×

Q&A with Jean: How Much Time Should I Allocate for Selecting & Ordering Materials?

Navigating the world of renovation materials can be overwhelming. With countless options and ever-changing trends, it’s easy to get lost in the details. Timing your material selections is crucial to ensure a smooth and efficient renovation process. In this Q&A, we’ll delve into the ideal timeline for choosing and ordering materials, helping you avoid common pitfalls and stay on track.

Renovate to live, Sweeten to thrive!

Sweeten brings homeowners an exceptional renovation experience by personally matching trusted general contractors to your project, while offering expert guidance and support—at no cost to you.

Start your renovation

Sweeten’s Founder + CEO Answers Your Renovation Questions

Welcome to #10 in our series, designed to bring clarity to some of the mysteries of renovating! Whether you’re a first-time homeowner or a serial renovator, each project brings with it a new set of circumstances and new questions, and Sweeten is here to be a source of knowledge and reassurance. 

How much time should I set aside for selecting and ordering materials?

JEAN: The amount of time really depends on your selection process. When I go shopping, I like to be in and out of the store as soon as possible, but I have plenty of friends who spend a lot of time looking for the perfect pair of jeans. Start by considering how you shop in other areas of your life and how much time you like to spend researching and comparing prices.

In addition to choosing and deciding on materials on your own, it’s a good idea to communicate with your contractor on the product items you’re considering; different materials require different levels of labor. For example, a mosaic tile is harder to set and needs a much more skilled subcontractor than what a standard penny round tile would call for. To keep things running smoothly, it’s best to have everything ordered before the renovation begins. So, give yourself plenty of time to see what you like and keep your general contractor in the loop throughout the process.

If you have more questions on selecting and ordering materials, check out our blog posts on countertops and hardwood flooring.

Jean signature

Looking for more advice from Jean? Be sure to check out the ninth installment in this series, Q&A with Jean: What is an alteration agreement?

Ready to get started?

Post your project on Sweeten for free and make your dream home a reality. Sweeten puts you in control of your renovation, from finding the perfect contractor and gathering design inspiration, to using cost guides  to plan your budget wisely.

You may also like

Renovate with Sweeten!

sweeten-magic

We’ll match you with vetted general contractors and offer support until your project is done — at no cost to you!

Start your renovation

Customer review 5.0

sweeten-thumbsup

“Sweeten was really helpful — we wouldn't have found our contractor without them, and the bid-leveling call was absolutely essential for us.”

— Dara R. from New York, NY

Read more reviews —>
Start your renovation
no-cost-blue

Subscribe to our
renovation newsletter