Renovating your house can be an exciting time, but for many people, it’s also stressful. This isn’t too surprising – after all, when your living room floor is torn up and you can’t use your bathroom, it’s easy to feel a little anxious and out of sorts. If you have a spouse or kids, it can also be stressful to make sure everyone stays happy and patient while the renovations are being carried out.
You may never be able to banish renovation stress completely, but you can take steps to minimize it. Here are six of the biggest stressors most people experience while remodeling their house, as well as some tips for avoiding them.
1. Feeling overwhelmed
When it comes to remodeling your house, it can be hard to even know where to start. Which contractor should you hire? How should you negotiate? What changes should you make first?
If you feel like you’re in over your head, start by taking a few deep breaths. Then do some research. Most of the time, reading and learning about your situation will help you feel more in control of what’s going on. The internet is your friend – you can find plenty of information about every aspect of home renovation online.
2. Worrying about money
Money is one of the main issues couples fight about, and money is also a big factor in most home renovations. It’s not too surprising, then, that money issues can cause relationship problems while you’re remodeling your home, especially because surprise costs tend to pop up out of nowhere.
The solution? Discuss your budget with your partner before you even start to remodel, and stick to it. It’s smart to give yourself a bit of a cushion in your budget to deal with unexpected costs. For instance, if you want to spend $50,000 total, you might aim to keep your costs at $40,000 instead.
3. Discovering unpleasant surprises
Most home renovations turn up some unexpected discoveries, and not all of them are welcome. It’s not pleasant to find out that you’ve got termites or that you need your bathroom plumbing replaced. These nasty surprises can ratchet up your stress level considerably.
While you can’t avoid surprises, you can control how you react to them. It can be helpful to go into your renovation with the mindset that some things probably aren’t going to go as planned. In addition, keeping some cushion in your budget can help you feel less panicked about paying any surprise costs.
4. Navigating logistical problems
It’s usually not much fun to live in a house that’s being remodeled. Everything is dusty and some parts of the house might be inaccessible. The best way to deal with the inconvenience? Remember that it’s temporary. Look towards the future: you’re putting up with this mess because it’s going to give you the kitchen or bathroom of your dreams.
5. Bridging the communication gap
Communication is key when your home is being remodeled. You’ve got to communicate with your spouse, your kids, and your contractor. If there’s any kind of communication breakdown or misunderstanding, it can lead to major stress (or even a meltdown).
Avoid this by checking in with everyone involved in the project on a regular basis. Be proactive. Meet with your contractor every day or two to review progress, and check in with your partner about their needs and feelings. Don’t assume other people will take over communication – make it happen yourself.
6. Managing different expectations
Do you and your partner have the same remodeling goals? If not, the project will probably be a source of friction in your relationship. The most ideal way to solve this issue is to agree on your goals before you even start remodeling. If the project is already underway, learn to compromise. Think about where you’re willing to give ground. After all, your relationship is more important than what color the bathroom is, right?