u/DueMeasurement69

Any thoughts on our redesign of this floor plan? We’re looking to do a home renovation (on a townhouse in Brooklyn). Here are the current floor plans along with the redesign we’re thinking of. Big ticket items would be dropping the kitchen from the top floor to the parlor level and moving the top floor bathroom to the middle of the floor (allowing it to be a bathroom connected to the master bedroom, but also with a second entrance to it from the hall), and enlarging the master bedroom. It’s weird to have the 2nd floor bathroom be right next to the kitchen like that so we thought about moving the entrance to that bathroom to around the corner (so it’s not opening out right into the kitchen area).

First photo is the 'garden level'. 2nd floor is 'parlor level'. And 3rd floor is the top floor. The blank rooms on the top floor would be bedrooms.

Thanks!

My partner and I have been talking with 4-5 contractors (sometimes including their engineers) over the past few weeks as we hope to purchase a home. This home will need a full gut renovation, with essential structural work done in the basement. They’ve come to the home during the open houses to do a cursory overview of it with us. We’ve asked for their advice about the renovation process, the problems the house has, and so on. We’ve signed the contract and now need to choose a contractor. However, I feel bad that we’ve been speaking - sometimes extensively - with these contractors and we’re going to have to choose only one. Some of our convos have even been about negotiating tactics w/ the seller’s realtor when we were haggling out a price for the home (we didn’t use a broker).

My question is, from a contractor’s perspective what would you like a potential client to do if they don’t end up going with you but they have still contacted you a bunch of times in the lead-up asking a bunch of questions? I feel we’ve been rude in some way. Would you expect payment? A gift? Any thoughts are helpful, this is the first time we’ve been through this so we’re not aware of the customs. (this is in a very busy, urban area by the way, so I don’t think these contractors are struggling for work, though I may be wrong).

Thoughts on these tweaks to the floor plan for a Brooklyn townhouse?

How do you feel about potential Clients/Homeowners who talk with you a bunch before they buy, but don’t end up going with you?