Remodeling a home can cause undue stress to you, your spouse, your children, and even those people you see and talk to on a regular basis. During the time that you are going through the remodeling stages, you will feel like you are eating, sleeping, and breathing remodeling, and that is going to be the only thing that you want to talk and complain about.
Here are 6 tips to avoid stress during your remodeling project:
Create a Budget and Keep It
It is not too difficult to create a budget for any remodeling project, because your budget is normally the amount of money that you have available. However, many people have a problem sticking with their budget and end up pulling out the credit cards to pay for all the unknown costs or find that they need to live with a space that isn’t even close to being finished. We recommend writing down your budget, immediately subtracting ten percent for unknown issues, and then determining how you can make your money stretch to get everything that you want.
Create a Design
You may be tempted to meet with a contractor when all you know is that you want your kitchen to be open to the rest of the house or you want to paint your bathroom a light blue. However, you will get much further and be happier with the end results if you have a design in mind first. A design expert can help you create the perfect layout of the room you are remodeling, while getting you to choose even the smallest details before the work begins.
Hire a Professional
There are many things that you can do on your own, but most major remodeling projects are better left to the experts. Ask friends and family if they can refer anyone to you and then meet with a few to get estimates.
Communicate and Then Communicate Some More
Your contractor is not going to know that you hate the countertop that he just brought off his truck unless you tell him, just like he is not going to know that you want to make a small change to the design unless you mention it. Miscommunication can cause major headaches on both ends, which is why we urge everyone to talk to each other during the process.
Consider the Time Table
You never want to tackle a remodeling project at the same time you are planning a wedding, having a baby, or preparing for a graduation party. The best time to do remodeling is when you have plenty of time in your schedule to ask and answer questions and do not have the stress of other deadlines looming.
Leave
If you are having your kitchen or only bathroom remodeled, it can be very difficult to stay in your house. If you do not think that you can handle it without having a meltdown, plan a vacation or book a room or two at a local hotel.
Home Remodeling in Albuquerque
These six tips will help keep your stress levels down as your house is being remodeled. However, do not think that you will have no stress at all. It will still be there, but it will be worth it when your house is looking better than ever.