Here are some tips for surviving, maybe even enjoying, your upcoming remodel.
Create an outdoor living space – The inside of your home is going to be dusty and chaotic so if you are lucky enough to be remodeling during the Spring, Summer or Fall, make a place outside that you can escape to and can still entertain friends and family. All you need is a comfy outdoor couch, an all-weather rug, a patio heater, some strings of lights, and maybe even an outdoor TV – you may never want to go back inside again!
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Have a good attitude. Just remember, the mess in your home will be temporary, but the results will last you for years to come. If you are lucky enough to be able to make this change to your home, you are too blessed to be stressed. Having a good attitude and a sense of humor will go a long way and will rub off on the people working at your home. Studies have shown that if someone is happy while working they will do better work and work faster (read “Happiness Advantage” by Shawn Achor). So, make your home a pleasant environment to do work by remaining positive, complimenting your contractors on their work each day (at least 3 compliments per 1 criticism is a good rule of thumb), and maybe even bringing some fresh-baked treats or ordering pizzas once in a while to let them know you appreciate them.
Expect the unexpected in 2021. Lead times and prices for building materials are unpredictable this year. But this shouldn’t deter you as this is true anytime you do a project; there will always be surprises that could not have been foreseen and upgrades/additions you will make that will add to the time and cost of the project. You want your project done right and with as little stress as possible, so let the schedule be flexible, have some extra funds on hand (5-10% is a good contingency), and don’t plan a big holiday party or family gathering right after the target completion date.
Prepare your home. Clear out at least one car space in your garage for your contractor to use for storage of building materials as they come in; ordering materials ahead and having them on hand before construction starts is a really good idea this year. To keep clean-up to a minimum put plastic or sheets over furniture and put away loose items and decorations that will just collect dust. If you are doing a kitchen remodel create a well-organized temporary kitchen set up with a microwave, electric hot plate, refrigerator, and a clean-up sink somewhere in the house (thankfully, in the Summer you can grill)!
There is no sign that the remodeling market is going to calm down anytime soon or that interest rates will ever be this low again, so if you want to make a change, the sooner you get started, the sooner you can lock in your pricing on all materials and have your new space. Call TrueLeaf Kitchens at 908-766-2006 to set up an appointment or visit their website www.trueleafkitchens.com to get inspired.
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