The Punch List

From Plan to Punch List: One Remodel That Actually Just Worked

Most of the time, when someone says their remodel was “seamless,” they’re being generous.
This time? It actually kind of was.


This job was a full-scale kitchen remodel that touched almost every room on the back half of the house. We knocked out an exterior wall, demoed multiple rooms, removed the baseboard heating, and updated the home with a new furnace and ductwork. Layout, custom cabinets, mechanicals, finishes — the works.


It wasn’t small. But it was smooth. And I think that says more about the people on the job than the job itself.


Planning That Didn’t Feel Like Planning

By the time I stepped in as project manager, the design was finalized and the permit process was moving. The homeowner had a clear vision. They knew what they wanted and trusted us to make it happen.


I kept communication flowing from day one. Not because anything was falling apart, but because I’ve learned the value of telling clients what’s going on before they have to ask. That meant the homeowners felt involved without feeling overwhelmed.


The Crew Made It Easy

This job ran smoother than most thanks to the team on site and behind the scenes.

Selections were handled quickly and without stress. The design support team helped the homeowner make confident decisions without getting lost in all the options.


The carpenters took ownership of the build and solved problems as they came up. We were dealing with some 1970s quirks, but nothing they couldn’t handle on-site without slowing things down.


The trades stayed ahead of schedule by making smart layout decisions and planning around the final product. That kind of forward thinking saved time at the end.


When the team does their job without needing constant babysitting, you’re free to actually manage the project instead of chasing fires.


The Finish Line and the Final 5 Percent

The last 5 percent of a job defines the whole thing.


During the final walkthrough, the client pointed out a few small things. Cabinet touch-ups. Some trim work. A few paint corrections. All valid and expected.


I made the punch list, followed through, and got it all wrapped up fast. No excuses. No dragging it out. Just handled like it was part of the scope, because it was.


It Doesn’t Always Go Like This


Not every remodel runs this clean. A lot of them test your patience and your problem-solving.

But this one reminded me how well things can go when the scope is clear, the team communicates, and everyone just shows up and does what they’re supposed to do.

Some jobs teach you what not to do. This one just reminded me why I still do it. I wanted to start this blog off with a positive story like this one because a lot of the time when you hear a project manager speak about how to projects are going they are naturally going to walk to talk about all of the hard times. The issues they're facing in the moment, and the things making them pull their hair out. What you don't often hear about are the projects where the homeowner was kind, and understanding. The crews made few mistakes and the ones that they did make were addressed. This can be a daunting field to go into if you only read about the horror stories, and sometimes you need the small wins.

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