Ways to Cope During Remodel Project

Here are some steps to take to help reduce remodeling stress:

* Set parameters for the project.

Emotions can flare when one partner visualizes a gourmet kitchen and coffered ceilings and the other partner planned on new carpet and paint. Sit down with your spouse and write down every change that you both agree needs to be made. Although compromise can and should play a role, both parties need to agree on the scope of the project.

* Decide on a budget.

Both partners must agree on the maximum amount that will be spent on the project. Inform the architect of your budget before beginning to draft the plans.

When drafting a budget, consider your current financial status as well as the ultimate value of the home in relation to the surrounding neighborhood. Unless you intend to remain in a house for several years, it is generally not wise to invest much more in a remodel than you could recoup on sale of the property.

* Stick to the budget.

Contractors estimate that at least 90% of projects go over budget because the homeowner is unaware of the costs of “upgraded” finish items such as hardware, flooring, granite and gourmet kitchen appliances. A bathroom toilet can range from $150 to $700, drawer pulls from $2 to $30, carpeting from $15 a yard for inexpensive grades to more than $200 a yard for wool, and flooring from $7 a foot for Pergo (an imitation of hardwood) to more than $30 a foot for custom hardwood floors. Kitchen remodels can range from $10,000 to more than $100,000 based simply on the type of cabinets and appliances that are installed.

Select all finish items with your partner before construction and determine if they are within the agreed-on budget. A detailed set of blueprints that calls out every type of window, door and finish item will cost more money in the short run but can save money in the long run.

Your architect and/or contractor can provide you with a detailed list of the finish items that your specific project requires.

* Have a living plan.

If you are remodeling an entire house, make plans to move out during construction. Anticipate living out of your house 50% longer than the contractor tells you will be necessary. (All of the general contractors interviewed for this article admitted that nearly every job takes longer than the time initially estimated for completion and that it is rare for a job to be completed on time by any contractor).

If you are remodeling a specific area such as a kitchen or master bathroom, discuss how and where you can erect a temporary kitchen or, in the case of the bathroom, where showers will be taken and teeth brushed.

* Assess your personality types.

Even the best remodels entail a lot of dust, boxes, delays and surprises. Neat freaks, those who need everything in its place or people who become tense when projects don’t stay on schedule simply may not have the requisite temperament to survive a remodel. Honestly assess your personality and your spouse’s personality and consider whether you both have the disposition to survive a remodel.