There are a few life changes which cause a lot of stress, and home renovations are one of them. This is because your home is meant to be your sanctuary, and having work carried out is incredibly disruptive. Experiencing chronic, higher levels of stress is incredibly bad for you; it has a number of physical and psychological effects. A lot of people see this stress as unavoidable, but this is not necessarily the case. Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks for you to take heed of in order to remove some of the stress from the process.
The Builders
First things first, you need to choose a builder. There are several things that you should be checking for when it comes to researching builders. Firstly, they will need a business address. Some builders do list their homes as a business address, but this can be a little sketchy; ideally, they will have a base of some sort. Reviews can also come in handy. You can also use the internet; there are sites which allow the builders to contact you. You post the job, and they respond to you via this website: MyBuilder.
Any builder that you choose will also need to have the correct licensing to carry out the work on your house. Builders must be licensed and adhere to regulatory bodies. Do not be afraid to ask for their certification. Injuries are fairly common on building sites because of the hazardous nature of the job. This is why any building company that you choose will need to have the proper insurance in place. If they don’t and an injury occurs on your property, you could be liable by default.
Always Read the Contract
After you have shopped around for builders, met with a few, had quotes and narrowed down your options, you are likely to have discovered a front-runner. Now, once you have given a builder the go-ahead, then you have entered into an agreement with them. However, a verbal contract is not enough. Instead, you should always insist on a written contract and try to get one before you make any commitment to them. You then need to ensure that they have included everything that you have previously discussed within this contract. Do not sign anything until you are happy. Written contracts go a long way in avoiding disputes or disruptions to the progress of the work.
The contract should also include start and finish dates. This is because it will affect how much the job will cost, especially if you have agreed to a daily rate. While some delays are unavoidable, you should also have plans in place to combat them. This could be a discount on the cost at the end because of what the delay has cost you either in financial terms or the inconvenience that occurred. Contracts also tend to include exclusions which tend to relate to obstacles or the discovery of certain issues. You should, ideally, have a buffer built into your budget to deal with these issues should they arise.
Detailed Plans are Key
Oftentimes, when you are undergoing a home improvement project, regardless of whether you plan to DIY or not, failing to have a clear vision or detailed plans can prolong the project and increase your stress. You need to have a solid, thought-out plan of what you want the end result to look like is incredibly beneficial, especially if you have a team of builders and tradespeople working on the project, too; you need to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Planning thoroughly and properly in advance is paramount to ensuring that everything comes in at the right budget and on time.
Payments & Warranties
The payment schedule and requirements will vary depending on the job, and the agreement set out in your contract. Obviously, you will be expected to pay for labour and materials. Your contract should ideally set out who is expected to pay for materials and hire equipment. You should insist on receipts to make sure that you aren’t being overcharged. Most people prefer to pay in stages as the project progresses rather than in a single lump sum. You should always avoid builders that insist on large sums of cash, especially if they want paying upfront. Finally, you should also always push for a warranty. Most builders will offer a year as standard.
The Takeaway
Home improvement projects can be incredibly stressful, and sometimes it is hard to avoid this stress, especially if the renovation displaces you or interrupts the usual flow of your day. That being said, there are a number of things that you can do to help to reduce the amount of stress that you feel, so do take on board the points made above. In some cases, getting away from your property for a night or two, whether that means staying with friends and family or paying for a hotel room, can also be really beneficial for your mental health and give you a break from the stress.
