Are you ready to remodel???

To many homeowners contemplating remodeling their home, their answer is a resounding “YES!” They have long wanted to update the kitchen, enlarge the family room or add a much needed bedroom and they feel the time is now.

At this point many homeowners charge ahead full steam, often starting the process something less than fully prepared. More often than not, they wish they had done things differently. The one thing most often overlooked is the disruption to the sanctuary that is their home. It is not something to be taken lightly. According to the Holmes Stress Scale, changes to your residence or living conditions rank amount the top 25 stress indicators. If not adequately prepared, couples may find themselves turning on each other instead of working together to find solutions.

Remodeling is a process. Homeowners get into trouble when they focus on the end product without giving much thought to the steps necessary to achieve that result. Careful planning and clear communication are essential to a successful remodeling project. Both spouses must be involved in the decision making process from the beginning. Couples should sit and discuss all aspects of the project, even the smallest, thoroughly conveying their dreams and hopes for the project. The whole idea of remodeling is based on fantasy; vocalizing your fantasies as specifically and completely as possible is important. Too often they rush in to a project with not much more than general discussions with a contractor, leading to confusion and decisions which must be made without adequate time to reach a thoughtful decision, resulting in cost increases.

Couples should shop together for cabinetry, fixtures, appliances and other necessities. Involve the whole family in the process to give each a feeling of responsibility. When a consensus cannot be reached, and often it will not, compromise; give in on selections you do not feel strongly about, while working toward the things that are truly important to you.

Money is probably the greatest source of remodeling stress. Unforeseeable obstacles are a fact of remodeling, it is best to build in a contingency fund for such occurrences. Knowing you have a safety cushion can ease a lot of tension. Again, advance planning goes a long way to holding cost increases to a minimum. The more clearly defined the job scope of work is in the beginning, the smoother the execution of the project.

Selecting the right remodeler is important. You want someone who’s more than just qualified; you want a remodeler you feel comfortable with. You are going to spend a lot of time with your remodeler, make sure it’s somebody you like and trust. How to find such a remodeler is a subject for another article, but a good place to start is with local and state builders associations.

Perhaps the toughest decision to make is whether to stay in your home or not. The added cost of maintaining a temporary home on top of remodeling cost is a deterrent to moving out. However, staying in your home also makes the cost of remodeling more expensive; drawing out the schedule, maintaining utilities, and clean up costs will be higher. The savings to your sanity may be enough to tip the scales in favor of moving.

For sure remodeling is hard on your mental health, finances and marriage. But there’s also an element of satisfaction, even fun, to remodeling. In the end you end up with a home that is exactly like you want it. It can be exciting.