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Question:
We recently remodeled our kitchen, and the stress was almost unbearable. We want to continue upgrading our home, but are putting it off because of the fear of another unpleasant experience. What can
we do to decrease the stress level when we remodel again?
Answer:
Kitchen remodeling happens to be the most stressful remodeling project in your home for obvious reasons. he room is required for every day living,
and food preparation and cleanup can be a very sensitive and personal area for most people. A professional contractor can make a world of difference when it come to keeping a project on schedule and helping you prepare for the
inconvenience of remodeling, but no matter how good the contractor is, he cannot rush the process - you will be inconvenienced.
Different people have different tolerances for inconvenience. Some people don't mind the
confusion, they just roll with it. Other people (myself included) are uncomfortable when things are disorganized - thus causing the stress. You did not elaborate on whether your unpleasant experience was aggravated by your
contractor, or simply caused by the remodeling process. I will assume it was a little of both. I suggest Next time you remodel make sure you get a schedule in writing before work begins, and monitor progress to make sure your
project is not delayed for unsubstantiated reasons. Also, do your homework when shopping for a contractor. Call a number of their referrals and ask them how their project went. If five kitchen clients all said their projects
went smoothly, chances are that yours will too.
Bathroom remodeling is also stressful. A bathroom is very personal space. We had a client once that could literally not go to the bathroom without being in a fully
enclosed area. We had to construct temporary walls daily so she could function. Invasion of personal space causes stress, and it is unavoidable in remodeling.
Another suggestion might be to ask the contractor if you can
meet the people that will be working on your project to see how comfortable you are with having them invade your personal space on a daily basis. If they cannot tell you who will be working on your job, or you get bad vibes
from the workers, try another contractor. Keep trying until you find someone you are comfortable with. By increasing your comfort level you will reduce stress.
Room addition and basement remodeling are a bit less
stressful because more often than not the work is taking place in an area that can be avoided without too much inconvenience. Many of our basement clients simply go downstairs at the end of the day to check progress. Otherwise
they can't even tell we were there.
It is my opinion that with proper planning, remodeling projects don't have to be an unbearable experience. If you do your homework and choose a Contractor that you are comfortable
with - not on just a personal level, but on a business and organizational level also, your stress will be greatly reduced.
Answered by: Patrick Benkowski, CR
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