.
• Homeowners should build a real budget, not just a wish list.
• Defining the scope of work helps avoid misunderstandings and headaches.
• DIY projects can save money, but know your limits.
• Project timelines often extend due to material delays and inspections.
• Choosing the right contractor is crucial for a successful project.
• Communication and transparency are key in contractor-client relationships.
• A contingency budget of 10-20% is advisable for unexpected costs.
• Good homes aren't built overnight; they require careful planning and execution.

www.bigdogcc.com

Produced by Big Dog Media group with Big Dog Business Coaching

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

Welcome to Design and Building Mid-Ellinois, one home at a time with Big Dog Construction.

SPEAKER_05 0:04

The podcast you didn't know you needed.

SPEAKER_03 0:06

It's Chris Hartzuck and Caitlin Morgini. Join us as we explore the stories, expertise, and projects shaping the future right here in Mid-Ellinois.

SPEAKER_05 0:14

Whether you're planning to build, curious about the latest trends, or just love innovative ideas, we've got insights and inspiration coming your way. And some laughs too.

SPEAKER_03 0:23

Let's go.

unknown 0:24

Big dog!

SPEAKER_01 0:26

In the military, there's no such thing as good enough. You either do the job the right way or you don't do it at all. I'm Blake Middleton of Elite Roofing Professionals and Exteriors. I'm a veteran and I brought the same mission-first mindset back to Illinois. While others talk about the way it's always been done, my team focuses on the technical precision of how a roof should be built. We use the best materials, the best technology, and a level of communication you won't find anywhere else. Your home isn't just a job, it's a commitment. Elite roofing, high standards, zero compromise, clear communication. Give us a call today.

SPEAKER_03 1:01

Hey, welcome back to Designing Building Mid-Illinois One Home at a Time, the podcast where we'll talk practical remounting tips, construction insights, and do-it-yourself projects that make your home work better for you. Along with whatever is top of mind for us today. Hey, I'm your host, Chris, with Caitlin for Genie Trader. And today we're diving into something that you can save thousands of dollars. Yes, Caitlin would say thousands of dollars, months of frustration, and a whole lot of stress savings, right? Because today we are giving you the exact game plan that we use here at Big Dog Design and Build to take projects from idea to reality. Hey, if it's your first time tuning in, welcome. If you've been with us from the beginning, hey, thank you for continuing the journey with us as we help mid-Illinois homeowners design smarter, build better, and make confident decisions about their homes. Plus, give our followers some entertaining conversations to listen to. Highly, yes. Well, we we think they're entertaining, but hey, we'll let you be the judge of that, right? And as we continue and expand our Middle Illinois with our podcast, so that's what we're here about today. And we're gonna pay a few bills real quick. We're gonna talk about one of our 10x partners shout out here, elite roofing professionals. Hey, let me ask you something. When was the last time you really looked at your roof? Because most homeowners don't. Until there's a problem, elite roofing professionals, they believe your roof shouldn't be a question mark. It should be a peace of mind. Whether it's storm damage, aging shingles, or you just want an honest inspection, their team shows up, tells you the truth, and does the job right the first time. No pressure, no shortcuts, just real craftsmanship and real protection for your home. So before the next storm rolls in, hey, get ahead of it. Call elite roofing professionals today for your free inspection and know your home is covered. Choose elite roofing professionals and experience. Excellence from the roof down. Call them today at 217-851-3836. Talk to Jenny over there for your free estimate and or find them on the web, the interweb at eliteroofingprofessionals.com. So, hey, sorry, Caitlin's laughing at my little I mean it is storm season on the interweb. Season four. It is. Oh my gosh. Well, hey, let's get into it. So our podcast today is how to plan a remodel like a pro. The big dog game plan, right?

SPEAKER_05 3:19

This is a big one.

SPEAKER_03 3:20

We're pulling back the curtain.

SPEAKER_05 3:21

This is a big one. Everybody needs this.

SPEAKER_03 3:23

Dragging this out of the doghouse, folks, right?

SPEAKER_05 3:25

Hit save already, guys. Just yeah, right.

SPEAKER_03 3:28

Definitely save this so you can revert back to this whenever you need to, thinking about those projects. Sooth, I've got my lift going on.

SPEAKER_04 3:37

That's what I just was talking about. What a wonderful job you're doing.

SPEAKER_03 3:40

Yeah, I know. See, it's all good. It happens, right? The truth, most contractors won't tell you, right? That's what we're going to talk about a little bit here. Is here's the reality. Most remodeling projects don't go over budget or behind schedule because of bad contractors. They go sideways because of bad planning.

SPEAKER_05 3:57

Ding dong.

SPEAKER_03 3:58

Right? Doorbells ringing.

SPEAKER_05 3:59

Taking that accountability. It's hard sometimes, guys.

SPEAKER_03 4:02

That's funny. That word accountability has come up a lot in the last four or five days around here. So that's awesome. Yeah, we've been teaching that. We've been coaching that. We've been talking to clients about that. And so again, it's the bad planning. It's no clear vision. Spout a little John Maxwell for those that know John Maxwell, right? The law of picture. If you cannot see it, you cannot plan for it, which means that you cannot make it happen. It causes confusion without a clear picture.

SPEAKER_05 4:29

Like, are we talking about a clear picture in our mind?

SPEAKER_03 4:31

In our mind, on paper, whatever, right? Paper, right? Because that picture is like, oh, I want this to happen. And those that don't have a clear picture, we can create that clear picture for them with our designers here, right? We can show it. We can walk them through a virtual walkthrough of what that remodel addition, whatever it's going to be, right? Will work. So no clear vision and no real budget all the time. I mean, it's kind of frustrating, but I've gotten used to it almost doing this 30 years. Yes, I'm showing my age, not just the hair color.

SPEAKER_05 4:59

I think you started when you were 12, right? Yeah. Oh, yeah. Thanks. Yeah. Sucking up, Kayla.

SPEAKER_03 5:03

You already got the co-host gig. Don't you got it? You're not getting it.

SPEAKER_05 5:06

Look, I did this. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 5:07

Yeah. Fluffing her hair, right? Yeah, I'll do the same with mine, right? My hair gel going here. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 5:12

But people don't know their budget. Well, right.

SPEAKER_03 5:15

That's the thing. Look, sometimes, sometimes potential clients were like, well, I don't want to tell them a number because then that's magically what the price is going to be. It's not the case. It's kind of like we're walking to a car car dealership, like a used car dealership. Like, yeah, how much money you got on you? That's how much the car is.

SPEAKER_05 5:31

Usually you do like bracketing. Like you would say, like, you need to think, have some space, maybe between 2012. That's right.

SPEAKER_03 5:40

That's arranged. Right. Exactly.

SPEAKER_05 5:42

Like have some space to room, room to breathe. Like, where could you cut some things? All this stuff. Like, but people don't think about how expensive things actually are. It's the cost of goods. Or not goods.

SPEAKER_03 5:53

It's it's the cost of getting the crap to us now. I mean, look at the diesel price. Now they're talking. Oh I just heard Yeah, let's see. What goes into a semi to get the materials to us? Diesel fuel? That's currently sitting where we're at at $530 a gallon. I mean, come on.

SPEAKER_05 6:10

Because I didn't think about all your trucks are diesel.

SPEAKER_03 6:13

That's right. And driving by van. Some trips because they're afraid that in the next six to eight weeks there's gonna be a fuel, jet fuel. I mean, so they're cutting now, cutting. It's crazy. It's crazy, man. I'll tell you how to do that.

SPEAKER_05 6:31

Dude, that's really crazy. But but to the real budget.

SPEAKER_03 6:34

We scroll moment. It's okay. That's what we do here, right? We make sure we educate.

SPEAKER_05 6:39

That was still very informative.

SPEAKER_03 6:40

It is because it does affect budgets, but back to the point of people not having a budget in mind. Like, look, folks, how liquid are you? You know, how much cash do you have on hand, or how much cash can you go borrow to do your project? If you don't know that, it's kind of artists to help you in that. But luckily, we know people are like, well, if we don't know our range, we don't know how much go ask for. We don't know if we can borrow that much because we don't want to ask. Got it. It's a two-way street. It's come about communication, right?

SPEAKER_05 7:06

Wouldn't the contractor? I feel like that some people might not know how much they need to spend.

SPEAKER_06 7:13

Exactly.

SPEAKER_05 7:13

So the contractor or someone like Susan.

SPEAKER_06 7:17

Right.

SPEAKER_05 7:18

You come in, say, I say, This is what I yeah, the big dog designer. So I want to make these two rooms into one big room.

SPEAKER_06 7:27

Right.

SPEAKER_05 7:27

How much would I need to do that? So they'd have to go in and then you go and see if you can get the loan for that amount of money. But what sucks, a lot of times you don't get that amount, and then your dreams are crushed into a thousand pieces.

SPEAKER_03 7:40

Well, they're not. And here's why your dreams aren't crushed into a thousand pieces. Because one thing that we do, when we do give ranges, right? Because we know that any bathroom model is typically a typical bathroom is five by eight. Five foot by eight foot is a typical bathroom. Because most bathtubs are five foot across, which means that's the width of the bathroom. Yes. And then the depth is usually eight feet, which gives them room for the tub, the vanity, and the toilet. And then your door, boom, you're out. Okay. Typical most standard standard, standard bathroom, right? Okay. Yeah. Standard bathroom, right? And that bathroom model, full room model, is going to run range anywhere between eight to eighteen thousand dollars. Depending on what you do on.

SPEAKER_05 8:18

Right.

SPEAKER_03 8:18

Right?

SPEAKER_05 8:19

Do you want the high-end tile? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 8:21

Exactly.

SPEAKER_05 8:21

Do you, or do you just want like one of those put-in bathtubs? Put in the bathroom.

SPEAKER_03 8:26

Put in. You're going to put it in the bathtub.

SPEAKER_05 8:27

But you know what I'm talking about?

SPEAKER_03 8:28

You just set you drop your junk in the bathtub. Yeah, I know what you're saying.

SPEAKER_04 8:32

What did I call the storm shelter?

SPEAKER_03 8:34

A safe. Is that a safe you're putting in the ground? No, that's a storm shelter, Kevin.

SPEAKER_04 8:40

Oh, I love you.

SPEAKER_03 8:41

So we know we can let people know those ranges, right? Eight to eighteen thousand a kid. There's a lot of variants in there, right? If you don't know what you're going to put in it, go get a loan for 18, right? And do that. Same with kitchens. So kitsch left over. Kitchens and bathrooms are your most expensive rooms to remodel. We've talked about that in previous five years.

SPEAKER_05 8:57

Is it because of the plumbing? Obviously.

SPEAKER_03 8:59

It's plumbing electrical. There's more components in there than a bedroom. Bedroom is your closet, your light fixture, trim floor, no fridge. Well, you can put a fridge in your bedroom if you want.

SPEAKER_05 9:09

Maybe, you know, back in the college days. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 9:11

Anyway, um, but your kitchen, kitchen remods can be on the low end, smaller kitchens, from 25,000 to 75,000. I mean, literally in one room. But again, solid wood wood cabinets, you're gonna do uh quartz countertops, the sile seal countertops. Yeah, you know, are you gonna do floor to ceiling cabinetry? Are your cab upper cabinets gonna go to the ceiling, you're gonna have crown mold go all the way up and touch. Every piece of trim you see in there adds cost, right? Not just material, but labor as well. And so that's why it's hard when people say, Well, that's a $50,000 swing. Yeah, you have a $50,000 swing in the budget.

SPEAKER_05 9:47

Like you said, you go back to some of our earlier episodes. If you don't have as big of a budget, we give all those tips on things you can do.

SPEAKER_03 9:56

So yeah, change it up, freshen up a little bit, right?

SPEAKER_05 9:58

New lower end of that remodel.

SPEAKER_03 10:02

Or if you don't want to do those things, we could do it and we can come in and give a freshen up to your kitchen. Yes. For like 10 grand, right?

SPEAKER_05 10:08

Maybe a yes, that's what I was doing.

SPEAKER_03 10:10

A new layman at top, backsplash, whatever, new numbers, polls, light fixtures. Exactly.

SPEAKER_05 10:14

And Susan, the designer, could tell.

SPEAKER_03 10:16

Exactly. So, and those are the things that that our clients need to know is we will help you try to develop a budget, but don't be stingy with giving us numbers. We want to be able to help you because guess what? Our time is valuable just like your time is valuable. And we want to make sure it's a two-way street of communication. Let us help you.

unknown 10:33

Right?

SPEAKER_03 10:33

Yeah. The end goal is we're here to serve our clients, not sell to them.

SPEAKER_05 10:37

Right. It's a family like you.

SPEAKER_03 10:39

You become part of the big dog family, right? Yeah. We want to earn your respect and your money. That's what we want. We don't want to take either one of them for granted.

SPEAKER_05 10:48

I like that you said that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 10:49

And one of the other things where things go bad on the bad plane is no defined scope, right? And this is so again, this this podcast, this episode, is about we're pulling back the big dog gameplay and of how we go about it, which means we're giving you a clear vision, right? We're giving you a budget of what it is. It literally, our contracts call out what we're doing line by line, line by line, what we're doing with a price at the bottom. Right. We even give you some shopping money up on some allowances, like for light fixtures or countertops or cabinets, if you haven't chose those yet. That way you know in that big number at the bottom, you have shopping money to spend up there. If you spend a little more, your bottom line goes up a little bit. Spend a little less, your bottom line goes down.

SPEAKER_05 11:29

That's helpful. That's a good thing.

SPEAKER_03 11:30

There's tons of allowances, but people know the big number.

SPEAKER_05 11:32

Right.

SPEAKER_03 11:33

Right. And then we help work with them on keeping those allowances in line so they stay on budget.

SPEAKER_06 11:39

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 11:39

And if they want to go over budget, then they know, hey, you're going to pay this much more at the final closing, right? The final of your job. But and that's that defined scope. And I tell folks, if it's not in there, it's not included in the price. It doesn't mean we're not doing something. If you want something else done, great, we have written change orders. Again, continuing the defined scope. So that's where people and homeowners get burned is they don't give themselves a clear vision, a real budget, and define scope, right?

SPEAKER_05 12:12

And I think one thing you said that I really liked is is the constant communication between like you and your client and the homeowner. Because we know things can come up. We know that there's differences in what they would choose. So as long as it's constant, I mean, every single day, right? If you're working on a remodel, right? Because yes. Well, I mean, what do you do if people change they see something, they change their mind.

SPEAKER_03 12:36

They do it all the time. I do.

SPEAKER_05 12:38

I would I would be that person.

SPEAKER_03 12:39

We literally have a client we just started today on their job, right? Just starting on their job today. And I was out there yesterday because they called and said, Hey, we uncovered a problem. Uncovered a problem. They started doing some things themselves that we were on our job to do.

SPEAKER_05 12:52

Wait, who called you and said we uncovered a problem?

SPEAKER_03 12:54

The homeowner did. The homeowner did because they were starting to do some things of themselves.

SPEAKER_05 12:58

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 12:58

And so I took time out of my day to go out there and be like, Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, we're good. You can do this, this, and this, and we'll be out here tomorrow morning. Get rolling, right?

SPEAKER_05 13:05

Love it. But for you, you came a run-in. The white night came a run-in.

SPEAKER_03 13:08

Well, I don't know about white night, silver night.

SPEAKER_05 13:11

That's actually cooler.

SPEAKER_03 13:12

Right?

SPEAKER_05 13:13

No, but it is very important to not just go into a project, like you said, just real budget to find scope, right?

SPEAKER_03 13:20

So today we're gonna walk through the exact steps we use so we can help you plan like a pro, whether you DIY DIY or hire us or another trusted professional, right? So clarity before cost. So before you ever talk to that contractor, you need the clarity. And so we have some questions that we will walk through with clients if they just walk in our showroom. Because again, we have a walk-in showroom that people can come talk to us at, right? So what problem are you solving? Right? Before what's the clarity? What problem are you solving? What does a done right? And I'm air quoting here for those that are listening, done right look like right. What does that actually look like to you? And is this about function, style, or both?

SPEAKER_05 14:08

Well, that's I I was just getting ready to say that because for our listeners and people watching, but problem am I solving there might not be a problem within the inside or or something structural or anything like that. The problem might simply be that you don't like what you're looking at.

SPEAKER_03 14:25

Exactly.

SPEAKER_05 14:26

Okay, so that's where he went in to say, is it about style? It could just be that. Like you said, it could be a little bit of both.

SPEAKER_03 14:34

Yeah. And and that's the thing, you know, we've talked about this on other episodes as well. And that's what's kind of neat about doing these podcasts, you know, when we came up with doing it a while back, is how things kind of pull together. Yeah. And you can like, they were talking about that back then. Well, guess what? It's relevant today, too. The needs and wants. That's the function and style, right? The function, I need this. The style is the one.

SPEAKER_05 15:01

I want this.

SPEAKER_03 15:02

Right. So what is it? Is it about that? Right. And it's okay if it is, but again, it's the clarity before the cost, right? Because if you skip this step, you'll change your mind mid-project, which it still happens.

SPEAKER_05 15:16

I mean, I can't, I it has to.

SPEAKER_03 15:18

You'll blow your budget, which we've seen that happen before, but our clients knew about it as we went along. We don't believe in aha's at the end, like, hey, gotcha sticker shock at the end, right? We want people to know because otherwise we want paid at the end. Right. We want people to know what they're paying at the end. Right. That's why they know our payment structure when we start the job.

SPEAKER_05 15:37

Hey, and you have it clearly listed, detailed out.

SPEAKER_03 15:40

Right, whether it be on percentages or larger jobs, it's bi-weekly draws as progress progresses, right?

SPEAKER_05 15:46

And again, you're very communicative to be able to answer questions about it.

SPEAKER_03 15:50

And without the clarity before cost, you will delay your timeline because you're going to be struggling. We don't have a game plan, we don't have a roadmap. What roadmap are we following?

SPEAKER_05 15:58

Right. It's it's like your why in life. You can't progress in life if you don't know your why. Right. If you don't know why you're remodeling.

SPEAKER_03 16:06

What is your why? Exactly. Yeah. We ask that all the time.

SPEAKER_05 16:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 16:10

And here at Big Dog, we don't start with the price, we start with the purpose. And so that's key on that. Excuse my computer alerting me of things. Hey, you have this appointment coming up. So, anyway, we start with that purpose, right? Not the price. So that kind of leads us into, you know, the building a real budget, not a wish. You can have wish lists, but you need to have a needs list.

SPEAKER_05 16:34

This is good, Chris. This is good. Right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 16:37

So build a real budget. So let's talk money. Okay. One of the big mistakes that we see is people come with a Pinterest budget. Nothing against Pinterest, but Pinterest sometimes it's kind of like HGTV.

SPEAKER_04 16:50

Fake news.

SPEAKER_03 16:51

Fake news. Oh my God. It's fake news. Fake, fake news, CNN, fake news, Fox, CNN, fake, fake news. No, that's not my DT impersonation. But anyway, she's dying here.

SPEAKER_04 17:03

I am crying.

SPEAKER_03 17:04

She's dying. Don't cry.

SPEAKER_04 17:05

Because we have been doing this all weekend, me and my dad and my Chris. And so I'm so glad.

SPEAKER_03 17:10

Yeah, we're like fake news. That's Pinterest. Fake news. But no. So HGTV used to put falsehoods in people's minds. Oh my God, you can do that in a day. No, folks, there's a lot goes like Tamara said, there's a lot Dammer Day said goes behind beyond the camera that you don't see. It's cut and edited, folks, to fit in a half-hour TV show.

SPEAKER_06 17:28

Right.

SPEAKER_03 17:29

Hello. But same with budgets, right? Pinterest. Oh, well, we can go get this re reclaimed shutter from blah, blah, blah, for 10 bucks. Well, great. I did that for a client. I found large wooden vintage shutters that were $300, but it cost me another $200 to go pick them up, get them here. Well, they're only $300. Well, no, now they're $500. Well, Pinterest, I can get them. Great. Get them on Pinterest then.

SPEAKER_05 17:58

But that's that is very true. Sometimes, though, when you try to cut corners like this, you end up spending more money.

SPEAKER_03 18:07

You do. And I'm glad you brought that up because one of the biggest mistakes we see is people come in again with that Pinterest budget, but this is how the pros think, right? Project cost, contingency. That's the thing that people don't realize. A 10 to 20% contingency. What that is is if you uncover something, right?

SPEAKER_05 18:25

You know, I always wondered how that worked. I didn't know that's what it was called, I guess.

SPEAKER_03 18:29

But but not all. So when we give when we unless a client asks for a contingency, we don't have a contingency in there. But when you're planning on budgets yourself and you're going to the bank, like I said, that bathroom be $18,000. Put a $2,000 contingency in there, take and get a $20,000 loan.

SPEAKER_05 18:48

I feel like that should be on anything with construction. I wonder if a construction loan is like that.

SPEAKER_03 18:53

No.

SPEAKER_05 18:53

Oh.

SPEAKER_03 18:54

No, because you go get that construction loan based on the price. What's the price? Oh, yeah, yeah, you're right. You're right. You're right. Some banks are like, hey, we're going to add a 10% contingency, right? Because you never know what could be uncovered. Correct. Right. And so it's kind of like it's kind of like the R Market grocery store that we're doing, right? And working with the state and the grant, we received a $2.4 million grant. We had to have a 10% contingency line in there. So we have a $240,000 contingency line in there. If a category electrical plumbing, whatever it is, goes above what is budgeted, we have up to 10% in that to pull in.

SPEAKER_05 19:31

And I think especially for something like that.

SPEAKER_03 19:34

Yeah, large projects.

SPEAKER_05 19:35

We're so excited for our market, by the way, guys.

SPEAKER_03 19:37

Yes, we're hoping that it's coming along. Anyway, we may do an episode on that.

SPEAKER_05 19:42

I want us to because you've worked so hard and he got an award, you guys.

SPEAKER_03 19:45

Yep. So upgrades you'll want mid-project as well. So that's where that real price, the clarity, the real price, the real budget that contingency gives you if you want those upgrades mid-project, right? And again, that's where it comes to, you know, hey, now that you've opened up this wall, right? We'd really like to extend cabinets on this way. Right. Okay, no problem. Well, guess what? That's gonna add another $5,000. Because it's not just cabinets now, you have countertop as well.

SPEAKER_05 20:11

That is, well, and I I sit here and I think about too, just you know how that car siding or the ship lap or whatever has was so popular, which I still think it kind of is. Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

unknown 20:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 20:23

I mean, that's an extra cost. I wasn't ever gonna add that on my fireplace, and I did well after I saw it open.

SPEAKER_03 20:32

You said, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 20:33

So see, I think the content I I I want to recommend.

SPEAKER_03 20:36

So if you're if your budget has zero flexibility, you're already in trouble.

SPEAKER_05 20:40

Right.

SPEAKER_03 20:41

So again, we will talk to you about that. You know, our designers here were real good, and our salespeople are real good about talking about well, you can do this option, this option, this option, this is this price, this is this price, this is this price. If you don't know, that's where we put that allowance money in there, which is really contingency money, right? That allowance money is, right? Because when we price it, if we after we interview someone, we're like, okay, they've got champagne taste on beer budget. So it and if that's the case, then we're gonna give an allowance in there of the champagne taste, which is gonna drive their bottom line up, but that money is held, it's held in that project, right? And the bank knows, okay, oh, we've got $10,000 worth of allowance shopping money in here, which can go up or down. Oh, it gives them a ceiling, right? Okay, yeah. So that's kind of a contingency money in there because we literally have had clients like, well, okay, well, we really want to do this upgrade over here, but we really can't go over budget. Like, okay, well, let's talk about your allowances. We can lower this allowance on here, that you can replace this in five years or do this in five years or whatever to make this happen. So that's kind of like you were talking earlier. We can take that big project and chunk it down in little pieces and put it in a manageable project, you know, to make it budget to make it happen.

SPEAKER_05 21:53

Right. So, but again, see, that's helpful for the I think people to understand that it doesn't always have to be just One right big thing.

SPEAKER_03 22:04

True. It can. Some people are like, I want it done. Well, I'll do it now. Boom, I'm gonna move out. I'll come back in five months when it's done. Okay, great. No problem. We have clients that do that.

SPEAKER_05 22:13

We have one that one I uh uh if it's if it is budget concerned.

SPEAKER_03 22:18

Correct.

SPEAKER_05 22:19

You know, right.

SPEAKER_03 22:21

Yes. You know, and a good plan doesn't just afford the project, it protects you from surprises. It's the contingency or the allowances. Yeah. Yeah, we try, we do try to have our clients nail down their styles, their colors, their choices before we start the project. Because one, then we can get the stuff on order.

SPEAKER_05 22:40

So they're not waiting.

SPEAKER_03 22:42

Correct. Yeah. But but a lot of people just like, I just don't know. I just don't know. Sometimes they have too many choices.

SPEAKER_05 22:51

I was gonna say, and they they need to see it.

SPEAKER_03 22:54

Analysis, paralysis.

SPEAKER_05 22:55

They're not like, oh my god, too many choices.

SPEAKER_03 22:57

They just blow their mind, right? But hey, you know what? Next step we talk about on the big dog playing plan is scope it out like a pro. This is where projects are won or lost. So the scope means exactly what's being done. And exactly what's not being done. So we literally will call out just because it may not say removing of something, we literally in the notes below maybe does not include removing of.

SPEAKER_05 23:24

I think that that is right.

SPEAKER_03 23:26

So there's no essential. Yeah, there's no, and that's the thing. And again, not bashing, there's a lot of great contractors out there, and there's a lot of shitty contractors out there, and I'll just say that openly, right? Because I can. I've been doing this almost 30 years.

SPEAKER_05 23:37

It's free country.

SPEAKER_03 23:38

It is free country, right? And this isn't fake news. And and the shitty, shitty contractors know who they are, right? And that's the thing. There, there are guys out there that, oh, I know what I've been doing. I've been doing this a whole life, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Their trucks full of just junk. You they can't find anything. And you're like, this guy's gonna haul my you know, beautiful new trim piece of cabinetry in the back of the city.

SPEAKER_04 24:00

What about ones that leave middle?

SPEAKER_03 24:02

Yeah, exactly. Right. Job. Right. And and so they know who they are, right?

SPEAKER_04 24:07

They know.

SPEAKER_03 24:07

But even the good contractors can we can always get better, right? We are continually at big dog trying to improve what we do, how we do what for our clients, how we protect our clients, how we protect ourselves, how we protect our employees, everything. But with that being said, it's making sure that your contract, the scope of what you're doing, right? The segment is about the scope, is called out because people don't always remember what they hear, but they can pick up a contract of paper and say, Oh, that's what it says.

SPEAKER_05 24:40

Right. And you're a double s or it's covered.

SPEAKER_03 24:45

Ass. You can say ass. Or was it funnier to say you're a double s?

SPEAKER_04 24:50

You know it was funnier a little bit.

SPEAKER_03 24:52

Because you just want to let people know you can spell.

SPEAKER_04 24:54

Exactly.

SPEAKER_05 24:55

And guys, I well let Caitlin I've been helping with homework really lately. But um, so here's No, the scope of work is very important because, like you said, not even just people trying to sue or anything. Like, I don't I don't want to like, I wouldn't want to work really hard for somebody if I'm the contractor. That's hard work, you know, and be really proud of what I did. Right. And then somebody's like, Well, you didn't do this. You like they just see the bad part, but but then you say, excuse me, ma'am.

SPEAKER_03 25:26

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 25:27

Here's the scope.

SPEAKER_03 25:28

Well, and that's that's the thing because here's an example of that, right? You know, just don't say kitchener model, $50,000.

SPEAKER_05 25:36

Yeah, no, it needs to be but there's some people that do that. Cabinets put in. Um cabinets replaced island change.

SPEAKER_03 25:43

Yeah, electrical updated, flooring included. Yeah, the clearer your scope, the fewer the change orders in installed. Yeah, exactly. The fewer the headaches as well. Because clarity on your scope equals control. Control of the project, control of the budget, control of everything, right? What the end result is.

SPEAKER_05 26:02

And realistically, the homeowner.

SPEAKER_03 26:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 26:04

I would I want that. I want somebody to organize that for me. Thank you. Thank you, kind sir.

SPEAKER_03 26:10

Well, yeah, you're welcome, kind lady.

SPEAKER_05 26:12

Yeah, you know, God bless.

SPEAKER_03 26:14

We have some clients that literally will have their contract and they'll start checking off as they see us doing the stuff. Right. Because we literally like obtain permits. Oh, hey, there's a permit hanging window. Dust protection. Oh, look, they got the dust protection up. Layout for new whatever. Oh, hey, look, the markers and stakes are out there. You know, they gotta lay out. Hey, okay. Goddamn shit done already.

SPEAKER_05 26:35

Oh, I'm telling you, it's just all 10x between your checklist, Lisa and Lenny's checklist. Now I gotta get some sort of checklist.

SPEAKER_03 26:42

Hey, we got we got you checked. We check your list.

SPEAKER_04 26:45

Oh, I checked, check before.

SPEAKER_03 26:46

Check, check, mic check, mic drop. That's right. Well, hey, on that. So we got our clarity again, clarity equals control. But again, here's kind of where we start flowing a little bit of when to DIY it versus when to hire a pro. Here we go. So some of you listening love to DIY.

SPEAKER_05 27:06

And I respect it. We don't judge here. We hey, we listen, we don't judge.

SPEAKER_03 27:12

I just won't be the jury.

SPEAKER_05 27:13

I'm the next one, guys.

SPEAKER_03 27:14

You're the judge injury. If I talk to Chris about it. But hey, here's the here's the real rule on DIY versus hiring a pro, right? If it affects the structure, we've talked about this, right?

SPEAKER_05 27:25

So many times, guys.

SPEAKER_03 27:28

Electrical plumbing or long-term value. Bring in a pro. And what I mean by about that long-term value is I was guilty. So okay, I'm gonna tell of myself, right?

SPEAKER_05 27:41

So here we go.

SPEAKER_03 27:42

I was guilty of this before because I was an engineer before I got into construction. Right, right, right, right. And I'm like, update that bathroom air, but I was shit, right? Right. Sound like old boomer in there, and I was only anyway. So literally, I got the point where I would get this shower paneling that was glossy, tile-looking, masonite shit. Put it in, looks great for about a month, but if there's any little bit of scratch, water just starts impregnating it and it just starts swelling and blistering. So that is long-term value goes down because it's gonna quickly your good money. And what's funny is I thought, shit, look, woo, look at this. I'd have parties, right? My friends come and say, Man, that's pretty cool. So I would go do it at their house on a weekend, right? And before you know it, everyone had a shitty bathroom.

SPEAKER_04 28:33

This is an excellent story.

SPEAKER_03 28:35

That's the long-term value thing, right? So then I had to tear the shit out, or my buddy's like, that door doesn't. This isn't work anymore. Oh, did you scratch it? Did you do this? Oh, it's your fault, not mine. You know, what are you doing with your old lady in there? Uh, not me, man.

SPEAKER_04 28:47

That sounded like uh cheat chin chong.

SPEAKER_03 28:50

Oh, well, I don't know about that. No, I'm not going to the cheat chin chong around. I do not smoke pot. But he I did not inhale it. I just held it in my mouth.

unknown 29:00

Pot.

SPEAKER_05 29:00

Like that proves, like for DIY stuff, guys. We're talking about painting, probably, right? We're cosmetic things.

SPEAKER_03 29:11

Put some trim down. We talked about that.

SPEAKER_05 29:12

You could you can put new plates, your electrical. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 29:17

Yeah. If you're comfortable doing that, yeah, you sure can. If not, but I is great for cosmetic updates, like we're just talking about, right? The painting, the fixtures, the knobs, the pulls. The fixtures.

SPEAKER_05 29:26

Yes, the knobs, the poles. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 29:28

But we've seen too many homeowners try to save $2,000 and end up spending $10,000 to fix it.

SPEAKER_05 29:33

To fix it. Case in point, your showers, your college showers.

SPEAKER_03 29:38

They looked great for a bit, now didn't they? So know your lane, and that's how you win at this game. The big dog playbook. Right.

SPEAKER_05 29:46

I'm gonna tell you something. What? What? You better coin that phrase. Stay in your lane, and that's how you win this game.

SPEAKER_03 29:53

Know your lane, and that's how you win the game. That's right. That's how it should be, right?

SPEAKER_05 29:58

And what was the other one you you came up with that one time? Haters.

SPEAKER_03 30:02

Um yeah, haters be hating. That's why I'm leaving them in the shadows of my success.

SPEAKER_05 30:06

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 30:07

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 30:08

Coin it.

SPEAKER_03 30:08

Oh, it's coined. It's coined. Hey, so timely reality check, okay? So let me say this loud and clear. Your project will take longer than you think. HDTV out the window. Reality check. Here it is, right? Not because people are lazy, not because us contractors are lazy, but because materials get delayed. Let me say that again. Materials get delayed. Big dog is not in the back making materials, growing trees, cutting them, milling them, planting them, staining them, making them happen in your house, right?

SPEAKER_05 30:42

He's got his wood mill.

SPEAKER_03 30:44

That's right. I got my wood mill out back or shining the logs down the river to put them through the shawl mill.

SPEAKER_05 30:49

And and the supplies have gotten worse and worse.

SPEAKER_03 30:52

And as the prices of fuel go up, the prices of materials are going to go up, but it also will cause delays for those companies that can't afford those increases. We we've gotten probably five emails in the past two weeks on surcharges on fuel for deliveries. Well, guess what? I can't eat that. Right. So guess it has to be passed along. It has to be passed along the bottom line. Right. And, you know, in areas where, and I'm a full fan of this, inspections take time, right? So outside of McCubin County, there is a world here in central Illinois where we have to have inspections. And those inspectors are but one person, sometimes two, depending on the size of the municipality, but those inspections had to be scheduled. Sometimes you'll only do inspections during certain hours of the day. And if they already have them booked with other inspections, you're bumped the next day or the next day or the next day. So that can cause delay and make some of the things that we're going to do.

SPEAKER_05 31:41

That's 100% true. And I've experienced that. And I think you know, Lisa and Lilia would probably say the same.

SPEAKER_03 31:47

Yeah. And also, weather plays a role, right? Duh. And and so, but people are like, but you're remodeling my kitchen. That's inside.

SPEAKER_05 31:56

No, you have to set up outside. Well, sometimes saw.

SPEAKER_03 32:00

The saw. Yeah. She's what is that?

SPEAKER_05 32:02

The cowboy. What is it? Cowboy. Whoa. It's even called the cowboy saw?

SPEAKER_03 32:06

What are you talking about?

SPEAKER_05 32:08

What if those I have no idea? Okay, guys, I know what it is now.

SPEAKER_03 32:11

She's brain farting. Like her hair is fluffing off her ears.

SPEAKER_05 32:15

Okay, so those things are called a sawhorse.

SPEAKER_03 32:18

Saw horse, yes.

SPEAKER_05 32:20

Those things that you set them on. So then I I thought, okay, so it was a sawhorse, so only a cowboy rides on a horse. So I was like, that's a cowboy.

SPEAKER_03 32:29

Oh my. Oh my gosh. My brain hurts now. Help me, please. Sweet Jesus. Anyway.

SPEAKER_05 32:36

But but they have to get they have to take stuff in and out if it's raining.

SPEAKER_03 32:40

Well, also, what people don't realize is okay, if we're slated to start your job on a Monday and we are working on wrapping up a building a new deck for someone on that pre-fire week. And it rains, guess what? We're not out there, we're not able to build that deck because it's raining. So it pushes that job from starting even. But same token, we're doing an addition for someone's house, right? We're at the concrete stage of it. It rained for four days. Folks, I can't get out there and dig in the mud to get your foundation because it's going to give you a shitty project or product.

SPEAKER_05 33:12

Right.

SPEAKER_03 33:12

We're not about giving you a shitty product. So weather is a huge weather will play a role in that, right? A professional plan includes a realistic timeline. We try, right? And built-in buffer. We try to give buffers, but we still get how long is this gonna take? Oh god, that's too long. Well, we can cut it down, but you're gonna be pissed when we go fast.

SPEAKER_05 33:31

Right. And and I think the buffer is a good thing.

SPEAKER_03 33:34

So if someone promises fast and cheap, that's a red flag.

SPEAKER_05 33:39

Hey, then that means it's gonna look fast and cheap, guys.

SPEAKER_03 33:43

So my bathroom models from 35 years ago. Yeah, I still remember I can still see that bathroom in my my mind.

SPEAKER_05 33:50

I have a really weird vision of it after you said blistering.

SPEAKER_03 33:54

Had little blue flowers on the tile pattern. It was like the hell was I thinking? Anyway, hey, I know it's crazy.

SPEAKER_04 34:02

The blue flowers.

SPEAKER_03 34:04

So as we go through all these steps, right, we're talking about now choosing the right partner. What that choosing the right partner means. And this might be the most important step of all is you're not just hiring a contractor, you're choosing a partner on this project. You're looking for communication, transparency, process, reviews, and real results, right?

SPEAKER_05 34:26

Reviews is a good thing. And I mean, yeah, because think about it, guys, you're inviting people into your home. And this is where your family's gonna live.

SPEAKER_03 34:34

That's right.

SPEAKER_05 34:35

It obviously needs to be safe, it needs to make you feel happy. So this probably is, I would agree, the most important.

SPEAKER_03 34:42

It is choosing that right partner again. Because at Big Dog, we're not chasing one job, we're building a lifetime relationship, right? And that's we it's just not a tagline. We do, we're not looking for a client for a one time, we look for a client for that lifetime because you become part of the big dog family and you try to take care of your family unless you get divorced. And sorry, you're out. No, it's case. Yes, little Johnny, mommy and daddy do get divorced every once in a while, and it's okay. They both love you equally.

SPEAKER_05 35:10

Boy, you see, now you can move into divorce coaching.

SPEAKER_03 35:14

Oh, I'll pass on that. Hey, because the right partner just doesn't build your project, they protect your investment.

SPEAKER_05 35:19

The protect, yes.

SPEAKER_03 35:20

Yes, that's right.

SPEAKER_05 35:22

So investment. Investment.

SPEAKER_03 35:24

So let's recap here, right? Because we've thrown out about six, seven steps of the game book today, right? And you mean six, seven? Six, seven.

SPEAKER_04 35:34

My son would be so proud of me. I think I really did, or he's gonna be so horrified.

SPEAKER_03 35:39

Well, you didn't call it about by name, so it's okay. You know, we know his teachers are listening, so it's all good. So anyway, we've gone through this. You know, so the big dog method, right? We're gonna recap this framework, right? Yeah, let's bring it all together for everybody, right? So the big dog game plan is clarity before cost.

SPEAKER_05 35:58

Your why.

SPEAKER_03 35:59

Your why, the picture, right? The clarity, what's right, realistic budget, defined scope, DIY versus pro awareness, structure, electrical planning, all that stuff, right? Real timeline expectations and choosing the right partner. So if you follow this, you're not just remodeling your home, you're doing it the right way. And if you don't want to remodel your home, just sell it or buy it and let Lisa Miller and her team at First Choice Realty Pros, 217825, 3999, or on their website at first choicerealtypros.com. That's the number one, ST Choice RealityPros.com, and they will help you sell your home so you go out and remodel it and or go buy a new one, damn it. Just just do it, right?

SPEAKER_05 36:47

I mean, we look, guys, we have everything mapped out for you. Look at this roadmap you just did before remodeling. If you want to sell, Lisa's got her roadmap. I mean, that's right. We got it all here for you, big dog. And I got the laughs, man.

SPEAKER_03 37:00

Okay, so we got the laughs. Hell yeah, we got the laughs.

SPEAKER_05 37:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 37:05

So, hey, you know what though? Because at the end of the day, this isn't just about cabinets, windows, or flooring. It's about where your family gathers, where your memories are made, and where life happens, right? And when you do it right, you just don't build a better home, you build a better life. And that's what we believe in at Big Dog Construction, right?

SPEAKER_05 37:28

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 37:29

So hey, if you're thinking about starting the project, don't guess your way through it. Reach out to us at Big Dog Construction 217-970-7340, and let's build a plan that actually works for you. Because we're not looking for that one-time client, we're looking for a lifetime relationship, right?

SPEAKER_05 37:50

Correct. I love that.

SPEAKER_03 37:52

Any any other parting words on today? I this this, I think, again, like you said at the beginning, save this, earmark this.

SPEAKER_05 37:59

Yeah, I think this should be saved.

SPEAKER_03 38:01

Whenever you're thinking about something, come back to it. And you know what we're gonna do for our clients, Caitlin, or our listeners or our followers, you know what we're gonna do? We're gonna expand deeper into each one of these categories. This game plan, the upcoming weeks, we're gonna dive deeper into these.

SPEAKER_05 38:16

Well, I'm so glad you said that because I was just gonna say that these are just little summaries of a few things we've talked about before and things we will continue to talk about in the future. That's it. But this is such a it's very easy to follow, you guys.

SPEAKER_03 38:32

So we try.

SPEAKER_05 38:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 38:34

We try to make it as easy as we can, easy on the ears. That's why we have Caitlin here, right?

SPEAKER_05 38:38

I'm like, I don't know, big dog. You like I told Mike Chris, you've been really kicking ass.

SPEAKER_03 38:44

Kicking ass and taking names. Yes, Grant Cardone style.

SPEAKER_04 38:47

Yeah, it's in exile. That's right.

SPEAKER_03 38:49

That's right. So, anyway, that's what she's throwing the my chair was stuck under my desk. I put my arms out. I'm like, he's going out. He's gonna flip myself backwards here in the chair. Holy crap. It's call 911. I'm down. I need my life alert button. Hey, I did hear, I know I'm going sick. I am squirling today, besides you. Life alert. I literally heard today that is it Missouri? And Illinois' looking into it too, where teachers will actually have a panic button that can work kind of like a life alert that'll automatically contact 911 in case of emergencies at school.

SPEAKER_05 39:24

100%. It should have been done a long time ago.

SPEAKER_03 39:26

That way then the first responders will know they can pinpoint that much quicker to that where that where the shoot, yeah. It doesn't have to just be shooting. I don't want to go negative on that in shooting, but it could have been, you know, maybe someone's having a seizure, medical care.

SPEAKER_05 39:39

Exactly, which happens a lot.

SPEAKER_03 39:41

I thought that was pretty cool, right?

SPEAKER_05 39:42

I'm glad you shared that. I really I think that is very cool. So I mean, not as cool as the principal just taking that shooter down. I mean, he just way laid him.

SPEAKER_03 39:52

That's right. So, anyway, until next time, remember your home doesn't need perfection, it needs a plan, which we kind of laid out the big dog game plan today for you, which we'll dive into in upcoming episodes. If you're unsure where to start, talking to a trusted local professional can save you time, money, and stress. Hey, thanks for listening to Designing the Building Mid Illinois, one home at a time and beyond. If this episode helped you, be sure to share it with a friend. And remember, good homes aren't built overnight. They're built with a target in mind, will develop plan and with trusted professionals. Until next time, we'll see you then.

SPEAKER_00 40:29

Bye! Hey there. I'm Lisa Miller, managing broker and owner of First Choice Realty Pros. We don't just help you find a house, we help you discover home. My team and I are passionate about taking care of your needs, making the process smooth, and ensuring you get the personalized attention you deserve. Ready for the next step? Call us at 217-825-3999.

SPEAKER_07 40:55

With First Choice Realty Pros, you've got a team that's got your back.com.

SPEAKER_03 41:44

Until next time, keep designing and building.

SPEAKER_05 41:47

See you soon!

unknown 41:48

Big Dog!

SPEAKER_02 41:49

This episode was produced by Big Dog Media Group, delivering powerful creative for brands and creators everywhere. If you're looking to take your podcast to the next level or just get started, Big Dog Media Group has you covered. Thanks for listening.