Keeping positive in a trying renovation

After years of putting up with a house that no longer fits you, finally being able to afford those needed renovations is an exciting prospect. The excitement can lead to stress, however, when setbacks and cost overruns occur while you’re knee-deep in your renovations. Staying positive will see you through, but when you’re in the midst of it, that can be easier said than done.

The key to staying positive during a trying renovation is anticipating problems before they arise. Some of those problems happen so frequently that they are easy to predict:

• Materials don’t always arrive when they’re needed
• Weather can impact the schedule
• One tradesperson’s mistake or delay can throw your project off schedule
• Living in a building environment can take a toll on your peace of mind
• Cost overruns occur even after the most careful planning
• Fitting in all those DIY side projects can be exhausting

Every renovation is a step-by-step process. In order to go smoothly, each step has to occur at the right time. When needed materials don’t arrive or a plumber doesn’t show up when needed, it can delay completion and cost you money. It also means you might have to live with plastic sheets for walls and track sawdust through the house longer than anticipated. When you’re worried about money, frustrated by delays and living in a noisy, chaotic mess, it can be enough to push you beyond your limits.

You only need to do two things to take most of the stress out of your renovation. They can be summed up in two words: planning and flexibility.

Planning your renovation

If you don’t have renovating experience, the best way to reduce stress and avoid costly mistakes is to hire a project manager. If you’re doing major renovations, let your building contractor organise trades, order materials and handle all the other details of the project. If it’s a smaller project, like a kitchen renovation, the company you buy your kitchen from can also oversee the kitchen installation.

If you decide to take a DIY approach to project management, take an owner-builder course first. It will teach you what you need to know about budgeting, planning and organising your renovation; it will also cover everything you need to know about council regulations, building codes and inspections.

For smaller projects, make a realistic assessment of your time constraints and your ability to do the work. Do you have the necessary skills? Can you devote weekends and evenings to the project without burning out?

Seasoned renovators know that even the best plans often go wrong. Provide at least a 10 per cent cost overrun buffer and, if you think it will take six weeks to complete the project, add an extra two weeks ‘just in case’.

Flexibility

You need to be flexible enough to roll with the punches when renovating. Minor incidents can become major stress inducers if you let them get the best of you. Rather than bottle all those irritations up, find ways to unwind and escape the chaos. Leave enough money in your budget to:

• treat yourself to a spa or massage
• go out for a romantic dinner
• spend a night or two at a hotel or resort
• take a weekend holiday

Indulging yourself occasionally will relieve stress and give you the flexibility you’ll need to complete your renovation without wishing you had never undertaken it.

Finding ways to stay positive during a trying renovation does more than keep you sane. A positive attitude will make you more productive and able to work with energy and enthusiasm. When the job is done, you will enjoy the fruits of your labour instead of spending weeks or months recovering from the trauma.