Starting a Project? Here’s a Checklist of What You Need [and Why You Need It]

This checklist is mostly geared toward residential projects, but the concepts – and even many of the details – are often broadly applicable to all kinds of projects.

Starting a project requires attention, intention, and a surprising amount of soul searching – all kinds of questions come up, and assumptions, norms, and dreams all need to be brought out into the open and discussed. It’s all about communication, and about making sure you’ve got the bandwidth to do the project [that’s why #8 on this list might be the most important thing here…]

• I put together a “Residential Project Planning Workbook” with 30 pages of worksheets and helpful info - download it here!]

• And don’t forget about the Podcast I just launched! It’s called “Home: The Second Story,” and we interview homeowners who’ve completed major renovations or new builds, asking them to share the wisdom and knowledge they’ve gained through the process! Listen wherever you get podcasts, including YouTube!

So let’s dive in – here are eight things you need, and why they’re important:

1. The WHY

Why are you doing the project? What problems are you hoping to solve? How will your life improve by doing this project? Make sure your family is aligned here. While it’s ok for some variation in everyone’s “why,” you’ll be in big trouble if it diverges too much – if one person wants to increase the value of the house so it can be sold next year, and another wants to invest in the home as a “forever home” with no plans to sell for decades, you’re going to run into conflict!

2. The WHAT

What is the project? Write down a clear scope, and be specific. Be aware that doing some scopes of work may necessitate expanding do include other scopes – if you’re adding a lot of new electrical load to your house, you may need to upgrade your service, for example, or if you’re moving a lot of walls around, you may need to refinish all your floors because of how much patching you’re going to have to do.

3. Survey

Especially if you’re changing the exterior of your house, and even if it’s just moving a window, many jurisdictions will require a survey to apply for a permit. The reason? You need to prove that whatever you’re doing is within the property lines, setbacks, etc. You’ll also need to show that you’re not impinging on any utilities, show where the drainfield and well is [if you’re not on public sewer/water] and that both have enough capacity for the additional space you’re adding, etc.

Some jurisdictions will accept a plot plan [which often comes along with your mortgage], and some jurisdictions will only accept something drawn by a surveyor while others are fine if another professional draws it up [architect, GC, etc].

Even if your jurisdiction doesn’t require a survey, getting one is still a good idea – it will show utility locations, easements, major buildings and other built features, and the like. I’ve never once seen a survey that didn’t reveal a surprise or two – a neighbor’s fence encroaching on your property line, a long-forgotten easement putting restrictions on what you can do, a private right of way that’s actually public, etc.

4. Zoning Analysis