Renos: Delay, delay, Delay
I'm sure anyone who's done renovations before is familiar with the constant state of running into issues you did not foresee. For Ben and I this is our first time doing renos in a commercial space and our first time dealing with the bureaucracy that is the City of Vancouver as small business owners. Needless to say we are learning a great deal, not just about what the City requires from us, but also about how easy it is for tenants to have shoddy work done when a landlord and the City aren’t paying attention.
renos: A Journey
Ben and I have worked most of our careers in trades so we know well the time, education and expertise it takes to become a skilled trades person. We also know many trades, specifically those traditionally considered “women's work,” are undervalued. This is why I never complain about bills for trade work, I know it's always worth the money.
That being said, when you're opening a brand new shop on a budget there will be things you absolutely have to pay for and other things you need to try and do yourself to save some money.