Sunol Modern ResidenceModern Living Room, San Francisco

What if You Run Out of Money?We have had this conversation with clients on more than one occasion, and truly it’s not easy for either the clients or us. It’s frustrating to hear how something that you’ve been planning for is out of your reach. There may be opportunities to reduce costs by changing the scope of the project. For example, instead of fully constructing a basement bathroom in a new house, you might just rough in the plumbing so it could be finished at a later date. Or it could be possible to reduce the cost of fixtures and finishes such as flooring or faucets.During a recent conversation with clients, we recommended that they wait before starting the project so they could gather more resources before proceeding. In the discussion we realized that it wouldn’t be possible to “de-scope” or redesign the project to fit their needs, so the best course of action was to delay. Was this difficult for all involved? Absolutely, but we felt strongly that starting a project that didn’t address their needs wouldn’t serve their overall best interests.Whenever you are dealing with money, there is the potential for some uncomfortable conversations. But if you understand what you are dealing with early in the process, those conversations will be less stressful than if you’re standing in the middle of a half-completed project in the middle of winter wondering where all your hard-earned money has gone.More:What to Consider Before Starting ConstructionConstruction Timelines: What to Know Before You Build7 Ways to Plan Early for a Smooth Construction ProjectHow to Stick to Your Remodeling GoalsGet help: Find a home pro near you

note the color floor, furniture and coffee tables

Like lighter (whiter) look; gets away from the craftsman look of many of the other pictures