How to Survive a Home Remodel

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Rate: (1 Ratings)

Home remodeling is extraordinarily stressful and can strain relationships and cause severe anxiety. When your house is literally coming apart before your eyes, it's easy to lose sight of the end-product and want to throw in the towel. Adapting to unstable living conditions through developing healthy methods for coping with chaos and disorder is key to surviving a remodel.

Flag Article

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Step1

Have a back up plan. Develop contingency plans for everything that could possibly go wrong. Keep takeout and delivery menus handy, find a nearby restroom to use and arrange to stay with a family member or friend in case of emergency. Problems are inevitable, so it's best to be well prepared.

Step2

Prepare to give up your privacy. For the duration of the remodel, workers will be in and out of your home all day, almost every day. Try to create a space that is off limits to contractors; someplace where you can change clothes, talk on the phone or just get away for a few moments.

Step3

Stock up on bottled water, plastic ware and paper plates. If you plan a kitchen or bathroom remodel, you will likely lose access to plumbing at some point. Use bottled water for drinking, bathing and brushing teeth. Disposable dinnerware comes in handy when you lose access to your sink and dishwasher.

Step4

Keep your valuables out of harm's way. Pack up fragile and cherished items for storage in your off limits zone or at a loved one's. Contractors often require homeowners to sign a waiver relieving them from responsibility for damage to personal items.

Step5

Learn to live with noise. Remodeling is loud and the noise can be maddening at times, particularly if you are at home most of the time. Wear headphones or earplugs whenever possible. If the sound gets to be too much, take a walk, visit a friend or sit in a park and decompress.

Step6

Communicate with your contractor. If any work does not meet your expectations, notify the contractor immediately. Open, honest dialog is the best way to ensure a smooth remodel.

Step7

Be patient. Home remodels almost never finish on time due to factors outside of a home owner's control. When you feel like you just can't bear another disorderly day, concentrate on the number of years you'll spend enjoying your beautiful home.

Tips & Warnings

Take before photos. When you look back at the way your house looked before the remodel, you'll have no regrets.
Find a way to enjoy the remodel. Shop for furniture or pick out paint colors. Purchasing items to enhance your home's new look will keep you focused on the positive aspects of the project.
Take advantage of family time. Remodeling often strains families and can lead to conflict. Take day trips, visit the park or see a movie with loved ones to bond and relieve stress.