5 Ways to Ensure a Positive Remodeling Experience
We all agree that remodeling can be stressful. Even the prospect of a remodel causes anxiety in people. Construction on your home is often disruptive to your life and your routine. If you are in the middle of the process, it could be that you feel a bit lost, overwhelmed, uncertain, or exhausted with construction fatigue No matter where you are in the process, you can draw on 5 resources to help you get through the project, maintain a harmonious relationship with your contractor, and even enjoy the process so that the finished product is that much more rewarding.
1. Communicate regularly with your general contractor
Depending on the scope of your project, a standing weekly meeting with your design and building team is a good idea. This time allows for a review of the previous week’s job progress, an update on the current state of the project, and an outlook of the steps to come. With the clarity these meetings bring comes a sense of certainty and dare I say comfort about the progression of the job. This will go a long way to assuaging your anxiety about the job.
If you do not have weekly meetings, make sure to check in regularly with your contractor with questions or concerns. If you are already at the stage of frustration with the job, let your contractor know as soon as you have a level head about your frustration. Do not go on the offensive. Remember that these frustrations probably built up over time due to poor communication from both sides. First step is to call and let him know that you have some concerns and ask to have an in-person meeting. Second, follow up with a friendly email listing your concerns in writing so he has a chance to review them and get started ameliorating the situation. Hopefully, by the time you meet there will be movement in getting your concerns addressed.
2. Rely on your support system
Do not suffer with your construction anxiety alone. Chances are good you know someone who has done a remodel in the past. You can turn to those people if you are having problems or concerns with the way things are going or anxiety about how the remodel will unfold. You do not have to go through this alone. Hopefully, you have a good relationship with your general contractor, but you really need people to talk to and vent to about the stress that the remodel or the prospect of a remodel is causing you.
Your friends, family and neighbors will be happy to listen to you. They have their project behind them and talking to you will remind them of the relief they felt when it was all over. They got through it and so will you. If they bring up scary stuff or cause you to suffer additional anxiety, be sure to bring real concerns to your contractor. More often than not, he will be able to clarify or address your concern which will bring a sense of relief.
Do not bring your anxiety to your contractor. It will stress him out and will not help the progression of the project. Emotional issues that do not have a clear connection or solution should best be brought to your support system for discussion. If you have real anxiety and talking to your friends and family isn’t helping, speak to your therapist. Remodels bring up a lot of issues and can be triggering of past stress or trauma. Do not underestimate the power of the professional and do not belittle your feelings.
An owner’s representative is also a good person to consult. This individual can advocate for you with your general contractor, and can also act as a construction counselor when you are freaking out. They can help you translate your anxiety into actionable items that you can bring to your general contractor, for resolution. They can also help you formulate your concerns to bring them to your GC in a constructive way.
3. Make all your selections prior to the outset of the project
You will be called on to be available and to make many decisions over the course of your remodel. One way to ease the stress of being asked to make a hasty decision is to have all (or as many as possible) your decisions made prior to the beginning of the remodel (I like to have decisions at least 1 day before job set up).
If you need help making selections, it would be best to know that prior to the start of the project and reach out to your support system for recommendations for designers or for people who can help you make selections. Also, ask your contractor which selections he will need when. You can never be too prepared with your selections. Don’t worry about things arriving too soon (except maybe appliances but speak to your GC or appliance vendor about this- storage arrangements can often be made in advance. It’s still important to have the decision made at the outset of the project).
4. Be Available DURING YOUR REMODEL
In reality, it’s not possible to make every single decision ahead of time, and you will be asked to make several on-site decisions during the course of the project, sometimes hasty ones. For this reason it is essential to be available to your builder. Not responding to him in a timely manner could delay your project, so make sure that if you can’t be available, you nominate someone to make decisions on your behalf, such as a designer, owner’s rep or construction helper. You can also give your contractor permission to make decisions himself if you are not available, but this could create trouble if you decide you do not like what he has selected for you.
5. Maintain a positive attitude and learn to be comfortable with uncertainty DURING YOUR REMODEL
Fear of the unknown is probably the number one generator of stress for homeowners engaged in a remodel. This stress leads to the impulse to an attempt to control one’s surroundings and cope with the unknown, of which there is an abundance in construction.
There is a good chance that in your life you have come up with strategies for dealing with the unknown, such as creating predictable and effective routines or gaining a sense of mastery of a field or topic. These strategies give you a sense that you can stave off daily stress and anxiety, and maybe they work. Anxiety due to construction is tricky because it is hard to get a handle on the unknowns if you are not an expert in the construction process, and even experts can’t predict what is going to arise. However, most contractors know that at some point the unknown will appear and need to be dealt with. They tend to roll with it.
Contractors expect monkey wrenches to be flying into the project. Dealing with the unexpected is a daily part of the job. This is not true in real life where we have come to rely on a certain degree of predictability. It can be very disconcerting and sometimes even cause for alarm when the project appears to jump the rails for a little while. This is where you have to draw on your inner resources and not freak out. Have faith in your contractor, for what seems like a crisis to you, is most likely a common occurrence to him.
Remember that there is much you will not know or understand about the process. You are not expected to know everything or even a little bit about what is going on. You are meant to have faith in your decisions, rely on your contractor, draw support from your team, ask questions and be curious, keep a positive attitude and embrace the unknown.
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