This is it –March 15, 2017 (Ides of March)– the day the big check changes hands, the lawyers sign off, and the property becomes ours. We would have preferred a nice spring day over the 12″ of snow I needed to shovel to clear the driveway to our project house. But Barbara and I get the message; we’ve learned it the hard way: Remodeling and home renovation are full of surprises. Good results don’t come easy. Everything takes longer than you think it will. And costs more too. If you’re reading this, send some home makeover karma our way. We’re going to need it.