As exciting as home renovations can be once they’re completed, it’s no walk in the park. From the planning process to completion there are a bunch of unexpected circumstances that could throw a wrench in your plans. While these circumstances shouldn’t persuade you against getting renovations done, being aware of what they are can help you prepare and hopefully, avoid the same things happening to you. Check out these unexpected circumstances during home renovations and ways to keep the stress at a minimum.
Changes in the Budget
A renovation job isn’t always cut and dry. During the construction stage, contractors discover problems that need to be addressed before moving forward. Since these matters weren’t factored into their estimate, this means you’ll have to sacrifice some things on your renovation or come up with the additional funds.
The best way to prepare for this is to create a home renovation budget and factor in additional funds as a cushion. You should also prioritize the things you want to be done in the home just in case you have to sacrifice to pay for something more important.
Dust and Clutter
No one pays attention to how messy a home renovation can be. From sawdust and garbage to equipment and materials your home literally becomes a construction zone. This can be very uncomfortable to deal with and also unsafe.
The best solution would be to relocate until the renovation is completed to avoid inhaling dust and other elements that enter the air during construction. However, if you’re going to stay, you should start by gating off areas that aren’t safe. This is where contractors can store their equipment but your children and pets won’t get hurt. Lastly, cover your furniture in surrounding areas to prevent having a huge clean up on your hands.
Pests
It’s not uncommon for homeowners to have to deal with pest issues after a renovation. The noise, movement, and rearranging disrupted pests that may have been hiding in walls, underneath the floors, and elsewhere in the house. Now, they’re invading your living space.
Immediately after the renovation is done you should contact Moxie Pest Control or another pest control company near you to resolve the matter before it gets out of hand.
Noise During Home Renovation
Another overlooked matter to consider during a home renovation is the noise factor. The banging, clanging, drilling, and moving will most certainly disrupt anything you have going on at home. Not to mention, contractors coming in and out of the home talking to each other and on the phone. It can be a real disturbance, particularly if you work from home.
Home Renovation Delays
When the contractor makes an assessment of what needs to be done, they provide you with a timeline of when they believe they can complete it all. This timeline often does have some cushion, but there are things beyond the control of the contractor that could delay things. If a member of their crew gets sick, they discover an issue that needs to be resolved, the supplies don’t come on time (or aren’t the right materials), or anything along those lines pushes the time back.
Just like the contractor, you can’t control all elements of a home renovation. As the above-mentioned scenarios are beyond your control, all you can do here is be prepared. Be sure that you’ve budgeted enough money, that you have a comfortable place to stay, and you’ve made any other necessary changes in your routines or lifestyles.
Increased Stress
As excited as you are to be renovating your home you have to be prepared for a bit of tension. The constant “invasion” of contractors in your home, the noise, and the inability to access certain parts of the home can cause anyone to become a bit stressed out.
You can try to eliminate the stress by finding things to do that you enjoy as a family, spending more time out of the house during construction hours, staying a few nights in a hotel, going for walks, and other stress-relieving activities.
Most homeowners don’t become aware of just how stressful home renovations can be until they’re in the midst of it. Save yourself the headache and frustration by planning in advance for unexpected but common mishaps during a renovation. Knowing that you have a solution to the problem makes it easier to get through.
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