The Low-Stress Home Renovation

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You can fulfill your home renovation project without too much stress. For eight months, Sue Gladstone's home in Suburban Boston was a maze of plastic construction sheeting covered in a haze of construction dust. Half of her first-floor was off-limits. The stove and the sink were the only things she could access in the kitchen. The refrigerator was in the living room, which was now the only place in the house other than the bedrooms that anyone could go. Her home improvement project involved expanding the kitchen and family room and adding a master bedroom suite to the first floor and offices and a laundry room in the basement. It was supposed to take five months. It lasted eight. "It just was very stressful when you think you are going to be done at Thanksgiving, and then you are going to be done at Christmas, and then you are hoping for Valentine's Day," says Gladstone. But despite the delays, the dust, the close quarters and the frustration of having workers underfoot, Gladstone emerged with her sanity intact. And her family, including husband and two kids ages 15 and 11, did not resort to wringing each other's necks. How did they do it? "The number one thing is communication," Gladstone says. "We had someone on the job every day who was our lead person. And every day, he said, ‘Here is what we are going to be doing today' or ‘Here are the things I need from you. I need these paint colors; I need these specifications, so that I can keep moving.' " Although the completion of her house was delayed, it did not come as a surprise to the Gladstones because of the good communication with their contractor. It's the surprises that will stress you out. Here are some other ways to keep your stress level as low as possible as you renovate your home. Research Contractors Don't just hire a contractor because of a television ad or a sign on a front yard. Call references, get bids and visit your local courthouse to see if your contractor of choice has been sued recently. And when you interview, consider your contractor's personality. After all, you'll be working closely with him for a while. Keep your budget in check to avoid unnecessary stress. Finding a contractor who offers guarantees can also bring peace of mind. "Our company has a guaranteed construction completion date," says Max Christenbury, senior vice president of Bryant Phillips Associates in Apex, N.C., which specializes in fire and water-damage related restoration. "If it's not finished in six months, we pay additional housing expenses." Budget Concerns No matter how old or young your home, there are secrets lurking behind its walls. And once a contractor taps into those secrets, your costs will go up. Mold, radon, water damage and plumbing or electrical lines that need replacing all are costs you have no choice but to incur if you want to get the project done. "You have to assume that you are going to be anywhere from 10 to 20 percent over budget," says psychologist Leslie Beth Wish, Ed. D., who has completed two home renovations and two constructions. "If you can come in under 10 percent, you are doing really good." Avoid the "you might as well" trap, Dr. Wish says. You're putting in a new bathroom, so "you might as well" get the whirlpool tub. Ask yourself: Is this something you really need? Will this tub keep you up at night with worry as dollar figures run through your mind? If so, it's not worth the stress toll.

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