Montenegro Girl x
How I’m managing a renovation abroad during Coronavirus: apartment update
I was hoping that I would be final posting the dah-dah before and after photos of my little apartment in Montenegro by now. Of course whilst holding a glass of prosecco in my hand in celebration of a second, successful renovation abroad. Sadly not. I hadn’t expected my project manager to have a heart attack in the middle of it and then for this to be shortly followed by a world pandemic. I did not see that coming at all. Thankfully Goran has recovered. But the intended 3-month timeline for the work will now be well over a year. In reality I do not know for definite when it will be finished.
Mr MG, myself and Goran all mustered up the energy to have a project meeting on Whatsapp video this week – with the help of Goran’s cheerful daughter and her excellent English. So much has happened since we agreed the project brief and signed the contract nearly a year ago. Although the meeting was productive and congenial enough, it felt like some of the jobs we had originally asked for had slipped his memory in all the turmoil of life. And it was apparent (and given the circumstances, understandable) that there seemed a lack of urgency to finish the work.
Unfinished outhouse, which will be home to a new washing machine with lots of storage for things like tools and beach toys.
Revised timeline for my renovation abroad
Deciding what to do about going to Montenegro has been a rocky road over the last few months. Mr MG and I finally came to the conclusion though that one of us would go to Montenegro in early October – if possible. That gives about 3 months for things to settle down regarding Coranavirus and for travel restrictions to be lifted making a shorter working trip feasible. (At the time of writing Montenegro is very sadly having a second wave of the virus and English retrictions mean that we would also have to quarantine for 2 weeks on our return back home).
If the work is completed on the apartment before October and we’ve had photographic evidence, we have offered to transfer the outstanding balance to Goran. Now this is not my usual mode of operation when signing off refurbishment work, but we are mindful that the poor man’s income has probably taken a bit of a battering this year. And given the uncertainty around travel and the Coronavirus it seemed a fair thing to offer. Showing some extra trust and grace at this time seems the right thing to do.
Importance of checking on a renovation abroad (especially in Montenegro)
I know from experience that to really get something done in Montenegro, you really have to be there. During the first renovation and subsequent jobs I’ve had done over the years, I have found that Montenegrins respond when you are there standing in front of them showing them the whites of your eyes. They seem to spring into action when you are there. I’ve known a team of people suddenly crowd into my apartment waving tools around and fervently discussing between themselves, as if on the brink of some heated political debate that threatens to get out of hand. (This is often how Montenegrins sound at times to an outsider – but it is just their way. They are a passionate people). Anyway, being unable to pop over to oversee things means that the momentum has faded away somewhat for my pocket-sized renovation abroad.
So although I would have thought Goran would be keen to get the work finished so he can be paid, I am sensing that it won’t be completely finalised until one of us can get over there.
I really don’t like unfinished business and open-ended arrangements. It’s not my natural way to drift. I like order and clarity. So this arrangement is not ideal. But it’s also not the end of the world either. So, I have resigned myself to the fact that the renovation work will get finished in early October and that the fun bits of dressing the apartment and buying the rest of the furniture will have to wait until next Easter when we can easily go over (hopefully!) when the Easyjet flights start again for the season and we will be able to enjoy 2 weeks out there to sort it all out.
Progress on my renovation abroad
As mentioned progress seems to be more akin to the tortoise rather than hare, so to speak, and there are still a number of jobs left to do. The tap needs fitting and the water and electrics connecting in the kitchen. The immersion heater and washing machine need to be installed in the outhouse, which also needs plastering and the door redoing. The bathroom cabinet and fitted wall cupboard in the hall are waiting to be built and the finishing work done on the floors. There are lots of other smaller things outstanding (as there always are) and it is these detailed things that I find can make or break the real success of a project to me.
To chivvy the troups into action, I’ve despatched a list of outstanding jobs to my project manager. Some money has been transfered to pay for some additonal work on the bathroom cabinet (which wasn’t in the original brief). Plus I’ve emailed a list of the items I bought last autumn which he needs to take delivery of (this includes the washing machine and the beds).
End in sight for my little apartment renovation abroad
But I am still encouraged that some pretty big things are done, such as the windows, plastering, new kitchen, window-seats, painting and most of the bathroom. It’s coming along! And it will get there. Eventually.
As with every hard situation and every unexpected turn in the road, I remind myself that this too shall pass. I remind myself why I am doing it. I bring back to mind the picture of my lovely little bolthole in the sun. Long summers spent going to the beach with my family. Gentle relaxed evenings eating calamari as the sun goes down. Long chats and giggles over rose with my sister in springtime.
In the middle of delays, setbacks and uncertainty, I am reminded that it really will all be worth it in the end.
Montenegro Girl x
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Funny thing: I found your blog, and this page, because I play a home design simulation game on my Android phone, called Design Home appropriately enough…and it has design challenges set in places all over the world. Ran into one today set in Tivat, Montenegro, and I realized I had no idea where this was: some island in the Caribbean? In Indonesia? In Africa? I needed to know this or it would drive me nuts so I looked it up and got a crash course in the modern history of the former Yugoslavia. I have had a couple of special people in my life who were of Slavic descent so I found this all fascinating!
And when I saw your apartment renovation page here, I just had to share with you how I found your pages since you might find that amusing. So how does your real life renovation compare to my fantasy one? We will have to find out, for I am now about to do that!
But I am also curious: now that it’s 3 years later, in 2023, how are you doing now that the world pandemic emergency has been lifted? Hopefully you and your friends and associates have all survived it and you were able to finish your apartment, because in my opinion, you have a beautiful start here!
I am from San Francisco California in the USA. Montenegro looks to be quite a lovely nation. Thank you for the visit today.