THE NEW NORMAL by Jim Karlovec
Throughout Karlovec & Company’s twenty-five year
history our ability to adapt to change has been critical
to our success. Having survived the startup phase where
the vast majority of small businesses fail, we grew through
the boom years of the early 2000s before being rocked by
the Great Recession. We are now working our way through
unprecedented change that is presenting both issues
and opportunities.
Adapting to the new normal is a popular phrase
that has come to define recent years, 2020 in
particular. Whether it is used to refer to climate
change, politics, the economy, or COVID-19-caused
fallout, in all uses it is relevant to how we manage
household budgets and how we use our homes. It
is also relevant to how Karlovec & Company is working
through the challenges of a booming renovation market.
On the climatological front, changing weather patterns
are straining antiquated regional infrastructure along
with the systems designed to keep Mother Nature outside
of our old homes. In addition to traditional exterior
We are now working our way through
unprecedented change that is presenting
both issues and opportunities. “
renovation work, the Karlovec &
Company team is frequently being
called upon to diagnose and solve
problems stemming from “100-year
rains” that seem to happen several
times per year.
On the political side, Shaker Heights
homeowners have been negatively
impacted by the cap on federal
deductions for local real estate taxes.
The change may be short-lived, but it
is still important to consider current
and future impacts when faced with
“do we stay or do we go” decisions.
Though the Karlovec & Company team is not qualified to
assess tax impacts, we are experts at helping homeowners
make informed decisions regarding what may be possible
with the home they live in.
Moving into a bigger or smaller home, whether in Shaker
or not, is a decision most of us eventually face. As many
families have found, reinvesting in a home that one knows
and loves can make better sense than moving, especially
with the uncertainty a new neighborhood and new
neighbors brings to the equation. Working through that
process together is one of the most exciting and rewarding
LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE
phases of a potential renovation.
When executed properly it also
sets the stage for renovations
that last a lifetime….or longer.
One of the main drivers regarding
current renovation work stems directly from the
COVID-19 pandemic. A high percentage of homeowners
are asking their houses to do things they were never
intended to do. Homes designed for a bygone era are
now being tasked with 24/7 living including remote
office work, home schooling and quarantining. Add in
both privacy and entertainment needs and a home that
was perfectly suitable pre-pandemic might begin to feel
small or out of date.
The new normal in the residential construction and
renovation market has brought positives and negatives.
On the upside, the industry is experiencing record
opportunities for new work. On the downside, supply and
demand are out of sync which makes timely fulfillment of
commitments unusually challenging. COVID infections,
broken supply chains and pandemic-driven changes are
forcing businesses to adjust production schedules and
related project drivers.
As the Karlovec & Company team works to address the
ever-changing needs of our unique community we rely on
our history as problem solvers. Our assessment process
feeds proper planning which sets the stage for our design
team and craftsmen to implement solutions that work for
how people live.
Partnering with well-aligned clients allows us to use our
experience and skills doing the type of work we are best
at. As a relatively small,
hyperlocal company our
focus has always been
about building
relationships, on the client
side and on the business
side. We look forward to
facing whatever challenges
2021 may present.
Karlovec & Company Established 1995
” – Jim Karlovec