"Show me your calendar and your bank statement, and I'll show you what you really value." Your priorities are the basis of every decision you make during a build. Clarifying them upfront can save enormous amounts of time, money and frustration.

Start With Your Values

Before you can set project priorities, you need to understand your personal values. Ask yourself:

• How do you spend most of your time?
• What do you spend your money on?
• How do you fill your current space?
• What inspires you and gives you energy?
• What topics do you love to read about or research?
• What do you find yourself thinking about the most?

Group similar answers together — patterns will emerge that reveal your true values.

The Hard Questions

Your priorities will come into play when difficult decisions arise — and they always do. For example: is it more important to take an extra week to fit the antique wooden doors, or to meet the project deadline? Different people answer this differently. Your project runs much more smoothly when your team understands where your priorities lie.

Your Worst-Case Scenario

Here's a question most people never think to ask: describe what you would hate to have happen during the design process, the build itself, or in your finished home. Articulating your worst-case scenario gives your team a clear boundary to work within.

The Priority Snapshot

Once you've answered these questions, you can create a priority overview that maps your stance on key trade-offs:

• Meet Budget ↔ Stay True to Vision
• Meet Deadline ↔ Stay True to Vision
• Sustainable Materials ↔ Conventional Materials
• Local Suppliers ↔ Imported Materials
• Involved in All Decisions ↔ Only Key Decisions
• Low Maintenance ↔ Regular Maintenance