groveraxle LOL. After the ideal and actual paths, I couldn't see where else you could possibly go with this. But as usual, you have captured reality in simple graphics that are instantly recognizable. Thanks, Jody.

aekbranding LOL .... don't we designer know it!

scarbowcow I think it's missing one diagram: the one that indicates when everything has been torn up and is half-way done and the workers simply disappear and don't come back for days or weeks or months. Every time I've been involved in a remodel or been around anyone else's or seen one going on in the neighborhood, it's the same: rapid progress, daily changes, and then, suddenly STOP. And then sometimes, after a long time of no workers showing up, someone makes a call and they come back. No explanation, no excuse for their absence. They just come back and continue working, usually rather more slowly than when they were gleefully and energetically tearing things apart.

I've seen it in three different countries I've lived in. Never fails: get much of the job done, disappear, and don't come back for ages - even when you've been paying punctually for their work. It's a universal phenomenon among builders, apparently. But who can explain it? Where do they go? Why? What happens to them when they are gone that drains their energy? One of life's great mysteries.

Ofir Zwebner Brilliant! Thanks for making me laugh :)

Catherine Gardner Sheer genius. I loved the cleverness of the drawing and how it relates to reality.

a1vincent So glad I'm not out there alone....made me feel better!!!

JAN MOYER I have some people , most particularly a contractor, where the process resembles the first drawing. How? Welllllllllll. The inside of his huge truck resembles a well stocked and organized hardware store. He has a sense of humor. He has been doing it since he was fourteen and started spending the lawn mowing money on tools. He provides a lunch to all subs every day. Piles of food, sandwiches, drinks, morning coffee and donuts, pizzas, wings, it varies! I always get a call..."stop over! great lunch today!". He never screams, hollers or shouts, and he pays swiftly so a sub will drop what he's doing and run to the site. He carries a cheap little notebook in a pocket and every days end, consults it for materials required, or changes, or who knows what for the next day. It is a messy and accurate tiny bible, but he's pitching the dirt with the guys, so yup, it is a messy little book. His estimates arrive on PDF the day after he looks at a job, or no more than three days following. Unless you change something, that's the number Honey. Phone calls get returned in thirty minutes or less. Unless there is a significant issue, he starts, is there DAILY, and finishes with quality. He's probably ten percent more costly than some others.......gee...... I wonder why. I will tell you he is as rare as gold , but he is real and this is true. Love, love love!!! and not sharing either.

olldbobbi Good grief, Jan, you need to clone that man! What a peach!

JAN MOYER Re my "magic man" above. Last year some clients had an emergency re-lo to a huge house requiring a mega amount of work, and a firm closing date on their former home. It is the habit of the hubby to control "process" and get his own people. I looked at the scope, three new baths, closets, new windows, trims, new master suite with custom closets, paint, carpet, electrical, ....and on and on and on. IN SIX WEEKS. I said, here's the deal. I have a guy. You can not do this your usual way. Translation: I am stuffing my guy down your tonsils. Six weeks to the day later courtesy of wonderman above... they moved in to the house and two days later I had every stick of furniture in place, and every picture hanging. I will not lie, it was ulcer city the whole way. Some days you could barely navigate the street for all the trucks.
Fast forward...... new project involving the garage and the kitchen we had to wait on renovating. Hubby gets his own guys. Months and months of disruption follow...Why? They're "cheaper". " "Your guy is more expensive, you know" Believe it.

K.O.H. Construction Corporation Very simple but genius illustration. Jan, Please, I'm Blushing.

lukemahmood jan, you need to document in details what your " magic man" does right so we can teach other guys to copy him. Then we can reduce situations with too many nonperforming contractors-- that incindently, make designers looks bad due to their nonperforming.
He might be expensive , but you save more in the long run because he saves you time, energy, sanity and most important saves more money that cannot be accounted for-when project get delayed, uncoordinated or subs disappear ! At the end-- we all live longer- coz it s a stress free world....

xenasmom Love the Internet diagram, which applies to more than architecture! Which, come tot hink of it, aren't I supposed to be priming my bedroom ceiling....

JAN MOYER lukemamood,
It is called the organized brain. Followed by organized process. Followed by attention to detail and follow through, and no nonsense expectations from the subs with a respect for their ability, but a clear direction at the same time. It's about endless accessibility, as few surprises as possible, and COMMUNICATION. And a designer ( me) who won't let him get hung up by a waffling client, or a waffling, unprepared designer( not me! ) I am the one routinely "dissed" on this site for the brutal honesty of process, as it comes to the design aspect. Translated, we will hold hands, I will trust you, you will trust me and my people, we will make excellent timely decisions,within an appropriate budget, and we will not hang up him, your house, or you. If you need to wring hands, change your mind, consult the neighbors, go off on your own, second guess, there will be a thousand ways to pay for that, not the least of which will be time. Does that sound harsh? People hang themselves in more ways than I can count.... I have an email from a non-believer "pinging" on here right now!!! Only the thirtieth in two days!!!!!! LOL

phronesisdirect A true representation of the designer's 'so very familiar' experience! I had a good laugh..

aussietoo Spot on.

lukemahmood thanks jan for that 'concise' explanation ! I hear you.. that's the key to success everytime- clear decisions, communications and Trust! Great stuff-- thank you! LM in Kuala Lumpur

denisue Had to laugh.. We are on that path right now and you have described it perfectly. We are not at the "WHEE" yet.

mrskk Jan, I wish I could hire you! The amazing builder we found is a keeper and very much follows the model you describe (and the relative price range) - I can testify to our experience with him matching the first graphic above. If only I could find a designer to match...the one we hired matched the eighth graphic = once he was paid, he was as good as gone!

Pascale Oh, I'm sooo relating to this, but you need one more - it's the county planning/permitting office (delays that go on for months), quickly followed by eagles nesting near by effectively shutting down all work for 7 months. It's going to be a long and very bumpy line! :-)

JAN MOYER Mrskk,
I will print that for the archives. Three people, equally committed..client, contractor, designer, add salty repartee, have fun, be honest, don't say you will do something unless you will, and do it WHEN you said, and everyone has a great time, a great result. Pity there are so many stories to the contrary! The only thing different from marriage, is you don't want any of the hires as your forever. You want truth, a little monogamy and all to be gone, so you can live and enjoy the result : )

gymbugmj2k perfection.

Matt Sanford Homes Where is the Contractor in that path...?? I am sure it is coming in Part 2.... In Part 2, the first step is go to Houzz for ideas, and then talk to a Contractor to see how much it costs, then back to Houzz for design revisions, then talk to contractor.

A. Peltier Interiors Too funny, as usual!

kaz2 I'm the same as denisue. We are also on the path and not quiet at the whee... stage either. It's so funny to see these diagrams.

Banyon Tree Design Studio genius! thank you for the morning chuckle.

maryannian Hi, I think it is time for "Coffee with an architect" to publish - I will buy; so true, so much fun!
Maryann (Australia)

mbourdages If it wasn't so true, the Internet Path would be hysterical ... Okay, I'll admit it's really funny - even as I live through this process!

alicia lloyd That certainly make me feel better!

echeveria I do like the third one...and am there right now lost in the Internet...looking at thousands of pictures because I am second guessing the first decisions. So instead, I will now move ahead with the decisions made and use this time to instead research the next project! As a client, these drawings put me back on the right track. Thanks for sharing!

debb v Love this. And part 2!!

chicolanog THIS-IS-SO-TRUE!...when things are not going to the "IDEAL PATH", I usually jump to INTERNET and more often go to PANTRY =9

CRE Design Engineering Inc, Wheeee!!! Until all of the parametric interior renderings are created and another ascent begins. Ahhhh the life of a designer... Excellent for a good chuckle, thanks!!