How to Save Your Sanity During Remo

I am one of an estimated 41 million Americans--more than one-third of the adult work force--who has chosen to work at home. That’s the good news.

And I am also one who recently did extensive remodeling to my 37-year-old home, adding 1,300 square feet--dining room/family room, upstairs master bedroom and bath and roof deck. We also made over the ancient-applianced kitchen and existing two baths, installed all new custom-made doors and windows, modernized the front exterior, all while working at home. That’s the insane news.

During this two-year process, I have learned--with 20/20 hindsight--what should have been done during the remodeling project (stressful and disruptive for anyone who undertakes it, especially for those of us who conduct business from our homes). And I’m happy to pass this on to you:

--Install a second phone line for the work crew. You’d be surprised how often they need to call stores to order supplies and schedule deliveries, beep the contractor when questions come up and even (!) make personal calls to their homes (if they’ll be late coming home, for example). If you use your phone as a handy business tool during the day (as I do), you’ll go nuts (as I did) with the work crew competing with you for that precious receiver.

--Tell the crew about your business and your time schedule. You’ll have carpenters, cleaning crew, scaffolders, drywallers, stucco men, electricians, plumbers, etc. working on your project. Take a few minutes to tell them your routine.

Too many times when I was talking to an editor or interviewing someone on the phone in my office, I would hear “Sharon! Sharon! Come check the tile!” or “Hello! Hello! Anybody home? Your plumber has arrived!” Keep a sign posted on your office door that can be changed: “Please don’t disturb unless house is burning down; I’ll be available at ---- o’ clock; Welcome, please come in.”

--Tell the crew not to answer your telephone if you’re not at home, that your phone machine will pick it up. Once I was meeting a semi-celebrity for lunch when a New York editor called. The electrician answered: “Oh! Sharon’s not here now, she’s out with some bigwig!” Fortunately, the editor had a sense of humor and we chuckled about it later. The electrician meant well, but I cringed. Another “insanity” check-off on my list!

--Find out when/if the electricity will be shut off. Once I was working on an important article on my computer and was halfway through when the power went out. I lost the piece and had to start all over.

--Check also to see when old toilets will be removed (for the new low-flush models to be installed). This may not sound important, but I came home from jury duty one day to use the bathroom facilities. Oops! Both toilets were out of the bathrooms, displayed prominently on my patio. No neighbors were home. I finally had to call my former piano teacher and use her bathroom, two blocks away!

--Be respectful of neighbors. Before we started the project, I sent next-door neighbors restaurant certificates to use “when the pounding got to them” to go have lunch on me. I also tried to have the crew not make much noise until after 9 a.m.-11 a.m. on Sundays, if they needed to occasionally work then--and to stop noise by 7 p.m. This didn’t always happen to coincide with the crew’s schedules, but I tried to reduce the noise disturbance as much as possible. If there was hammering inside, for instance, I kept all doors and windows shut.

--When my sanity reached the breaking point (which happened on several occasions), I scheduled a two- or three-day “getaway.” Just going to Hotel Del Coronado or to Baja with friends reduced the remodel overload. It’s especially good to get away when all your kitchen appliances are torn out and you can’t cook or wash dishes anyway.

--Maintain your privacy as much as possible. Try to have a room with a bed (and a door you can lock) to escape to, when needed. And, if possible, have one bathroom designated for the work crew. I had a room air-conditioner installed in my office, where I escaped on extra-hot days, even napping on the floor!

--Hide a key for the trusted work crew. There will be times when they’ll come to work and you won’t be home. This happened to us once when I had an early breakfast meeting and forgot to leave a key for the crew to get their equipment out of the garage, delaying work for a few hours.

--Compliment the crew when it’s warranted. Whether they’re laying tile or doing drywall, the construction workers, like anyone, like to be commended on their work, which they take pride in. Offer them ice water during hot weather--and cold drinks and watermelon.

--When the remodel is complete, have an open house and invite your neighbors and the work crew (so they can pass out business cards)--and your friends, of course. Display “before” pictures so people can see what you did--and where your money went!