The Contractor Who Minimizes Remodel Stress
Nothing can be more stressful than living through a home remodel project. Some stress is to be expected, but most remodels are poorly managed, creating unnecessary stress for the homeowners. So, what’s the best way to minimize home remodel stress? Hire a contractor who addresses the remodeling impact on your daily life with practical solutions.
Most people who’ve lived through an overly stressful home remodel cite these factors – dust, and debris everywhere (in places they never even knew existed), project delays due to poor time and subcontractor management, access completely cut off to daily essentials (toilet, sinks, appliances), and unforeseen issues discovered behind walls that add extra cost. Oh, and let’s not forget the contractor who mysteriously fades in and out of contact throughout the process. I’m certain many of you who’ve experienced this could add even more to the list.
A contractor who is responsible enough to even mention solutions for minimizing the impact on your daily life is worthy of engaging in further discussion. Contractors who pay attention to the details will talk about sealing off closets, rooms, or other living areas with durable, construction-grade plastic barriers. Some use state-of-the-art exhaust fans and debris collection devices to funnel debris out of the home. They will also provide secure coverings to prevent stains and abrasions to flooring. While it may seem over-the-top, they might even suggest renting a POD for temporary storage of your belongings to eliminate the potential for damage and the time it takes to constantly shift items back and forth during the remodel.
Good contractors provide scrupulous oversight of sub-contractors and laborers by maintaining a daily presence on the job to maintain time and quality of effort expectations. For areas where essential daily life necessities are impacted, such as toilets, sinks, and appliances, responsible contractors help manage the impact by scheduling shorter intervals to shut off water and electricity and during times when clients are not home during the day. Finally, for those unforeseen costs that “pop up” during the remodel (see my blog on structuring the cost of a remodel), this issue is typically due to the contractor not conducting a viable home forensics inspection before providing a firm, fixed-price. Be leery of any contractor who gives you a quick bid price. If you go with this guy or gal, you can be sure you’ll need to get your checkbook out again, in fact, multiple times, while you’re midstream and can’t look back. This is not to be confused with change orders that are generated by the client during the process.
Finally, the responsible contractor, interested in minimizing what can be a stressful event, will stay connected and outline how the communication will take place on a scheduled basis (daily and key milestone updates) throughout the remodel – emails, texts, phone calls, pictures showing progress, videos, etc. So take the time to do your due diligence by hiring a contractor who gives attention to your mental and emotional welfare throughout the project as part of the overall remodel solution.