Although it’s a great idea in many cases to get your home renovated, it can be a stressful time, even if you’re not doing all the work yourself. There will be a lot of mess, and the more you’re having done, the more you need to move around and have changed including loads of dust, and all your belongings will be in different places – perhaps even out of the house itself.
So how can you cope with this home renovation stress? Here are some tips.
Move Out
If you have employed someone else to do all the work then moving out can actually be the best option. You don’t have to go far. In fact, if you’ve got the space, you can even use a motorhome with an awning from 4WD Supacentre in your backyard, for example, or a local hotel might fit the bill. Plus, it’s probably best if you’re still relatively nearby so that you can answer questions and approve ideas.
Add to this the fact that in some cases it’s just not possible to stay on the premises anyway; there is far too much happening and you being there will really slow things down which will end up being more stressful and more expensive.
Pop in from time to time (unannounced) to check that everything is going smoothly and to keep your mind at rest that all is well.
Moving out does add more money to your budget unless you can move in with relatives, but it may well be the best thing you do in terms of keeping calm and less stressed.
Ask Questions
Whether you’re on-site or off, always make sure to ask questions to your contractors if you’re not sure about anything. You need to know that what they are doing is what was agreed to because going off on a tangent without asking you first is never okay. There could be very good reasons why, when it comes down to it, the plans need to change, but you should always be consulted before any work is done if it’s not what you originally signed off on.
It may feel awkward to ask questions when you’re not the expert, but this is your house and your money; it’s essential that you ensure it is what you want. A good contractor will be more than happy to go through everything with you and allay any fears.
Expect Problems
It may not be the most upbeat piece of advice, but it is extremely important to be aware that problems can arise at any time. Sometimes it’s no one’s fault, problems with equipment, issues with the weather, sickness; they can all play a part. So to cause yourself less stress, you should stop assuming it will all go perfectly because if you do that when something does go wrong, you’ll feel worse about it. If you expect that there will be problems you will be better prepared for them when they do come and, if you’re lucky and it does all go according to plan, that’s a bonus!
