Renovating a house is a great way to improve its aesthetics, increase home value, and achieve your health and wellness goals. But then, this can put an intense amount of stress on anyone’s shoulder. No matter how small a renovation project may be, many issues can arise and easily stress any homeowner out.
Renovation Stress Triggers
Different things can trigger your stress while renovating your home. Knowing what the common renovation stress triggers are can help you find ways to best avoid them. Here are the usual reasons why homeowners get stressed out when renovating their houses.
Lack of Planning
It is not enough that you want to renovate and wants to improve your home. With proper planning, many issues can arise. You can end up paying more, wasting unnecessary time and effort, and regret the results of the project.
Unrealistic Budget
Budget is essential when it comes to any renovation project. Even if you received a quote for the total costs of the materials and labor, you can end up needing more cash to tackle unexpected renovation expenses. This is why experts recommend homeowners prepare more than just the initial costs of renovation.
Unrealistic Timeline
Some homeowners believe they can finish a renovation project on time. But then, they forget to factor in many things, including the preparation, clean-up, and possible causes of delays. Believing that your project will be as fast as how TV shows do it can get you in trouble.
Frequent Project Changes
It is easy to want to change the course of your project even after you have started the renovation. Many homeowners find themselves wanting to change their plans after seeing a better project to tackle or other materials they can use for the project. Some would even choose to repeat the process after a project is completed because they changed their minds.
Prioritizing Aesthetics Over Functionality
It is easy to get distracted by the beauty and luxury of specific home renovation projects. But if you fail to prioritize the projects that require your most attention, this can end up ruining your plans. You can end up having a more beautiful home, only to learn you won’t benefit from the improvements because you chose beauty over functionality.
Lack of Communication
There are times when couples end up having a huge fight after they fail to communicate effectively regarding the projects they wish to tackle. Other times, homeowners are not happy with the results because they did not tell contractors their needs, expectations, and desired outcomes. Lack of communication can end up in heated arguments, costly repairs, and even broken relationships.
Managing Home Renovation Stress Triggers
The good news is, there are things homeowners can do to reduce, prevent, and better manage their stress levels when renovating their homes. Here are some reminders worth keeping in mind.
Choose Your Projects Wisely
Learn to prioritize the projects that require your most attention before tackling your wants. Be sure to tackle home maintenance and repairs before finalizing your plan. This will help ensure that your home is in tip-top shape and can accommodate the other upgrades you want in your home.
For example, you plan on improving your curb appeal. While enhancing your landscape is a great way to improve the beauty of your outdoor living space, you should not forget the other factors that can ruin the view. For instance, failing to replace if not repair your garage doors will only ruin your plans to boost your home’s curb appeal.
Communicate Everything
While you have the option to DIY or choose contractors when renovating your home, be sure to communicate your plans with everyone involved. This is true if you live with other people, especially your spouse. Too many couples already ended having a divorce after renovating their homes.
Say what you want and ask what your family wants and needs. Learn to give and take and compromise for the sake of the renovation. This will help you plan the renovation and ensure everyone is happy after the project.
Anticipate Unexpected Expenses and Underlying Issues
There are times when we think our renovation project will end up successful because we planned for it, and we are sticking with our budget. But sometimes, no matter how hard you try, renovation issues will arise. Knowing how to prepare for each issue is the best way to reduce your stress.
For example, plan at least a 25% budget buffer for unexpected expenses. This way, even if you encounter issues that require you to pay more than the initial renovation costs, you won’t be as problematic. This helps improve your resilience when renovating while increasing your renovation success.
We all want a beautiful, functional, and comfortable home that also has a high value. But if we don’t take renovation seriously, we can end up wasting precious resources while putting our health in the line. Don’t add unnecessary stress to this already stressful event by preparing yourself for the renovation.
