Renovation Coach? Anyone ever use one?

Hi all, Wondering if anyone has ever used a renovation coach and, if so, what the experience was like…would you do it again? What were the costs associated with this service? I think the idea of a percentage-based compensation model would be a turn-off for obvious reasons. Trying to save $ on our next big push reno and there are certain aspects that we are capable of overseeing ourselves but a couple of things we would want an experienced professional to handle. Thanks everyone.

bedstuytownhouse

in Construction 12 years and 7 months ago

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eman134 | 12 years and 7 months ago

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it seems like a stupid idea…you expect to pay a flat or per diem fee and get someone to vet your contractors and coordinate the trades on a timely basis… it will not happen.

Augustiner | 12 years and 7 months ago

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So you mean a Construction Manager to help you choose and coordinate individual trades? In my opinion that makes sense if you do a partial upgrade. If you do a full reno, there is a chance that you’ll end up in trouble. If you (your coach) try to coordinate 5 subs that have no relationship with each other, delays and additional expenses are quite likely. If I was a CM I would push you towards using Subs I worked with before just to be safe, and then you might as well just work with a good GC, which is the least hassle in the end.

bedstuytownhouse | 12 years and 7 months ago

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When I say a coach, someone that can interview and review pricing from say, for example, an HVAC contractor to ensure we are not getting hit with unnecessary pricing or to advise a more cost-effective way to get us to our ultimate vision. I’m not looking to have anyone unlicensed or uninsured working in our home. Make sense?

Augustiner | 12 years and 7 months ago

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I think the first step would be to define what exactly you expect from this person/job

greenmountain | 12 years and 7 months ago

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Its not a joke. There are other ways to commit fraud. If this is how you want to do it, just don’t let the coach handle money. You are responsible. If we call the coach a Contractor, General Contractor or Employer by any name, they require a Workers’ Comp Policy under one of the most expensive classifications in the construction industry (“Carpentry, Not Otherwise Classified” 5403). The workers would be insured at the rate of about 20% of payroll (the rate doubled in 4 years and continues to climb) and payroll taxes (the rate is nearly stable) would be deducted also at the rate of about 20%. With a Renovation Coach, the home owner could pay workers in cash, pay a foreman or manager also in cash, and somehow the coach would keep every thing moving in the right direction, at about 40% savings on labor. Unless of course somebody gets hurt and a nosy hospital employee asks if it happened at work, or somebody lets a DOB inspector inside, or maybe the DCA follows somebody from the parking lot of Home Depot to the house with a big load of sheet rock, pipes or wires. In one or more of these cases, their might be some unexpected delays or expenses, but otherwise the coach idea is great. Have I got that about right? What am I missing?

steam_man | 12 years and 7 months ago

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Oh my God. Does such a thing exist?! I could be a renovation coach! What do you expect the coach to do? I mean would he just guide you or would you expect them to be like an Owner’s Rep? So much fun!!!